FAQ's

What sort of information would be found using ushin?

Any information which is uploaded by information sources on their own ushin pages.

Users can add information by clicking on 2 cents icons on any ushin page.

ushin management holds the data ratings and hidden operational systems in the ushin database - not user/information source content.

What does ushin require of information sources?

That they organize their data under headings agreed upon by ushin source umbrella groups.

Who would use ushin?

Anyone interested in a health-related topic, looking for issue-related information, doctors, medicines, facilities, items, treatment options, resources, others with similar interests.

Health care and community workers would help others who don't have direct internet connections.

Everyone. There will be interfaces in multiple languages, and ways for people with disabilities, special interests and professionals, even will be able to benefit from the ushin system.

With such a vast amount of information, how can ushin be fast?

The basic free program is quick because it contains only the most common search tools and directories. It can be updated as needed from ushin.net and changes with use, both on and offline. Users can add and delete search tools. Clicking for finite drop-down menus is almost instantaneous.

How does ushin grow?

Ushin grows when users interact with the ushin system online.

Program size and content is user-driven in two main ways: people select directories and files to be future search possibilities; or ushin updates the user's search criteria automatically. For example, health issue topics and sources in a certain locality may be saved -- not the data, but the search narrowing utilities of ushin.

Some of these can be set to respond automatically to the directories and files you search while online.

How do users customize and expand their ushin programs?

Users can use ushin interactive tools to customize their own ushin interface: on or offline.

Ushin does not store users' search data unless for public reference. Third parties may provide access to individual ushin data in utilities such as yahoo briefcase for example.

Offline, users narrow searches on software previously downloaded when using ushin previously. Users clicks submit to get back online to search in ushin-space (shared database system) -- or one clicks WW tab to take on the open internet. At that point the ability to save, edit using Topic Chain Box is compromised.

Why bother doing this?

To make online health searches user-friendly, to help people find what they need, and to help information sources reach their public.

To help health professionals find appropriate data and resources, and communicate among themselves quickly and meaningfully on general topics.

To help our medical knowledge and options grow to meet changing needs and resources.

To allow cross references in health related information to expose options and let people see what other sources know about the subject, related topics, and learn about the info sources themselves.

To let people choose the sources from which they find their health info, or see what their chosen sources say about any given option subject.

To improve health care in general and decrease health care costs by expediting health care implementation and increasing public awareness of options, costs, benefits and side effects of diagnostic and treatment modalities.

Isn't ushin too idealistic to work?

Our marketing and research have shown unequivocally that this system would benefit everyone. Once begun, as with the 'wild web', it will continue to grow on its own, except now with some organization to it.

How would you keep people from getting our personal medical data?

Ushin is not designed to contain or link to personal medical data. 'Cases' without personal identifiers may be sent without jeopardizing privacy. Users may provide info about themselves. Remember- all ushin pages, including all the info sources themselves, will be open to cross-reference for validity and response.

How will ushin solve my insurance problems?

Ushin will help you find health care providers, facilities, medications and items which your insurance company posts online in ushin format, using online ushin forms specific to insurance companies. Each company completes the forms according to their own discretion. As beneficiary, you will then be able to gain a greater understanding of how the companies differ in their specific benefits, and the resources and options available to you through your own company.

Whether you have or use health insurance or not ushin will be able to point you to community resources you may not know about, and give you the means to evaluate them according to your own situations. ushin will also have options outside of insurance, such as preventive, nutritional therapies -- what you can do at home, with cross referencing among alternatives based on what you need and want.

Every ushin page will cross references info among different types of info sources to help you make health-related decisions based on your own criteria.

Who is going to pay for ushin?

ushin will be free for all internet users and info sources. Organizations will upload their data directly or through Info Managers,

Ushin as a 501 (c) 3 can grow with grant funds, cash and in-kind donations, as well as governmental support.

What about all the health data already online?

Nothing, except that in time more and more data will conform to ushin utilities through online forms or through independent organizations who provide interfaces between disparate databases.

Users will be able to tell when they are in ushin-space because ushin pages look different, with ushin icons and utilities.

Who's going to organize it?

Ushin has been built by largely volunteer effort. ushin shared taxonomy is adopted in cooperation with current library and online sources. Working models integrate independent data, as will the fully implemented system, in which independent groups manage their own data and cluster organization. Management may remain independent as a not-for-profit organization or become a government-run internet function.

Why would anyone want to be an ushin Info Source?

To bring product and service information to a target market specifically. To share experience, to link to others for specific data not otherwise found online, and easily provide the data in an organized public manner for others to view.

Information will become ushin compatable as it is important to those who enter the data. Those with passions for details of products and services will gladly provide their information and would benefit from public debate about related issues. Their ability to access feedback is their ticket to quality improvements.

Who decides which terms are used in ushin?

The info sources themselves, with the help of their chosen information managers, who work cooperatively with similar ushin info sources to match their shared taxonomy for ushin format. Ushin provides the venue for this sort of collaboration. Private (for password accessed databases) may link through ushin, as developed independently by information sources.

How can I help?

Ushin needs participation on many levels, for the latest ushin projects, click on USHIN Update.

How do you know that the info was actually uploaded by the organization itself? Fraud?

Every page will have its source designated and users can click on the designation to link to the originators webpage, in ushin format or not. Information may be uploaded about a topic or source from anyone.

Why not just use the web as it is now?

The wild web does not allow users to narrow searches beyond the choice of terms.

The wild web doesn't reveal original authorship nor alternate views on any topic.

With the current online system one cannot save & maneuver search results so flexibly nor consistently with other applications.

Ushin will more quickly find answers to queries without duplication, and by providing users with choice of information sources.

Only ushin exposes a unified system of opinion stamps.

Ushin puts your search in the context of your selected criteria of sources and qualifiers & quantifiers.

Is there a set hierarchy of information in USHIN?

Ushin is not a compilation of subject trees but a different type of meta search tool that makes it easy to find things among databases with infinite varieties of information. Information managers, sources and users edit their own information and search priorities.

Will USHIN apply a prejudice for certain information or information sources?

No, ushin will reveal all public information in ushin format according to the search terms chosen by the user and the data made available by the information sources.

How do we get our stuff online in ushin format?

There are ushin forms being developed that users will forward to info sources for specific data.

Information sources will upload their own data using free or individualized ushin software.

How do users "track" online data, organized in ushin format, on our own computers?

Users write small cookies (maybe 4K total, about 600-800 words) for their own computers & use the browser to read them. They will not harm user's system in any way.

How will information sources get linked into the USHIN system?

Unless anonymous, one becomes linked simply by uploading data in ushin format.

Exposure and utility is enhanced by independent information sources most easily by sharing terms found used by a similar entitiy. Likewise, information managers can be determined. Translator software will be available to change existing data into ushin format.

Larger information sources will have in-house ushin info managers to manage data in ushin format, or belong to umbrella groups with ushin info management out-sourced, especially initially to reformat data for ushin.

Ushin umbrella groups, or clusters, are expected to include trade associations, localities, special interest groups and independents. Each umbrella group submits data in ushin format under an info source type, so that users can more easily find them and know what sort of group you are.

How does ushin find other information in ushin format?

By use of markers embedded in ushin-formatted data that lets the software locate information on a particular topic which is in ushin format.