If you’ve been to Wikipedia recently (of course you have), you must have noticed this banner celebrating Wikipedia at 15.
Ward Cunningham begun developing the collaborative knowledge software in Portland, Oregon in 1994. At this time, it wasn’t called Wiki or Wikipedia, it was named WikiWikiWeb when it was installed on the Internet on March 25, 1995. The name came from an experience Cunningham had at a Honololu International Airport where a counter employee urged him to take a “Wiki Wiki Shuttle” (Wiki means quick in Hawaii).
In the video below, Cunningham explains that his goal is to create a platform that included literature put together by people from all over the world who did not necessarily know each other.
Wikipedia is the most popular Wiki site online as it takes 7th position on Alexa’s top ten websites in the world.
Take a minute to imagine all those times you needed information on something important. Moments like the one before your job interview when you had no clue about the business but you took the Richard Branson advice that says “if somebody offers you an amazing opportunity but you are not sure you can do it, say yes – then learn how to do it later.“
Thanks Wikipedia.
Photo Credit
wpmu.mah.se
