What Is Wikipedia? A Guide To The Most Unique
Encyclopedia On The Net
Author: Madison Lockwood

Wikipedia is an open source encyclopedia, a website where
anyone can write and post an article on any topic of their
choice. The site has been a remarkable success, with thousands
of amateur authorities weighing in on an infinite variety of
topics. As of the summer of 2005, Wikipedia was home to nearly
850,000 articles in English alone, with many other entries in
dozens of additional languages. They currently have over 1.3
million articles in English, 445,000 in German, 342,000 in
French and lesser totals in many other languages, such as
Dutch, Spanish, and Japanese. Wikipedia has become an
international phenomenon.

For pedestrian research Wikipedia can be a remarkable resource.
Search on wheat production in Kansas, and you'll get seventeen
articles that refer you to a commodities trading organization,
a couple of agriculture publications, the Kansas Board of Trade
and links to other sites that may or may not be related. If you
don't find what you want, chances are that a search on Kansas
will get you their annual wheat production in a review of the
state and its resources. For general information, Wikipedia has
become a repository for an unmatched collection of resources.
From quantum physics to cartoons, you'll find something on
virtually any topic.

The information provided there seems factual, precise and for
the most part professionally presented. Wikipedia does employ a
staff of article checkers, in order to eliminate the most
egregious examples of self aggrandizing nonsense. Most articles
are posted by registered users, which cuts down on the traffic
from flamers. Contributors are also able to edit posted
articles and contribute further knowledge they may have.

Wikipedia has suffered some growing pains recently in
situations where it has become a resource for current events.
For example, the entry on Enron's Kenneth Lay had several
erroneous entries about the circumstances of his death, as well
as a few soapbox entries about the death of the Houston rip-off
artist, etc. There have been other instances where edits have
been made regarding breaking news that have been incorrect.
Because Wikipedia has become such a widespread resource, the
managers of the site and its founder, Jimmy Wales, have been
criticized.

It is a legitimate question as to whether Wikipedia has a role
in the business of newsgathering with its open source format.
Management's response has been that henceforth, there will be
no more anonymous entries but that only registered users will
be allowed to post on the site. But while the operators of
Wikipedia wrestle with success, it is nevertheless a unique
information resource - an encyclopedia drawn from the
population at large.

The front page has featured articles and links to a number of
sections. One provides tips to using the site, while another is
a reference section designed to function as a library resource.
There are a couple of community forums and news about new
features on the site.

Sister projects include a Wiktionary - their dictionary and
thesaurus service. Wikispecies is a biological database about
the species found among flora and fauna. Wikisource is a free
content library - a source of links to online content that has
been made available at no cost. The family of Wiki services
(Wikiwiki means "in a hurry" in Hawaiian) is a unique online
service that owes its origin to the open-source, anarchic
origins of the World Wide Web. Some intelligent fellow came
along and found a way to present information in an organized
fashion, provided by participants and at no cost - and to make
a personal commercial success of it. That is the internet at
its best.


About The Author: Madison Lockwood is a customer relations
associate for http://ApolloHosting.com,
http://www.apollohosting.com. As a small business consultant,
she helps prospective clients understand how a website may
benefit them both personally and professionally. Apollo Hosting
provides website hosting, ecommerce hosting, & vps hosting to a
wide range of customers.