Causes of Inaccurate Software Reviews in Online Media

Wiki Article

I frequently use the internet for references prior to using new software. Whether it is a design app, a productivity tool, or an AI generator, I always read the reviews online before using the software. However, I began to realize something was off when I started to read the reviews online on software. Many of the reviews seemed either too perfect, dishonest, or simply did not give enough information from a technical standpoint. It was from my own experience that I started to see that inaccuracies around software reviews online is not just a "thing," it is a "thing" that affects user decisions in a profound way. 

Many reviewers were tending to use and provide information either from the official website of the software or based on the information that was provided to them, and not from actually using the product. This created reviews that felt more like fluff and irrelevant to actual users. They would state for instance, that the software was, "easy to use," only then to find out through actually using it that it features were actually sort of confusing. 

I almost wrote a review like that for the first time when I was asked to write an article about an AI tool for photo editing. Fortunately, I decided to trial the software prior my review. It was at that time I noticed, "trying a tool yourself changes your opinion completely."

Without it, a review could just become the digital equivalent of a brochure. Reviews often fall into the trap of hyper focusing on technical specifications of software, yet fail to explain how the software functions in real-life use cases. Specifically, there are innumerable content pieces that outline specifications, what AI engines are built on, or how algorithms can be used, but never inform the reader if the software is performant on low end user devices or requires higher spec devices.

As a reviewer, I have discovered user experience is everything. I want to know if the software is performant, if it has a user-friendly interface, and ultimately, do I achieve my intended outcome? This type of detail is blatantly overlooked when reviews focus on optimization instead of being genuine. The pace of software change is such that functionalities may change in the matter of weeks. But, a majority of mediums online don't update reviews. A review written two years ago might not even be relevant. I read a review once for an AI tool that stated "does not support yet," and when I tried the AI tool was an option and excellent at supporting the Indonesian language. This implies there are individuals using the tool who are newcomers, are then misled based on outdated reviews.

After becoming aware of the shortcomings of online reviews, I set out to find ways to improve accuracy and helpfulness in my reviews. During that search, I stumbled upon a somewhat interesting platform VISBOOM.

Initially, I knew of Visboom because it was generally referred to as an AI-based editing tool because its tool surfaced mostly from people searching, "how to remove background in ai." But as I explored Visboom further, I learned Visboom is more than just a tool used to remove image backgrounds. This platform has a collaborative environment for individuals to test, compare, and assess other platforms in public, while being transparent and abiding by ethical standards.

Visboom incorporates a function where the reviewer is able to upload their test results, maybe before and after they put the software into effect, if needed. This preliminary step is instrumental for readers to grasp the visuals, not just the words that may seem promotional. In my case, I use Visboom to test and compare various AI background removal tools. I like these proof of results because I can show two samples alongside each other and there are no longer just claims of what another company says based on the software specifications.

One of the features I appreciate about Visboom is its community verification function. Each community can comment on or verify the review of the same software. This social construct, in my opinion, exposes an avenue for greater democratization and honesty in the reviewing process.

There's no space for fake reviews, because the community is quick to correct anything that isn't accurate.

Visboom has a unique automatic update feature. When a new version of the software reviewed is released, the system will alert the reviewer to update their review. This makes sure that the review is consistent and accurate later on. I think this feature is a very real answer to the issue of reviews published online becoming stale.

Even more interesting, Visboom has the ability to use various other AI tools to augment the review results. For example, I can use an automatic sentiment analysis tool to see how other users generally respond to software. I am not just judging based on my experience but obtaining a wider and objective data set.

Writing software reviews in this digital era is no easy task. With the fast pace of information and commercial motivations, objectivity is very difficult. I really believe with a little honesty and technology like Visboom, we can help create more frank and honest reviews for many people. 

These days, every time I write a software review, I do not simply review it based on features. I use it, test it, compare it and post the findings with visuals on VISBOOM I feel that as I do this, I am not just a reviewer, but I am part of a community of help in the digital world that helps others make wiser choices.