What Is Wiki?
S. Housley
Wiki is web server software that allows users to contribute
content. Collaboration is the key to Wiki, which is designed as
a powerful system for online communities to build web pages and
web sites. Unlike blogs and forums, all users are allowed to
contribute and edit existing content. Wiki is derived from the
Hawaiian term "wiki wiki" meaning "quick". The concept behind a
Wiki is that collaboration on projects will move it along
quicker.
Wikis generally allow web pages to be written, edited and
created collectively in a web browser. Wiki supports hyperlinks
and simple text. Most Wikis are open, and allow any user the
ability to edit the contents of a Wiki web page. While some say
this opens the concept to abuse, Wiki moderators and
self-policing in the Wiki sector appear to be taking hold. Wiki
supporters generally feel that it is generally easier to correct
mistakes than create the content from scratch. Wikipedia is a
standing symbol of what many would consider a succesful Wiki.
Wikipedia - Wikipedia is a popular content encyclopedia that
anyone can edit. http://www.wikipedia.com
Other topic-specific Wikis like Robin Good's RSS Wiki are
proving that collaborative efforts in niche markets can work.
It is true that Wikis are open to abuse, but by design, it is
very easy for a Wiki moderator or other editor to revert the
Wiki to how it appeared prior to edits, essentially rolling
back the Wiki and removing any content deemed inappropriate or
unrelated. Many Wikis track the IP address of visitors and
editors, making it easy to track changes and roll back any
edits from individuals that appear to be abusing their
privileges. In rare cases Wiki operators can protect pages,
making them read-only, which restricts any edits from
occurring. While such actions are against the true Wiki
philosophy, restrictions can be used to preserve the structure
of fully-developed Wikis and protect pages from abuse.
What can Wikis be used for?
Wikis have spawned some interesting uses, including the
development of knowledge bases on both intranets and the
Internet. Product documentation, tutorials and online FAQs are
increasingly created using Wiki collaboration. Other
collaborative Wiki projects that have been spawned include a
Wiki dictionary and directory of famous quotes.
Wikitionary - Wikitionary, a collaborative project to produce a
free multilingual dictionary in every language, with
definitions, etymologies, pronunciations and quotations. -
http://en.wiktionary.org
Wiki Quote - Wikiquote, a free online compendium of quotations
in every language, including sources (where known), and
translations of non-English quotes. - http://en.wikiquote.org
Ultimately, Wikis are ideally suited for internal corporate
projects or committee groups, when all individuals
participating have the same goals in mind. Potential exists for
significant abuse when Wikis remain open in competitive areas.
Overall, Wikis are influential, shaping collaborative online
content development, and are likely to become increasingly
popular. Sadly, as a Wiki's popularity grows, it is likely Wiki
abuse will grow.
About The Author: Sharon Housley manages marketing for
FeedForAll http://www.feedforall.com
software for creating,
editing, publishing RSS feeds and podcasts.
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