Wikis are websites, specifically designed for online collaboration. They share many features with other collaboration software, such as blogs and Content Management Systems (CMS). However, it is the combination of their major features that makes them so well suited to online collaboration. Wikis are capable of:
- Multiple-author collaboration on individual pages
- Reviewing changes to pages and reverting to earlier versions
- Easy editing
- Commenting on or discussion about individual pages
- Easy navigation through their complex website structure
Let’s consider each of those.
Multiple author online collaboration on individual pages
Traditionally wiki pages do not have a single author. Several authors collaborate and they can, and frequently do, make amendments and substantial changes to each other’s work. Although open online collaboration is a nice concept, it can degenerate into anarchy. Most wiki software allows the wiki administrator to impose limitations on who can edit pages, such as allowing only people who register with the site or invited authors to edit pages or locking a page once it is considered ‘finished’.
Some people have totally personal wikis and do not allow anyone else to even see their pages, never mind alter them. It is the other features of wikis that they find useful. Such as being able to review changes and revert to earlier versions when preparing documents or keeping a range of linked information on an easily accessible and easily navigable site.
Reviewing changes to pages and reverting to earlier versions
Authors, administrators and readers need to be able to see what changes have been made to wiki pages and who made those changes. If the changes are unacceptable, for example if they contain spam or vandalism, reverting to an earlier version is often the best option. Wiki software packages vary in how they handle reviewing and reverting. The best make the process easier by highlighting changes and allowing you to directly compare versions.
Easy editing
Early wikis were edited with wiki markup language. This is a code that is much simpler to use to format text, insert images and make links than html. The use of wiki markup was one of the features that made wikis so popular for online collaboration. Wikipedia still uses wiki markup. However it is not reasonable to expect occasional users to learn markup language and most wikis nowadays have the facility for WYSIWYG editing. WYSIWYG editors on wikis are nowhere near as sophisticated as the editing options you get in the word processor you use to create off line documents. However, they have improved markedly over the last year or two and are bound to continue to get better.
Commenting on or discussion about individual pages
Commenting on pages is not unique to wikis. You can also post comments on most blogs. The comments can get heated, especially on wikis when authors disagree about what should go on a page.
Comments can give access to your website to spammers or vandals and most wiki software will give you ways to protect against this. This may include requiring registration before peole can edit pages or the use of CAPTCHA techniques to block spambots. Unfortunately, both of these techniques reduce the number of genuine participation a wiki receives.
Easy navigation through complex web site structure
Because several authors are adding new pages to a wiki it is almost impossible to maintain a tidy structure. A hierarchical menu system is unlikely to be effective. Most wiki software will provide several options for easy navigation through the tangle of pages, such as search, keywords, and page lists.
Success in online collaboration often involves choosing the right wiki
There are many wikis available. They all have different features and you need to choose carefully if your online collaboration is going to be successful. I strongly advise you to plan for online collaboration before you just jump in. Decide which wiki features you need.
If you want to get online, contributing to a wiki or getting your own free, hosted wiki are great first steps
Tagged with: Wiki
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