On 8/20/2010 7:36 PM, Pranesh Prakash wrote: > Could someone who follows this more closely explain how big a leap > "wikimath" is from having these discussions on Usenet and mailing lists? > So far as blogs go, I can see no difference at all -- the most complex > commenting systems approach the "thread-ability" of e-mail. > > - Pranesh > > --------- > > http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20727742.800-flawed-proof-ushers-in-era-of-wikimath.html
There are some important differences from email - wikis are multi-user by design, are available in a common location, and are editable by anyone with the appropriate permissions. I do share your bemusement, however, in that this is hardly new. There is even the buzzword "crowdsourcing" to point to the rise of this phenomenon in the mainstream media. Closer to home (heh)[1], our own Chris Kelty has been doing this for a while now with his own scholarly work, notably with _Two Bits_ [2]. Udhay [1] for those who remember the session on "what is the meaning of the word 'home'?" that Bernhard conducted during one of the FoU camps, this will be even more amusing. [2] http://twobits.net/modulate/ -- ((Udhay Shankar N)) ((udhay @ pobox.com)) ((www.digeratus.com))
