WikisEugene Bin, Katherine Dickson, Dev Doshi, Nick Ferla, Alexandra

Lecompte

IntroductionIntroduction What is a Wiki?

A wiki is a community-created website consisting of interlinked pages that have to do with the subject of the wiki.

These pages are designed to be collaboratively editable by any member of the community.

The interlinked structure of wikis allow users to start at any level of depth in a given topic and move among subtopics and parent topics with ease.

Allows discussion of topics and modifications to ensure usable and appropriate content

Introduction (cont’d)Introduction (cont’d) How do Wikis work?

Rely on the branching structure of categories.

This method of indexing allows quick navigation via links or quick searching

If a page is missing, it can be created and others users will modify and expand it.

Flawed pages are flagged according to their specific flaw(s) and fixed by bots or moderators

Priority is generally given to edits by reputable sources

Sources must be cited to verify information

Examples of WikisExamples of Wikis Individual online wikis are nodes in Wikiland

The Wikimedia Foundation hosts many wikis Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Wikiquote, a collection of quotes Wiktionary, a free dictionary etc.

WikiHow Allows users to post how-tos on nearly any topic

Generally have a specific area of interest, but are virtually unlimited in scope within this area.

Wikis in intranets meant to provide a knowledge base for the

relevant user base. Generally have a smaller scope than online wikis

Technical OverviewTechnical Overview Wikis rely on relational databases

to manage information Data is stored in tables and

represented via their location in a table Often use ‘tags’ to link related topics

For example, an article on cheese will be tagged as having to do with: dairy, food, etc.

Store backlinks to easily display what pages link to a given page

Allows the use of multiple languages for the same overall content

Technical Overview Technical Overview (cont’d)(cont’d)

Wikis use a simplified markup language called wikitext in conjunction with HTML Creates a consistent look-and-feel Makes it easy for authors to add, edit, and link

to other articles without worrying about technical details behind their input

Can run as standalone applications or as an application server across multiple hardware platforms

Hypertext and the Beginnings of Hypertext and the Beginnings of

WikisWikis

1945: Vannevar Bush develops Memex, the first microfilm hypertext system

1972: Allen Newell (of CMU!) develops ZOG hypertext system, which grows into Donald McCracken and Robert Akscyn’s Knowledge Management System

1987: Apple HyperCard allows editing and linking between virtual cards

1995: Ward Cunningham installs his WikiWikiWeb on the internet

“Wiki” comes from the Hawaiian “wiki,” or “quick”

Wikis and the Wikis and the WorldWideWebWorldWideWeb

2000’s: Wikis begin to be used in business as collaborative software

At first popular only among free software developers

2001: Wikipedia brings wikis to the attention of the general public

2004: Wikia (Wikicities) launches – free web hosting site for wikis

Wiki sites and engines (softwares) grow exponentially post-2000

Positive Aspects of Positive Aspects of WikisWikis

Public Large community of collaborators Opportunity to share large amounts of

information

Private Integration of wikis in enterprises Lower cost of publication

Positive Aspects of Positive Aspects of WikisWikis

Education Improvement in Research Communication between different educational

institutions Improvement of established teaching methods

through collaboration

CriticismsCriticisms Since the public can edit wikis, the systems

can be easily tampered with Allowing anyone to edit content doesn’t mean

everyone is well-meaning

In larger wikis (those run by the Wikimedia Foundation), vandalism can go unnoticed for long periods of time

Lars Aronsson, data systems specialist: “It sounds like offering free spray cans next to a grey concrete wall.”

CriticismsCriticisms Accuracy of information

Lack of authority

Quality of writing frequently lower than in other publications

Anonymity of editors

Bias in the articles, despite attempts to keep an unbiased view

OpinionsOpinionsOpinions are more solid for younger students:

- They heavily use Wikipedia for their works

- Thus they take Wikipedia as a very useful and

viable source

Opinions for high school students:

- Wikipedia for more high school students become a

secondary source

- Wikipedia still considered a good source

Opinions pt 2Opinions pt 2

People older than of high school age:

- Discourage the use of Wikipedia due to its unreliable

edited information

*Opinions change as age increases because the older students can find better outside sources than younger students*