November 2007 Archive

The Internet has long been a haven for those with anti-establishment leanings. One of the web’s most secretive new developments combines this counter-culture spirit with the current social-networking obsession. The site nicknamed “Cheatster” takes on the project of distributing information for the sole purpose of connecting cheaters.

Cheatster is difficult to describe because it is so elusive. Currently, it operates on a limited invite-only basis. An ever-changing IP address and anti-search engine strategy allow it to live online almost completely under the radar. Worldwide there are fewer than 1,500 users; but despite its complete lack of advertising and relative unavailability it is safe to say that it is becoming an increasingly sought-out commodity. Thus far, Cheatster has enabled hundreds of (mostly college) students to fake their way through take-home exams, term papers, presentations, and outlines covering topics on almost every subject in an undergraduate coursebook. Conveniently, the site includes an unusually accurate translating function, thus encouraging international cheating.

Unsurprisingly, a backlash from academia is arising. Professor Hellmut Spangenberg of the University of Frankfurt, Germany is one of the most outspoken opponents of the site, calling Cheatster an ‘enemy of higher learning’. Other critics have written off the site’s body of ‘expert-submitted’ essays and academic papers as nothing but a “cornucopia of mediocrity”.

Despite the alleged mediocrity of the site’s body of knowledge, Cheaster aficionados are reportedly faking their way to A’s world-wide and basking in the site’s ingeniously secretive status.

Well its not yet that time of year, and we certainly aren’t covered in paint, still, we are surrounded by Easter Eggs (of the digital sort). Extend the concept of hiding delicious goodies to the online world and we have digital Easter Eggs: a hidden form of interactive media.

Everyone knows that DVDs are often programmed with Easter Eggs, right? Encoded on the disk you may be lucky enough to find special hidden areas of otherwise suppressed material (such as the 1st Lord of the Rings DVDs – containing exclusive MTV behind-the-scenes footage). Only by clicking on a hidden button will you have access to the information. Anyway, websites have been getting in on the game for a while now too.

Numerous sites and particularly web applications have “hidden” areas, messages or tricks for users to find. Some simply act as prompts for more information. Here are a few examples:

• NYTimes.com – double clicking on any word (non-hyperlinked) will prompt a global dictionary and provide the details of that word.
• Facebook Applications – find hidden tools that allow for unique display of content or find hidden text at the bottom of the Friends pages reading “Only the craftiest of quails survive hunting season”.
• Google Earth – discover the flight simulator within Google Earth. To access it for the first time, hit CTRL+Alt+A in Windows or Command+Option+A on the Mac.

This Easter Egg content is usually not the main site feature, however, it effectively creates a connection with the user that is immeasurable. Building a site with “stickiness” and exclusivity, two attributes any site owner wishes she/he can claim, is perhaps the largest challenge in the web world. I call for more Easter Eggs. I call for Egg-mania.

Can anyone find the Easter egg on this page?? Happy hunting…