BS: Very interesting new website - Helium

Subject: RE: BS: Very interesting new website - Helium
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 26 Jan 07 - 12:23 AM

Noting briefly, (some of) the news media are saying that the guy who was banned by Wiki was hired (implying "recruited") by Microsoft, suggesting that it was Microsoft's idea and they were his only customer. The article linked above makes it clear(?) that he was working independently, seeking whatever customers he could find, but one supposes the media needs a little "spin" to draw in the ad dollars.

Add another Wiki copycat, this one an "experiment" by a Wiki founder. Note: the article linked above and (mostly) pasted here implies the site is up, and you can register now, but they're not yet ready to receive contributed articles.

Citizendium Web Encyclopedia Opens Doors
ARTICLE DATE: 01.24.07
By PC Magazine Staff

Citizendium, a site whose goal is to provide a more authoritative voice than rival Wikipedia, said Wednesday that it has opened its doors.
Users can visit Citizendium, open an account, and begin posting, subject to what the site calls "gentle expert oversight" by a staff of 150 "expert editors".

The Citizendium has also launched an online fundraiser to request tax-free donations from the public to help make the project a reality. It plans to use new funding, or in-kind support, to obtain the server space and bandwidth needed to open the project up to the world and hire new staff. The site is also now officially affiliated with the Tides Center, an incubator for charities, so the site can receive tax-free donations while it works to achieve an official not-for-profit charity status.

The site, launched in October of last year, is designed to eliminate the pure "wisdom of crowds" that dominates Wikipedia, where virtually anyone can sign up and edit entries and create new articles. Traditionally, the site allowed newcomers to immediately have access, although recently the site has restricted some capabilities until edits or new content can be approved.

Citizendium was founded by Larry Sanger, Wikipedia's co-founder, who has called the site an "experimental workspace" rather than an encyclopedia.

"We are demonstrating that experts and non-experts can work shoulder-to-shoulder on a wiki, using their real names, in a collegial atmosphere," Sanger said in a statement Wednesday. "We didn't know whether this would work, but it has so far, quite well. We are learning that accountability has merit in the world of wikis."

In order to be an editor in a specific field, Citizendium requires that academic contributors have the qualifications for a tenured-track professor and professional contributors have qualifications for the profession that they are contributing towards, plus three years of experience.

Copyright (c) 2007 Ziff Davis Media Inc

Interesting, if one doesn't gag and vomit on the name...

John

Subject: RE: BS: Very interesting new website - Helium
From: katlaughing
Date: 25 Jan 07 - 12:41 AM

In case any of you are interested, I learned about Helium through THIS ARTICLE about a man who had a business writing Wiki entires for his clients. he was banned by Wiki. I ofund it quite interesting.

Thanks,

kat

Subject: RE: BS: Very interesting new website - Helium
From: jeffp
Date: 24 Jan 07 - 11:17 PM

Good point.

Subject: RE: BS: Very interesting new website - Helium
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 24 Jan 07 - 09:43 PM

Will be interesting to see what the 'rights/ownership' game is...

Subject: RE: BS: Very interesting new website - Helium
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 24 Jan 07 - 06:11 PM

A selection of articles that I looked at seemed generally well written but somewhat superficial. Since this appears to be a fairly new site, and a new concept, perhaps it will grow.

The management has very impressive credentials, and the concept has lots of promise. As noted the "details" are a bit vague, but registration might provide more info - or not. It would be expected that at least until the competition stiffens up a bit more, most people will post mainly because they feel compelled to offer their opinion, rather than for the compensation; but it would be nice to know what the sharing plan is.

John

Subject: RE: BS: Very interesting new website - Helium
From: jeffp
Date: 24 Jan 07 - 04:57 PM

Looks pretty interesting. I'll have to delve into it more when I have more time. Support group meeting after work, then (hopefully) a rendezvous with my ladyfriend. I'll tell her about it, too, as she does some writing and we've talked about collaborating.

Subject: BS: Very interesting new website - Helium
From: katlaughing
Date: 24 Jan 07 - 04:30 PM

Anyone joined up and done any writing at Helium dot com?. I've just given it a quick once over. Couldn't find anything which says how much one could expect if one's article was rated up top; apparently it would be a percentage of their ad revenues. Maybe one has to join before they give the particulars on that. Anyway, I thought it looked interesting and wanted to share with you all.

kat