BLOGS VS WIKIS
A blog is defined as a "regularly updated website or web page, typically run by an individual or small group." Similarly, a wiki is defined as a "website that allows collaborative editing of its content and structure." Both forms of media are websites in which individuals or groups of people post information, news, or feedback on any kind of topic. Blogs more specifically deal with informal posts on both fictional and nonfictional topics that cannot be edited per se, but can be commented on or altered in separate posts. Wikis on the other hand, allow its users to fully edit any content or structure of the webpage, but its main purpose is to collaboratively come up with a unified source of detailed information.
Convergence in today's networked world is very important. Networking including blogs and wikis allow more people to share their knowledge, thoughts, opinions and ideas. Different people's few ideas put together form large chunks of the information provided to us on the internet as a whole.
Blogs can be used for collaboration in many ways. It can be used to gather information on any type of topic or thought. But more importantly in many instances it can help make society safer in some ways. In the article, “Brooklyn Blog Helps Lead to
Drug Raid,” Michael Wilson shows how those people who chose to speak up instead of hiding behind their computers helped the police catch these criminals. Through their blogs and through their voices they provided enough inside information to allow for the police to use that information to make their community so much more safe.
Similarly wikis can be used for collaboration in many ways. One important way was mentioned in Margaret Locher's article, "More on How to Build Your Own Wikipedia." Locher talks about how the technology can help companies gather and manage their own collective knowledge by posting and editing their own wiki page formed specifically for their business. This allows the information to be collected and put together in the most efficient way.
New uses for wikis are emerging each and everyday. I personally cannot think of another use for it, but I am looking forward to eventually learn about all its uses and how I can contribute to them.
