A wiki (IPA: or according to Ward Cunningham) is a type of website that allows users easily to add, remove, or otherwise edit and change most available content, sometimes without the need for registration. This ease of interaction and operation makes a wiki an effective tool for collaborative writing. The term wiki can also refer to the collaborative software itself (wiki engine) that facilitates the operation of such a website (see wiki software), or to certain specific wiki sites, including the computer science site (and original wiki), WikiWikiWeb, and the online encyclopedias such as Wikipedia.
The first wiki, WikiWikiWeb, is named after the "Wiki Wiki" line of Chance RT-52 buses in Honolulu International Airport, Hawaii. It was created in 1994 and installed on the web in 1995 by Ward Cunningham, who also created the Portland Pattern Repository. "Wiki-wiki" means "hurry quick" in Hawaiian. It also refers to a type of native fish of the islands.
Wikisphere
"Wikisphere" is a generic term already in usage. It is added here to collimate the term Blogosphere and distinguish differences between the genres or the parallel and virtual universes of wikis and blogs. In this sense the term "Wikisphere" does not refer to any specific commercial domain name or corporation.
HP's first 13.3-inch Pavilion vs. the competition
Wed, 01 Oct 2008 12:34:18 -0700
HP is shipping its first laptop with a 13.3-inch widescreen display. The HP Pavilion dv3500t series is already available on HP's site starting at $1,000, and a slightly higher-end configuration, the dv3520nr, is available for pre-order at Best Buy for $1,200. Other sites have reported that this model will be...
A new mystery: What's Microsoft got up its Office Live sleeve?
Wed, 01 Oct 2008 12:22:06 -0700
It sounds like Microsoft has yet another Professional Developers Conference PDC announcement percolating -- beyond the Windows 7, Oslo, cloud OS (Red Dog/Zurich) and Mesh Platform stuff about which the company already has been dropping hints. by Mary Jo Foley
Google talks efficient data centers
Wed, 01 Oct 2008 12:18:32 -0700
Google is known as a search titan, but its real business is running data centers. On Wednesday, Google handed out a few key tips as it touted its data center efficiency and sustainability efforts. In a blog post, Google's senior vice president of operations Urs Hölzle outlined...
Apple strikes back against Psystar, asks for counterclaim to be dismissed
Wed, 01 Oct 2008 12:17:23 -0700
Apple has hit back against claims made by Mac-clone maker Psystar that the company is operating in violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act and the Clayton Antitrust Act and will be asking the U.S. District Court judge to dismiss to dismiss the counterclaim. by Adrian Kingsley-Hughes
Microsoft HealthVault offers the nickel tour
Wed, 01 Oct 2008 12:08:55 -0700
Nolan insists that "third party applications" will be what get HealthVault over the top, and it's in making those available that he hopes the system will prove its value. by Dana Blankenhorn
Student Technology Day: "Windows Cloud" revealed
Wed, 01 Oct 2008 11:47:18 -0700
Steve Ballmer was next door in the Queen Elizabeth Hall talking to the TechNet/TechEd people about Office Live, and mentioning that there would be a major announcement at the PDC on the 27th October. Once he finished there, he popped next door and told us a similar thing. ...
MeatballWiki - Interested in online communities, culture, hypermedia. Topics range from intellectual property to cyberpunk to uniform resource identifiers; and a good reference on wiki technology.
Portland Pattern Repository / Wiki Wiki Web - The original wiki, created by Ward Cunningham in 1995, from which all other wikis are descended. Discusses a wide range of software-related topics, such as pattern languages and Extreme Programming.
Socialtext - Offers an Enterprise Wiki as a hosted service or installed on a hardware appliance.
Weblog Kitchen - The Weblog Kitchen explores current research in weblogs, wikis, and other hypertext systems.
Wiki Wiki Web FAQ - Frequently asked questions about Wikis, how they work, and a history of them.