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March 07, 2003
wiki, wiki, wow, wow
In a recent session of the Virtual Classroom, Ross demonstrated the "wiki" system of web authoring and content creation. Wiki is perhaps the purest form of hypermedia to be implemented on the WWW thus far. It is closer in spirit to Vannevar Bush's MEMEX (see As We May Think) than other forms of web content because it allows readers and authors equal control over the content of web-based pages.
What Wiki lacks in graphical sophistication (and this can be modified of course) is more than made up by the efficiency of the system. Wiki is fast, thus the name. Wiki is free. Wiki is dynamic and fluid. Wiki fosters ideas. Wiki is about trust, because anyone can modify anyone else's text. This is perfect for online communities when there is mutual respect.
Here are a few Wiki sites where you can see the technology in action:
Wikipedia
"The free encyclopedia"
And Stuff Wiki
"A discussion community centered on world views."
SeedWiki
A Wiki host site
And, of course, wiki creator Ward Cunningham's original Wiki Wiki Web
I've put up a wiki called
Art and Technology. We can use this to experiment with open-web editing. Use it for discussions, personal projects, schedules, anything... Try it out, create your own page and get a feel for the wiki way!
Posted by Eleanor Ramsay at March 7, 2003 10:46 AM