The Origin and History of Wikipedia

What in the World is Wikipedia?

Wikipedia is simply an electronic encyclopedia representing the collaboration of a unique online community of thinkers and writers. These thinkers and writers vigorously utilize this democratic method of user input designed to cater to all groups and dedicated to providing balanced opinions and articles with the sole purpose of informing.

On January 10, 2001, Larry Sanger presented to the public the idea of using a wiki to develop encyclopedic content. Larry Sanger had been hired in 2000 to be Editor-in-Chief for Nupedia, an open-content, peer-reviewed encyclopedia styled the "free encyclopedia." Jimmy Wales, the founder of Nupedia, set Sanger's proposal to use a wiki to create encyclopedic content into motion. On January 15, 2001, Wikipedia was created; at that time it was simply a wiki-based website to be used for writers contributing content to Nupedia. Collaboration would take place at the wiki site and then be submitted to Nupedia for peer review. Wales and Sanger were scarce prepared for the swift expansion of Wikipedia with the result that the Nupedia project was placed on the backburner and all efforts put to the Wikipedia venture.

A clear understanding of a wiki (pronounced, weekie) will help to explain the unique opportunity provided the online community of users who contribute to Wikipedia and other wiki projects. Indeed, Wikipedia defines a wiki as "a type of website that allows users to easily add, remove or otherwise edit all content very quickly and easily, sometimes without the need for registration." Speed is a key element of the wiki process. Wiki is actually a short form of wiki wiki from the native language of Hawaii; it is most often used to describe something "quick" or "fast." The term was coined by Ward Cunningham after the wiki wiki or quick shuttle buses at Honolulu Airport.