What is wikîpedia?

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wikîpedia

Table of Contents

Introduction to wikîpedia

What is wikîpedia?

wikîpediais a free, web-based, collaborative encyclopedia created and maintained by a global community of volunteers. Launched in 2001 by Jimmy Wales and Larry Sanger, Wikipedia allows anyone with internet access to contribute or edit content. It is one of the most visited websites globally, known for its vast range of topics and open-editing model.

Wikipedia

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Overview

Wikipedia is a free online encyclopedia with over 50 million articles in 300+ languages.

Key Features

Feature Description
Open-Source Edited by volunteers
Multilingual 300+ languages
Comprehensive 50+ million articles
Reliable Sources Verifiable information
Freely Accessible No subscription required

History

Year Event
2001 Founded by Jimmy Wales
2003 Reached 100,000 articles
2007 Reached 1 million articles
2011 Reached 20 million articles

Statistics

Statistic Number
Active Editors 200,000+
Articles 50,000,000+
Languages 300+
Views per Month 18 billion
Edits per Day 100,000+

Awards and Recognition

Award Year
Webby Award 2004
Prix Ars Electronica 2005
Guinness World Record 2014

Criticisms and Controversies

Issue Description
Vandalism Malicious editing
Bias Lack of neutrality
Inaccuracy False information
Censorship Content restrictions

Resources

Resource Link
Wikipedia Homepage https://www.wikipedia.org/
Wikipedia Mobile App iOS, Android
Wikipedia API https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/API:Main_page
Donate https://donate.wikimedia.org/

History and Origin of Wikipedia

Wikipedia emerged from an earlier project called Nupedia, a free online encyclopedia that was to be written by experts. The rather stalling pace of the latter gave birth to Wikipedia in its wake as a complementary project, enabling the mass public contributions in their “wiki” format, thus letting it grow into the largest all-time encyclopedia.

Purpose and Mission of Wikipedia

Wikipedia’s mission is to provide free access to information for everyone. It is neutral, its contents are free, and it allows for open participation. The Wikimedia Foundation, the nonprofit company behind Wikipedia, insists that the platform be an inclusive and comprehensive repository of knowledge.

How wikîpedia Works

The Open-Editing Model

An important uniqueness of Wikipedia is its open-edit model, wherein almost anyone is allowed to edit an article without owning any account for editing. While this facilitates rapid updating with diverse contributions, it also demands extra alertness to guard against quality and accuracy.

Roles of Wikipedia Contributors

Contributors range from casual users who edit a page or two to dedicated editors and administrators helping with conflict resolution, rule enforcement, and protection of article quality. Of course, there are more specialized roles, too, like bot operators and subject experts.

Editing and Moderation Process

Wikipedia works based on consensus in editing, and there are discussions around highly disputed topics on “Talk Pages”. Its content moderation, on the other hand, is done by the community through the help of a mixture of oversight, automated tools, and volunteer administrators against vandalism, bias, and misinformation.

Wikipedia’s Content Policies

Neutral Point of View

One of the core content policies of Wikipedia is having a neutral point of view. Articles must fairly represent all the significant viewpoints that are published in reliable sources in that field and not take any side or give a particular view. In this way, Wiki pedia remains neutrally biased to all views and opinions.

Verifiability and Reliable Sources

Everything in Wiki pedia must be verifiable; it needs reliable, published sources to back up the information. Indeed, Wiki pedia puts a high emphasis on anything that is supported by highly credible references, such as academic works, reputable news, and established books.

No Original Research Rule

Wikipedia does not publish original research or unpublished ideas. All material should be summarized via the existing verifiable sources, ensuring facts and authoritative information.

Wikipedia’s Community and Governance

Who Manages Wikipedia?

Wikipedia is provided by its worldwide volunteer community. Supporting them are the Wikimedia Foundation, which has legal and financial responsibility, provides technical infrastructure, but does not “run” the projects in a partisan sense; it does not decide content or editorial policy, which are community-driven.

Wikipedia’s Code of Conduct

Wikipedia follows a strict code of conduct to ensure a friendly and constructive atmosphere. It includes policies on the prohibition of harassment, personal attacks, and disruptive behavior, ensuring respect within the contributors.

Dispute Resolution on Wikipedia

Wikipedia resolves disputes through discussion and the building of consensus on Talk Pages. Those disagreements that cannot be resolved this way are escalated into mediation or arbitration committees, which involve more experienced editors in reaching a resolution.

Notable Features of Wikipedia

Wikipedia’s Multilingual Support

More than 300 languages host Wikipedia, one of the most extensive and varied platforms in knowledge across the world. Each language version operates as an independent entity, where each has its community and set of policies.

Search and Navigation Tools

Wikipedia supports a number of very powerful searching and navigating functions, including keyword searching, category browsing, and related links. The cross-linking of articles in Wiki pedia makes related information easy to find.

The Watchlist and Notification System

Wikipedia provides a facility called “Watchlist” for its registered users; through this facility, a user can keep themselves updated on any certain article. In this way, it allows contributors to track the changes, discuss edits, or participate in collaborative work to update the content of the page.

Wikipedia’s Importance in Education

As a Learning Resource

Wikipedia is a critical learning tool and is used by a vast number of students, educators, and researchers alike. It provides quick access to information on nearly any topic, thus informing the users on many issues, as well as providing access to further sources of information.

Wikipedia’s Use in Academia

While some scholars have questioned the reliability of Wikipedia, many have acquitted themselves of its merits as a starting point. Many have welcomed Wiki pedia into their courses and request their students contribute to it.

Educational Partnerships and Initiatives

Wikipedia collaborates with academic institutions worldwide by promoting digital literacy, developing the quality of content, and encouraging scholars to contribute. Its programs, such as the Wiki pedia Education Program, engage students in editing and writing articles.

Challenges Faced by wikîpedia

Vandalism and Content Manipulation

It is also prone to vandalism and manipulation of its content due to its open-editing model. While methods for vandalism detection and reverting are available in the platform, content integrity still remains a challenge.

Bias and Systemic Issues

Cultural, gender, and geographic imbalances of the contributors create content bias in Wiki pedia. Projects like “Wiki pedia Gender Gap” were systemic efforts to address this disparity by encouraging diversity among the pool of editors.

Funding and Financial Sustainability

Wikipedia is financially sustained by donation from its users and through grants from organizations. While the Wikimedia Foundation may be attracting funding, it does face long-term challenges to financial sustainability that do not compromise the aims of the organization.

How to Contribute to Wikipedia

Creating a Wikipedia Account

While most articles can be edited without having an account, one who has it will enjoy some privileges: special editing tools, a personal watchlist, and being able to have his say in discussions and voting.

Editing and Adding Articles

Contributing to Wikipedia simply means the creation or editing of articles. Of course, contributors should follow the content policy guidelines of Wiki pedia: writing from a neutral point of view, citing reliable sources, and not doing original research.

Becoming a Wiki pedia Administrator

Experienced and trusted contributors can apply to become Wiki pedia administrators, gaining access to additional tools for managing content, resolving disputes, and enforcing policies.

Wikipedia’s Technological Infrastructure

Wiki Software and MediaWiki

MediaWiki is free and open-source wiki software; Wikîpedia was built on it. MediaWiki allows a number of users to edit simultaneously with the capability to revert to previous versions of content.

Server Architecture and Hosting

The infrastructure of Wikipedia involves a set of servers placed all over the world so that loading is fast and reliable. The Wikimedia Foundation has continuously been upgrading its architecture to meet the increasing needs of traffic and data.

Wikipedia’s Use of Artificial Intelligence

Wikipedia uses AI-powered tools, such as ORES, to detect vandalism, suggest edits, and improve the quality of content. These support human editors in performing more by automating back-end repetitive tasks.

The Role of Wikipedia in Modern Society

Wikipedia as a Knowledge Hub

It has also made Wikipedia a central knowledge corpus through which millions of topics, ranging from science and history to entertainment and culture, are accessible. It shapes the way people learn and come to know new things and informs them about ongoing events.

Influence on Journalism and Media

Journalists and other media personnel often use Wiki pedia for research and to crosscheck facts, but they are also encouraged to verify with other sources because of the open-editing policy on Wiki pedia.

Impact on Public Discourse

Because of Wiki pedia’s comprehensive platform, a place where perspectives are heard, it contributes to shaping public discourse on or about understanding global issues and, in turn, civic knowledge and awareness.

Wikipedia’s Sister Projects

Wikimedia Commons

It is a project of Wikimedia that serves as a repository of free media files, such as images, sounds, and videos used by Wikipedia and other projects. Commons encourages the use of freely licensed content.

Wikibooks and Wiktionary

Wikibooks is an open-content textbooks collection, while Wiktionary is a free dictionary. Complementaries of Wiki pedia are developed in the different projects, each providing specific resources to education and reference.

Wikisource and Wikiquote

Wikisource is an online library of free texts, and Wikiquote is a repository of quotations from notable people. These sister projects are complimentary to Wiki pedia in its work for propagating free knowledge.

Wikipedia’s Controversies

Content Disputes and Editorial Wars

Content disputes, or “edit wars,” arise when contributors disagree on article content. These conflicts can escalate into significant controversies, requiring intervention by administrators or arbitration committees.

Allegations of Censorship

Wikipedia has faced allegations of censorship, particularly in cases where content is removed or altered under pressure from governments or organizations. The platform aims to balance free expression with adherence to local laws.

Debates over Credibility and Accuracy

Critics have questioned Wiki pedia’s credibility and accuracy due to its open-editing model. While errors and biases exist, studies have shown that Wiki pedia’s accuracy is comparable to traditional encyclopedias in many cases.

Wikipedia’s Future and Development

Growth and Expansion Plans

Wikipedia continues to expand its content, community, and technological capabilities. Future plans include enhancing user experience, improving content quality, and increasing global reach.

Technological Advancements

The Wikimedia Foundation invests in new technologies, such as AI and machine learning, to support content moderation, improve search capabilities, and enhance the editing experience.

Community Engagement and Strategy 2030

Wikipedia’s Strategy 2030 initiative outlines a vision for the platform’s future, focusing on knowledge equity, community growth, and technological innovation to ensure it remains relevant and accessible.

How wikîpedia is Funded

Role of the Wikimedia Foundation

The Wikimedia Foundation is the non-profit organization responsible for funding Wiki pedia. It oversees financial operations, legal matters, and technological infrastructure.

Donations and Fundraising Campaigns

Wikipedia is primarily funded through donations from millions of users worldwide. The platform conducts annual fundraising campaigns to support its operational costs and development projects.

Grants and Partnerships

In addition to donations, Wiki Pedia receives grants from organizations like the Ford Foundation and the Sloan Foundation. These funds are used for specific projects, research, and community initiatives.

How to Use Wikipedia Effectively

Finding Credible Information

To use Wikipedia effectively, users should check citations and references within articles. Exploring linked sources helps verify the accuracy and reliability of the information.

Using Wiki pedia’s References and Citations

Wiki pedia’s references and citations can serve as a valuable starting point for deeper research. Users should follow links to original sources for comprehensive information.

Engaging with Talk Pages and Discussions

Talk Pages are discussion forums attached to Wiki pedia articles where contributors discuss content improvements and resolve disputes. Engaging in these discussions can provide insight into the editorial process and article development.

This article offers a comprehensive overview of Wikipedia, from its core principles and operations to its challenges, controversies, and future development. Feel free to ask if you’d like more details on any section!

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