The first question shouldn't really be "do we want a wiki?" but rather "what do we want to do?" and only then "can a wiki help accomplish that?" Maybe we're thinking more about blog functions (like posting articles and allowing others to comment) or chat room functions (for interactive, real-time conversations). In extremely broad, simplified terms, a wiki is a collaborative tool where everyone can edit the same content. Though there usually is some tracking capability, you can't tell just from reading the content who wrote which bits. If I write something, then you change it, then someone else changes it again, the wiki page displays only the most recent changes. Though there are wiki functions that can include the ability to allow people to comment on the content with attribution (like a message board or blog), these comments are separate from the content of the wiki page. I would not be so concerned with the differences between Wikipedia and a TW wiki, but rather the differences between a TCP wiki and the existing TCP email list. Which topics belong on each? When would I as a reader go to the wiki versus search the list archives? Would topics from the list be copied or duplicated on the wiki? What would be the purpose of the content created on the wiki? Would anyone be allowed to post, edit, comment, or only registered list members? Not that I'm opposed to the idea, I think a TCP wiki could be really valuable. But it is one tool out of many, and it is important to understand the benefits and limitations of each. Brenda -------------------- In a message dated 11/28/2006 6:56:45 A.M. US Mountain Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
If I search the Web for a topic and get multiple hits, some in the Wikipedia and some in the TW wiki, would I expect a significant difference between Wikipedia and the TW wiki? ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------------- Brenda Huettner --Coauthor of "Managing Virtual Teams: Getting the Most from Wikis, Blogs, and Other Collaborative Tools" with Kit Brown and Char James-Tanny. _www.wordware.com/wiki/_ (http://www.wordware.com/wiki/) --Chair of IEEE/Professional Communication Society 50th Anniversary Committee. Join us at IPCC2007: Engineering the Future of Human Communication _ www.ieeepcs.org/ipcc2007_ (http://www.ieeepcs.org/ipcc2007) _______________________________________________ Are you a Help Authoring Trainer or Consultant? Let clients find you at www.HAT.Matrix.com, the searchable HAT database based on Char James-Tanny's HAT Comparison Matrix. Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] for details. Interested in Interactive 3D Documentation? Get the scoop at http://www.doc-u-motion.com -- your 3D documentation community. _______________________________________________ Technical Communication Professionals To post a message to the list, send an email to [email protected] To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit http://techcommpros.com/mailman/listinfo/tcp_techcommpros.com or, via email, send a blank message [EMAIL PROTECTED] Visit the TCP site at http://www.techcommpros.com To find out more about the list, including archives and your account options, visit http://techcommpros.com/mailman/listinfo/tcp_techcommpros.com If you need assistance with the list, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
