Wikis+are+Web2.0

Is a wiki Web2.0 ?
Wikipedia (2008), suggests the term Web2.0 became notable after the first O’Reilly Web2.0 Media Conference in 2004. Wikipedia is quoted here at some risk, considering the schism in educational institutions as to its validity as an academic source of information. Wikipedia, however, is a part of Web2.0 and it seems disingenuous not to include it. Tim O’Reilly (2005)provides a complex and extensive description of the features of Web2.0. He suggests that Web2.0 involves;
 * Providing access to web based data management, facilities, rather than providing applications as such. That data is produced at what he calls the “edge of the web” by everyone who is interested, rather than by a few at what he calls the “centre of the web”. Suggesting that the fundamental rule is, the more the service is used the greater the amount of data involved. Use has no impact on the amount of data in Web1.0 applications, in comparison.
 * Harnessing collective intelligence; data is collectively generated and scrutinised. Another point of difference cited is that Web2.0 applications, unlike Web1.0 applications, allow users to display data as they choose and to make hyperlinks as they see fit. The result being that Web2.0 “connections grow organically as an output of collective activity of all web users” (O’Reilly, 2005, p6).
 * It would appear that Web2.0 is built around a participatory model. Richardson (2006, p5) citing Rushkoff, highlights this participatory model of Web2.0 stating that “every person with access will have the ability to contribute ideas and experiences to the larger body of knowledge that is the Internet, and in doing so …they will be writing the human story in real time, together”.
 * The ability to harness, collective intelligence and the wisdom of crowds, depending on the application. With Collective Intelligence, being defined as emerging through deliberation, where people share, alter and evaluate other’s contributions to arrive at common ground. This not the same as the wisdom of crowds which James Suriowecki (1995)suggests is that the wisdom achieved when data from a number of sources is aggregated.

If this is a useful conceptualization of what Web2.0 is, then applications that are clearly identified with Web2.0 should fit easily within it.

Looking at Wikispaces, is the data being produced at the edge? That data is defiantly being produced at the edge there has been no editor, publishing house or scrutiny by others before publishing. It is self evident that the greater the number of users (bloggers) the greater the data available, will be. It is possible to change how the data is displayed with the content being displayed in an order and logic which is the authors. There is also a set of layout templates to choose from and with knowledge of HTLM / PHP it would possible to make some major changes to the look of the blog. The range of additional widgets and tools that can be added to the blog is also extensive. This wiki, however, currently fails the conceptualisation being put forward with regard to collective activity. There are links out, but these are static rather than two way and there are no comments at this point in time. It has yet to become part of the blogosphere, threfore it has as yet, not been subjected to the wisdom of crowds. It has not had the opportunity for selection, comment and dissemination by the community of web users. This is not because its not possible but rather it is as yet not utilised.