WIKIS AND SHARED KNOWLEDGE REPOSITORIES MINDFUSE

Group Members  Kyle Fishwick  Kevin Maung  Roselyn Odulate  Zahra Alkhalifah

Topics What is a Wiki? What is a Blog? Software Selection Use Cases Q/A

What is Wiki? A wiki is a website that allows the easy creation and editing of any number of interlinked Web pages, using a simplified markup language or a WYSIWYG text editor, within the browser. Wiki software  is a type of collaborative software program that typically allows web pages to be created and collaboratively edited using a common web browser. - Wikipedia.org

Wiki Characteristics Invites all users to create or edit any pages within the wiki Website. It promotes meaningful topic association between different pages by making page link creation easy. It seeks to involve its visitors in an ongoing process of creation and collaboration that constantly changes the website landscape.

Software Selection

Blog A blog ("web log") is a type of website, maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in reverse-chronological order. "Blog" can also be used as a verb, meaning to maintain or add content to a blog.

What do blog’s do? They may provide commentary or news on a particular subject. They could function on a deeper level with online diary’s. A typical blog combines text, images, and links to other blogs, websites and other media related to its topic. The ability for readers to leave comments in an interactive format! Blogs are primarily textual, although some focus on art, photographs, videos, music and audio or ‘podcasting.’ Short post = micro-blogging (twitter?)  Another type of blogging, featuring very short posts. As of December 2007, blog search engine Technorati was tracking more than 112 million blogs.

Dimensions

Important Features Communication  Capability  Easy contact between users and web administrators to collaborate and improve the wiki page.  RSS Feeds  Notification once the wiki has been added or edited Security  CAPTCHA (Completely Automated Public Turing Test to tell Computers and Humans Apart)  SSL Encryption  Password protected posts

Important Features (Cont.) Document Management  Ability to upload/download files easily.  Ability to share files among users.  Ability to share different types of documents such as  Microsoft Word Documents, PDF files, Microsoft Excel Spread sheets, Microsoft Power Point Presentations, HTML XML source and text files, ZIP files.

Other Features Cost (Free vs. monthly fee) Design (WYSIWYG editing) Data Storage Types Statistics, recent changes, recent visitors FAQ feature “How to use” information Forums and Blogs

USE CASE 1 Science Lab for Better Health Location: Chicago, IL Group Size: 2500 Employees Goal: To find a wiki tool which will allow employees and patients to enhance their knowledge.

Science Lab for Better Health (Objectives) Create an wiki for each lab to post their information, research statistics and results. Exchange and share files among employees and with research partners. Share photos and videos to exchange more detailed information on the situation they face. Create a blog to communicate between the labs and research partners to be efficient.

MUST HAVES NICE TO HAVES Access control (login/password) Embedded video File sharing capability reminders and alerts Blog RSS Feeds notification Mobile reminder USE CASE 1 (Science Lab for Better Health)

LIST OF SOFTWARE NameProsCons CentralDesktop WYSIWYG editing Unlimited bandwidth notifications Templates No ACL No image editing MindTouch ACL (Access Control List) WYSIWYG editing Open source Own domain File/video/flash Expensive SamePage ACL (Access Control List) WYSIWYG editing File sharing Video capability for wiki pages No list No cross-project dashboards

Product Chosen eTouch Samepage Has full feature WYSIWYG editor. Excellent import/export tools. Complete collaboration environment beyond wiki.  Plenty of widgets to incorporate external contents such as video and flash.  Blog feature. Easy to work with.

USE CASE 2 POLYGRAM RECORDS JOHNNY BLAZE Location: Chicago, IL Size: 400 Employees Goal: To develop an online platform that will allow the company to get a meter of their bands’ popularity quickly.

POLYGRAM RECORDS (about) Create Wiki pages that can be edited by Johnny and band members for promotion. Create blogs to produce an interaction between the bands and their fan base. Have administrative staff to remove any destructive comments and posts. Offer text messaging service to remind fans when their band is in the area.

MUST HAVES NICE TO HAVES Communication and interaction with customers. Ability to post comments by anyone Allow band members and fans to post. Keep out attacks Enough space to house text and audio/video Chat integration Live web stream video Capable to offer promotional material in local areas Capable to send links to mobile phones. USE CASE 1 (Polygram Records)

LIST OF SOFTWARE NameProsCons Squarespace -WYSIWYG editing -Search feature -Section editing -No capability -English only (unless you make another site) Typepad.com - capability -Multi site management -Biggest hosting features (has the most space/bandwidth) -English only -No WYSIWYG editing -No Search -No section editing eTouch Wiki -Multiple language - capability -No WYSIWYG editing -No search -No section editing

Product Chosen For the requirements necessary, Polygram chose Squarespace.  Though it did not have an direct capability, its functionality and ease of use from the customers side allows for a more dynamic presentation of the bands.  Its search functionality allows not only bands and administrators to search their blogs, but fans can also do searches in the blog for immediate access.  Its scalable platform allows the record company to create multiple blogs for all their bands while keeping all under the Polygram umbrella.  It had enough bandwidth and storage capacity for current needs.  It was an easy setup and use process for the site and users would see a seamless site where they could link to other bands quickly.  Allows the blog administrator the ability to advertise!  Self branding and owning the domain  Mobile uploads and mobile subscribers get notified on new updates

CONCLUSION Wiki’s and Blog’s are great tools to share information Encourages users to get involved and contribute rather than just observe Plenty of free or low cost software available. Variety of solutions available for different types of needs. Easy to learn and use Easy to maintain

Does this invite users? Good topic association?

Collaboration to gain knowledge.

QUESTIONS?