OST - WIKIPEDIA

 WIKIPEDIA

Wikipedia:

• Wikipedia is an online encyclopedia.
• Founded in 2001 by Jimmy Wales and Larry Sanger.
• It allows users to create, edit, and contribute to articles on various topics. 
• It has grown into one of the largest and most popular reference websites on the internet.

Functionality:

• Users can create, edit, and contribute to articles.
• Covers a vast array of topics, organized into categories.
• Wikipedia articles cover many subjects, including history, science, technology, culture, and more.

 Principles:

• Operates on the principles of neutrality and verifiability.
• Requires information to be sourced and backed by reliable references.

Editing:

• Wikipedia is an open-editing model.
• Users can edit Wikipedia articles using a simple markup language.
• Allows for easy collaboration and knowledge sharing.

Community:

• Relies on a community of volunteer editors.
• Monitors changes, enforces guidelines and ensures accuracy.

Global Reach:

• Available in multiple languages.
• Provides free access to information worldwide.
• Wikipedia remains a valuable resource for millions of users worldwide.
• It provides free access to information on an unprecedented scale.

Licensing:

• Content is licensed under Creative Commons.
• Allows for reuse and redistribution with proper attribution.
• There are mechanisms in place to prevent vandalism and misinformation, including article protection and review processes.

Reliability:

• Reliability can vary depending on the topic and citations provided.
• Users are encouraged to corroborate information with other sources.

Criticism:

• Faces criticism for issues such as systemic bias and potential misinformation.
• Mechanisms in place to address vandalism and maintain quality.

Value:

• Despite challenges, remains a valuable starting point for research.
• Demonstrates the power of collaborative knowledge-sharing on the internet.