Hi all and apologies for the hiatus in posting. End of the old year and start of the new have definitely provided more than a few distractions. In any case, back into it now and hoping to be able to provide more frequent Stickyness in 2011.
To get things rolling, here's a couple things that caught my eye this week:
Facebook is making big strides towards having its own economy. With Facebook Credits out of beta and set to become the mandatory currency for all social gaming purchases (Thanks Mashable: http://mashable.com/2011/01/24/facebook-credits-out-of-beta/), and the recent announcement that Facebook is testing a Group Buying scheme using the credits as currency ( http://mashable.com/2011/01/26/facebook-buy-with-friends/), it certainty looks like the site is setting itself up for a transition into a more commercial environment, and one that it pulls all the levers in. Who's taking bets on Facebook Credits being listed as a tradeable currency within 2 years? I've got a case of red on it if there are any takers?
And, the New York times is thinking of creating its own version of Wikileaks (Thanks Cutline: http://yhoo.it/fU3SDA) The ironic nature of the relationship between Wikileaks, Assange and main stream outlets like the NYT aside, this is certainly an interesting development that might not bode well for Wikileaks in the long run, certainty feels like a good move for news. I'm just left wondering about how much we can trust the main stream outlets when it comes handling really explosive info.
Happy weekend
Showing posts with label wiki. Show all posts
Showing posts with label wiki. Show all posts
Friday, January 28, 2011
Friday, March 27, 2009
Wikirank: Find What’s Trending on Wikipedia
Thanks Mashable for this on a great tool for monitoring trends on wikipedia.
March 25th, 2009 | by Jennifer Van Grove12 Comments
Wikirank uses the actual usage data from Wikipedia servers to give visitors a better global or custom view of what’s happening across the information hub. Cooler features include the ability to graphically compare impressions on four different articles, embed graphs, view Wikipedia entries, and quickly search for related content on Google News, Twitter (
We really like Wikirank’s trending topics on the home page. Topics are ranked by percent change and certainly provide a great graphical view of major fluctuations in page views. Plus, the most read topics in the past 30 days give us an awesome glimpse at what’s hot over a longer duration.
We love the tool and can’t wait to use it to start comparing pop culture and Web trends, especially since Wikipedia has 10 million plus articles and is most likely one of the first places mainstream audiences go for information on the Web. What do you think of Wikirank? Tell us in the comments.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Introducing Knol
Wikipedia, Meet Knol
By MIGUEL HELFT
Seven months after Google began testing a service called Knol, a Wikipedia competitor, the company on Wednesday finally rolled it out.
The search expert Danny Sullivan aptly describes Knol as “Like Wikipedia, With Moderation.” Articles on various topics are penned by individuals, and in many cases, experts — not collectively by the anonymous masses. Knol authors can choose to benefit from the “wisdom of the crowds” by letting others edit or supplement their articles. But those changes make it into Knol entries only with the author’s permission.
Knol, which, by the way, is short for knowledge, is making some people uneasy because it further transforms Google from a search engine that helps people find content into a site that helps people create and publish content.
Even though it will make money on many Knol pages with its AdSense program, Google promises that the objectivity of its search engine will not be compromised.
“We will treat Knol pages as we treat other Web pages,” said Cedric Dupont, a Google product manager. “If there is a Knol that is the first place in search results, it deserves that place.”
Of course, on many searches, it is Wikipedia’s ad-free pages that show up at the top of search results.
Mr. Dupont dismissed speculation that Knol was designed as a Wikipedia killer: “Google is very happy with Wikipedia being so successful. Anyone who tries to kill them would hurt us.”
There is a striking similarity between one aspect of the two sites. The text of Knol articles uses the same font as Wikipedia. Mr. Dupont said that is simply coincidence, as it is a commonly used font.
For now, Knol has only a few hundred articles, compared to the nearly 2.5 million in Wikipedia’s English language version. And for now, the best place to follow the debate on whether or not Knol is a Wikipedia killer is on the Knol entry on, where else, Wikipedia.
By MIGUEL HELFT
Seven months after Google began testing a service called Knol, a Wikipedia competitor, the company on Wednesday finally rolled it out.The search expert Danny Sullivan aptly describes Knol as “Like Wikipedia, With Moderation.” Articles on various topics are penned by individuals, and in many cases, experts — not collectively by the anonymous masses. Knol authors can choose to benefit from the “wisdom of the crowds” by letting others edit or supplement their articles. But those changes make it into Knol entries only with the author’s permission.
Knol, which, by the way, is short for knowledge, is making some people uneasy because it further transforms Google from a search engine that helps people find content into a site that helps people create and publish content.
Even though it will make money on many Knol pages with its AdSense program, Google promises that the objectivity of its search engine will not be compromised.
“We will treat Knol pages as we treat other Web pages,” said Cedric Dupont, a Google product manager. “If there is a Knol that is the first place in search results, it deserves that place.”
Of course, on many searches, it is Wikipedia’s ad-free pages that show up at the top of search results.
Mr. Dupont dismissed speculation that Knol was designed as a Wikipedia killer: “Google is very happy with Wikipedia being so successful. Anyone who tries to kill them would hurt us.”
There is a striking similarity between one aspect of the two sites. The text of Knol articles uses the same font as Wikipedia. Mr. Dupont said that is simply coincidence, as it is a commonly used font.
For now, Knol has only a few hundred articles, compared to the nearly 2.5 million in Wikipedia’s English language version. And for now, the best place to follow the debate on whether or not Knol is a Wikipedia killer is on the Knol entry on, where else, Wikipedia.
Thanks to the New York Times for this post also found at:
http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/07/23/wikipedia-meet-knol/index.html?ref=technology
http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/07/23/wikipedia-meet-knol/index.html?ref=technology
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Alternative reality games (ARGs)
Posted on Contagious a little while ago, this article provides access to a few of the bigger ARGs on at the moment:
McDonald's Olympic - The Lost Ring and The Dark Knight Returns. NB: the Batman wiki give a great overview of the volume of activity going into the game/campaign
The Alternate Reality Game (ARG) is becoming an increasingly mainstream marketing tool, with everyone from Guinness to Warner Bros to P&G getting involved. For the uninitiated, an ARG is a gigantic treasure hunt played out both on and offline in which participants collaborate to solve puzzles and reach the game’s conclusion. This week sees the launch of The Lost Ring, an ARG to neatly remind us that it’s not only the sexy advertisers - the movies, the games - that get to play in this space. In an odd yet intriguing pairing, fast food giant McDonald’s is sponsoring the game in conjunction with the International Olympic Committee.
So far , the action appears to be an effort to highlight the true meaning of the Olympics (apparently it isn’t just there to throw the East-West Cold War and some hefty sponsorship deals into sharp relief). The story begins as follows: ‘Late in February 2008, six people awoke, blindfolded and garbed in athletic attire, in labyrinths scattered across the world. None remembered their past, but all bore a tattoo on their arm reading Trovu la ringon perditan, or "Find the lost ring" in Esperanto.’
It’s compelling stuff. Rumours abound that the puppetmasters in this case are none other than AKQA, which would explain the beautifully produced trailer video designed to get you started:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=HV2taCwugzk
The video directs you to the campaign website, www.thelostring.com - again, gorgeous to look at and fun to play with. And as with all ARGs, at the centre of the campaign is a part user-generated part professionally steered wiki, here: http://olympics.wikibruce.com/Home.
As many failed attempts at ARGs have shown, the form works best when the game builds towards a definitive conclusion, such as a movie or game release - or the Olympics. We’ve no idea where McDonald’s fits into all this, but it’s going to be intriguing to see how the golden arches will be integrated as the game goes on, if at all. Many ARGs feature real world interaction, and using the company’s retail outfits as meeting points could be a tidy tie-in. Are we all shortly to be found staggering round the Maccy D’s on Oxford Street asking strangers if they know where the ring is in Esperanto?
With the trailer already standing at around half a million views, The Lost Ring is off to a flying start. Points to McDonald’s for some creative leverage of their sponsorship, and to the IOC for embracing the power of the web to engage and inform. Now if only they could convince the Chinese government to do the same...
BONUS NEWS! The activity surrounding The Dark Knight, the next installment of the hugely successful Batman movie franchise, looked set to take the ARG form firmly into the mainstream with its mixture of just-dark-enough subject matter, and digital and real world interaction. Despite a hiatus following actor Heath Ledger’s untimely death, the game is happily still going on, highlighting the form’s flexibility. Check it out here.
http://batman.wikibruce.com/Home
McDonald's Olympic - The Lost Ring and The Dark Knight Returns. NB: the Batman wiki give a great overview of the volume of activity going into the game/campaign
The Alternate Reality Game (ARG) is becoming an increasingly mainstream marketing tool, with everyone from Guinness to Warner Bros to P&G getting involved. For the uninitiated, an ARG is a gigantic treasure hunt played out both on and offline in which participants collaborate to solve puzzles and reach the game’s conclusion. This week sees the launch of The Lost Ring, an ARG to neatly remind us that it’s not only the sexy advertisers - the movies, the games - that get to play in this space. In an odd yet intriguing pairing, fast food giant McDonald’s is sponsoring the game in conjunction with the International Olympic Committee.
So far , the action appears to be an effort to highlight the true meaning of the Olympics (apparently it isn’t just there to throw the East-West Cold War and some hefty sponsorship deals into sharp relief). The story begins as follows: ‘Late in February 2008, six people awoke, blindfolded and garbed in athletic attire, in labyrinths scattered across the world. None remembered their past, but all bore a tattoo on their arm reading Trovu la ringon perditan, or "Find the lost ring" in Esperanto.’
It’s compelling stuff. Rumours abound that the puppetmasters in this case are none other than AKQA, which would explain the beautifully produced trailer video designed to get you started:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=HV2taCwugzk
The video directs you to the campaign website, www.thelostring.com - again, gorgeous to look at and fun to play with. And as with all ARGs, at the centre of the campaign is a part user-generated part professionally steered wiki, here: http://olympics.wikibruce.com/Home.
As many failed attempts at ARGs have shown, the form works best when the game builds towards a definitive conclusion, such as a movie or game release - or the Olympics. We’ve no idea where McDonald’s fits into all this, but it’s going to be intriguing to see how the golden arches will be integrated as the game goes on, if at all. Many ARGs feature real world interaction, and using the company’s retail outfits as meeting points could be a tidy tie-in. Are we all shortly to be found staggering round the Maccy D’s on Oxford Street asking strangers if they know where the ring is in Esperanto?
With the trailer already standing at around half a million views, The Lost Ring is off to a flying start. Points to McDonald’s for some creative leverage of their sponsorship, and to the IOC for embracing the power of the web to engage and inform. Now if only they could convince the Chinese government to do the same...
BONUS NEWS! The activity surrounding The Dark Knight, the next installment of the hugely successful Batman movie franchise, looked set to take the ARG form firmly into the mainstream with its mixture of just-dark-enough subject matter, and digital and real world interaction. Despite a hiatus following actor Heath Ledger’s untimely death, the game is happily still going on, highlighting the form’s flexibility. Check it out here.
http://batman.wikibruce.com/Home
Monday, March 17, 2008
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