Wikisource's sister projects
Most INTHEBLACK readers would be familiar with Wikipedia, the online encyclopedia that makes use of user-generated content. Wikipedia now has an enormous number of entries covering an astonishing array of subject matter. It is available in a wide variety of languages.
Inspired by the considerable amount of user-generated content now uploaded to the site, Wikipedia's publishers have started projects that allow users to upload and create content under more specific content types.
Listed at the bottom of the Wikipedia home page are eight services that are collectively known as Wikisource's sister projects. Each allows users to create new content, as well as edit and comment on entries that already exist. As with Wikipedia, contributions are encouraged from all users regardless of their language.
The Wiktionary contains dictionary and thesaurus entries that can include sound files and translations. Wikinews is a current news service that taps into citizen journalism. Users are encouraged to write articles on current local and world events.
Wikiquote is a collection of quotes from famous people, including authors and political figures, as well as film and television scripts, and literary works. Entries are also grouped by themes. Currently on the homepage direct links are provided to quotes from TV shows such as Monty Python's Flying Circus, Seinfeld and The Simpsons, while literary works quoted include The Lord of the Rings and 1984.
Other sister projects include Wikibooks, where the text of books no longer covered by copyright are loaded, and Wikimedia Commons, where items of various media types can be loaded, including images and video. Wikiversity encourages the uploading and creation of learning resources and collaborative learning communities.
All these services have obvious competitors in each of their areas, some of which are more successful than others. What the sister services do show to great effect is the terrific flexibility of the Wikisource format and template.
Members can contact CPA Australia at knowledge@cpaaustralia.com.au with their experiences of Web 2.0
If you are maintaining a blog, MySpace or FaceBook page, have uploaded items to YouTube, or have written or contributed to Wiki pages, or are using any other Web 2.0 services, we would like to hear from you.
For further information visit the Wikipedia website.
Reference: July 2008, volume 78:06, p. 20 - 23
