Explorable explanation: Difference between revisions

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The most prevalent examples of explorable explanations concern topics within [[mathematics]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://explorabl.es/math/|title=Math {{!}} Explorable Explanations|website=explorabl.es|access-date=2019-04-05}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|last=Benziane|first=Chakib|title=A curated list of awesome explorable explanations.: sp4ke/awesome-explorables|date=2019-04-03|url=https://github.com/sp4ke/awesome-explorables#math|volume=|pages=|access-date=2019-04-05}}</ref> or [[computer science]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://explorabl.es/programming/|title=Programming {{!}} Explorable Explanations|website=explorabl.es|access-date=2019-04-05}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|last=Benziane|first=Chakib|title=A curated list of awesome explorable explanations.: sp4ke/awesome-explorables|date=2019-04-03|url=https://github.com/sp4ke/awesome-explorables#algorithms |access-date=2019-04-05}}</ref> There are numerous explanations of concepts within [[statistics]] and [[machine learning]] as well as of specific [[algorithm]]s.

Explorable explanations have a bias towards focusing on these topics, and when the subject matter comes from disciplines of [[empirical science]], there is a tendency to focus on [[quantitative research|quantitative models]] from within the discipline. This is true even in the case of explorable explanations about disciplines where quantitative models are less common, such as [[social science]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2017/07/30/the-evolution-of-trust-is-a-cute-explain-o-game-about-cooperation/ |title=The Evolution of Trust is a cute explain-o-game about cooperation |last=Horti |first=Samuel |date=2017-07-30|website=Rock, Paper, Shotgun |language=en-US|access-date=2019-01-21}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.citylab.com/design/2014/12/an-immersive-game-shows-how-easily-segregation-arisesand-how-we-might-fix-it/383586/|title=An Immersive Game Shows How Easily Segregation Arises—and How We Might Fix It |last=Bliss |first=Laura |website=CityLab |language=en|access-date=2019-01-21}}</ref> The bias is due to the fact that explorable explanations involve a [[Programming language|programmed]] simulation which is required to follow a [[Consistency|consistent]] [[mathematical model]] or [[formal system]]. [[Jonathan Blow]] has argued<ref>{{Citation|last=Glen Chiacchieri|title=Storytime with Jonathan Blow at PAX East 2016|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UwBl7Rnkt78&feature=youtu.be&t=1923|access-date=2019-01-21}}</ref> that this requirement forces subject matter to be dealt with more [[Rigour|rigorously]] than other mediums such as [[speculative fiction]].

Additionally, since the simulation requires a [[Visualization (graphics)|visualization]], there is a certain bias towards subject matter close to [[geometry]]. For example, there are at least three explorable explanations about [[special relativity]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lucify.com/inside-einsteins-head/|website=www.lucify.com|access-date=2019-01-21}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://testtubegames.com/velocityraptor.html|title=Velocity Raptor|website=testtubegames.com|access-date=2019-01-21}}</ref> including [[A Slower Speed of Light]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://gamelab.mit.edu/games/a-slower-speed-of-light/|title=A Slower Speed of Light|last=Admin|first=Game Lab|website=MIT Game Lab|language=en-US|access-date=2019-03-03}}</ref>