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Academic Torrents

academictorrents.com

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Re: Academic Torrents

#11

Post by sillysaurus2 »

One problem with offering a dataset as a torrent is that it's impossible to edit it after it's released. However, it seems like that doesn't matter at all in this case, because any scenario I can think of which could be solved by editing the dataset (like redacting private info that was accidentally included) wouldn't avoid the original problem: that they accidentally released private info in the first place. Perhaps it'd be useful to edit the original dataset in order to add to it / enhance it with more info, but in that case they could just release a second dataset as an addendum.

So the core idea seems solid. Thank you for this!

Re: Academic Torrents

#13

Post by jzelinskie »

sillysaurus2 wrote: post #11

One problem with offering a dataset as a torrent is that it's impossible to edit it after it's released. However, it seems like that doesn't matter at all in this case, because any scenario I can think of which could be solved by editing the dataset (like redacting private info that was accidentally included) wouldn't avoid the original problem: that they accidentally released private info in the first place. Perhaps…

There are attempts to feel out a process for "updating torrents". However, this is long from becoming a standard practice in the BitTorrent ecosystem. Check this[0] out for more info.

[0] http://www.bittorrent.org/beps/bep_0039.html

Re: Academic Torrents

#16

Post by pixelcort »

sillysaurus2 wrote: post #11

One problem with offering a dataset as a torrent is that it's impossible to edit it after it's released. However, it seems like that doesn't matter at all in this case, because any scenario I can think of which could be solved by editing the dataset (like redacting private info that was accidentally included) wouldn't avoid the original problem: that they accidentally released private info in the first place. Perhaps…

BitTorrent Sync might be useful for that:

http://www.bittorrent.com/sync

Re: Academic Torrents

#17

Post by henryzlo »

TheBiv wrote: post #10

This is really cool. I simply wished that the messaging was more clear and told a story that I could tell to my friends who ultimately are "too busy" to think about the value of this product. Unfortunately "We've designed a distributed system for sharing enormous datasets - for researchers, by researchers. The result is a scalable, secure, and fault-tolerant repository for data, with blazing fast download speeds." Ju…

Thanks for the comment. We've created a shorter "pitch" style presentation for the non-technical / too-busy, which summarizes the benefits etc. in a short several minute description.

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1JC2d1g9U6HaenGSn_Xvk...

Re: Academic Torrents

#19

Post by nvdk »

this seems to be very focused on US academics, at least that is what impression I'm given by labeling ".edu" addresses. It gives a feeling that these torrents/datasets are of better quality. I'm also missing a catalog on this tracker, some basic taxonomy would be most welcome...
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