Wikipedia is a multilingual, web-based, free content encyclopedia

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Wikipedia is a multilingual, web-based, free content encyclopedia project. Wikipedia is written collaboratively by volunteers from all around the world. With rare exceptions, its articles can be edited by anyone with access to the Internet, simply by clicking the edit this page link. The name Wikipedia is a portmanteau of the words wiki (a type of collaborative website) and encyclopedia. Since its creation in 2001, Wikipedia has grown rapidly into one of the largest reference Web sites. (www.wikipedia.org)In every article, links guide users to associated articles, often with additional information. Anyone is welcome to add information, cross-references or citations, as long as they do so within Wikipedia’s editing policies and to an appropriate standard. One need not fear accidentally damaging Wikipedia when adding or improving information, as other editors are always around to advise or correct obvious errors, and Wikipedia’s software, known as MediaWiki, is carefully designed to allow easy reversal of editorial mistakes.There is a group of individuals that believe the end of Wikipedia is close as people use the tool to self-promote. Please read the article; See AttachedAnswer the following discussion question:1) Where do you think the future of Wikipedia is headed?When Wikipedia didn’t make changes to what Microsoft claims is erroneousinformation about a key software standard, the software company reached for itswallet. Microsoft offered to pay blogger Rick Jelliffe to post information on Wikipedia,the online encyclopedia, to "correct" what Microsoft claims is incorrect informationabout a key software standard."I was a little surprised to receive e-mail a couple of days ago from Microsoft sayingthey wanted to contract someone independent, but friendly, for a couple of days toprovide more balance concerning ODF/OOXML," Jelliffe writes on his blog atXML.com. OOXML is a Microsoft-sponsored variation of the Open Document Formatelectronic publishing standard.Jelliffe, who is CTO at XML software developer Topologi, says he’s likely to acceptthe offer; he didn’t disclose financial details. A spokesman for Microsoft saysWikipedia forced the company’s hand by refusing to correct the information Microsoftsays is inaccurate.Wikipedia officials aren’t impressed with the pay-for-play campaign. "At a minimum, itcould be viewed as unethical," says general counsel Brad Patrick. "Microsoft wantingto soften the edges on an entry raises concerns about the perceived independenceof both Wikipedia and Microsoft.Wikipedia will fail in four years, crushed under the weight of an automated assault bymarketers and others seeking online traffic.So says law professor Eric Goldman, who predicts Wikipedia’s downfall in a blogpost made on Tuesday. Goldman predicted a five-year lifespan for Wikipedia lastyear, and this post represents a reiteration of his position.Goldman, a professor at the Santa Clara University School of Law, argues thatWikipedia will see increasingly vigorous efforts to subvert its editorial process, muchas Digg has seen. As marketers become more determined and turn to automatedtools to alter Wikipedia entries to generate online traffic, Goldman predictsWikipedians will burn out trying to keep entries clean."Thus, Wikipedia will enter a death spiral where the rate of junkiness will increaserapidly until the site becomes a wasteland," Goldman writes. "Alternatively, toprevent this death spiral, Wikipedia will change its core open-access architecture,increasing the database’s vitality by changing its mission somewhat."Workforce Optimization improves staff productivity and performance in theback office.Discover why insurers are increasingly relying on workforce optimization.As precedent, Goldman cites the fate of the Open Directory Project, a user-editedWeb directory, which he says "is now effectively worthless.""I love Wikipedia," Goldman concludes. "I use it every day. Based on the stats frommy Google personalized search, Wikipedia is the No. 1 site I click on from Googlesearch results. So I’m not rooting for it to fail. But the very architecture of Wikipediacontains the seeds of its own destruction. Without fame or fortune, I don’t thinkWikipedia’s incentive system is sustainable."

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