While it used to be known as the predecessor of the online library Nupedia, Wikipedia is now known as the biggest online encyclopedia in the world. What makes this website truly unique is that all the articles on this website are user-created. These submissions are all free and the company itself lives on donations alone. The submissions created by someone can also be edited by anyone who has created the account.
Therefore, the information being placed on the site is constantly updated. Currently, Wikipedia has 252 versions in terms of languages, and all of them are also user submitted. Since it’s freely used and edited by virtually anyone, Wikipedia has volunteers based on their headquarters in Florida to check the accuracy of the information given. This is done to prevent online defamation and article vandalism. There are currently 1,831,159 articles in English language alone.
However, Wikipedia is not known only for it’s free articles. Read on and you’ll see the other services Wikipedia has to offer to visitors.
Wikepedia only has articles for you to read. Even though they are complete in themselves, many are still lacking information for people who want to know more than the general information. Don’t worry, Wikipedia has thought of that, and has launched something that will rival it. Wikibooks is an online library which stores books that are freely given because they are all freely created. These books were also created through the collaboration of various writers who are experts in the subject. People can freely check into the website and look at the finished books and download them as PDF files or sometimes as Document (.doc) files. You can also register to join in the collaboration in creating books for any of the subjects you are trained in.
The next feature of Wikipedia targets not only information lovers, but also teachers and professors as well. Wikiversity is a part of wikipedia that deals not only with articles and books, but on learning materials for all kinds of subjects at any grade or skill level. There is also a free curriculum for anyone who wants to learn something online. You can browse various courses online and download all the materials necessary to “graduate” in this course. There are also unfinished projects that are currently worked on by volunteer professionals. You can also take a peek at what they are currently worked on. All of these are for free.
Lastly is the Wikispecies. This free content site is dedicated in indexing all known living forms in the world. Each of them is classified according to their kingdom and classification. There are living things that have pictures and complete information about the species. But there are obscured living beings that are only known through their scientific name and location.
Wikipedia has single-handedly shown us the power of collaboration. If everyone around the world would help each other, There would be no one left uneducated and everyone will prosper slowly, but surely.
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