Changes

On the evening of [[January 2]], [[2001]], Sanger had a conversation over dinner with [[WikiWikiWeb:BenKovitz|Ben Kovitz]], a [[computer programmer]], in [[San Diego, California|San Diego]], [[California]]. Kovitz, who was a regular on "[[Ward Cunningham|Ward's]] Wiki" (the [[WikiWikiWeb]]), explained the [[wiki]] concept to Sanger. Sanger saw that a wiki would be an excellent format whereby a more open, less formal encyclopedia project could be pursued. Sanger easily persuaded Wales, who had already been introduced to the wiki concept, to set up a wiki for Nupedia, and Nupedia's first wiki went online on [[January 10]].

On the evening of [[January 2]], [[2001]], Sanger had a conversation over dinner with [[WikiWikiWeb:BenKovitz|Ben Kovitz]], a [[computer programmer]], in [[San Diego, California|San Diego]], [[California]]. Kovitz, who was a regular on "[[Ward Cunningham|Ward's]] Wiki" (the [[WikiWikiWeb]]), explained the [[wiki]] concept to Sanger. Sanger saw that a wiki would be an excellent format whereby a more open, less formal encyclopedia project could be pursued. Sanger easily persuaded Wales, who had already been introduced to the wiki concept, to set up a wiki for Nupedia, and Nupedia's first wiki went online on [[January 10]].

There was considerable resistance on the part of Nupedia's editors and reviewers to the idea of associating Nupedia with a website in the wiki format, so the new project was given the name "Wikipedia" and launched on its own domain, wikipedia.com, on [[January 15]] (now called "[[Wikipedia:Wikipedia Day|Wikipedia Day]]" by some users). The [[bandwidth]] and [[server (computing)|server]] (in San Diego) were donated by Wales. Other current and past [[Bomis]] employees who have worked on the project include [[Tim Shell]], one of the cofounders of Bomis and its current CEO, and programmer Jason Richey. The domain was eventually changed to the present wikipedia.org when the nonprofit [[Wikimedia Foundation]] was launched as its new parent organisation, prompting the use of a .org domain to denote its non-commercial nature. In March 2007, the word ''wiki'' became a newly recognised English word.[http://www.oed.com/help/updates/Prakrit-prim.html]

There was considerable resistance on the part of Nupedia's editors and reviewers to the idea of associating Nupedia with a website in the wiki format, so the new project was given the name "Wikipedia" and launched on its own domain, wikipedia.com, on [[January 15]] (now called "[[Wikipedia:Wikipedia Day|Wikipedia Day]]" by some users). The [[bandwidth]] and [[server (computing)|server]] (in San Diego) were donated by Wales. Other current and past [[Bomis]] employees who have worked on the project include [[Tim Shell]], one of the cofounders of Bomis and its current CEO, and programmer Jason Richey. The domain was eventually changed to the present wikipedia.org when the nonprofit [[Wikimedia Foundation]] was launched as its new parent organisation, prompting the use of a .org domain to denote its non-commercial nature. In March 2007, the word ''wiki'' became a newly recognised English word.[https://www.oed.com/help/updates/Prakrit-prim.html]

In [[May 2001]], a wave of non-English Wikipedias was launched — in [[Catalan language|Catalan]], [[Chinese language|Chinese]], [[Dutch language|Dutch]], [[Esperanto]], [[French language|French]], [[German language|German]], [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]], [[Italian language|Italian]], [[Japanese language|Japanese]], [[Portuguese language|Portuguese]], [[Russian language|Russian]], [[Spanish language|Spanish]], and [[Swedish language|Swedish]]; these were soon joined by [[Arabic language|Arabic]] and [[Hungarian language|Hungarian]].[http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Announcements_May_2001]. In September, [http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Announcements_September_2001] Wikipedia announcements — September 2001 [[Polish language|Polish]] was added and further commitment to the multilingual provision of Wikipedia was made. At the end of the year, [[Afrikaans]], [[Norwegian language|Norwegian]], and [[Serbocroatian language|Serbocroatian]] versions were announced.

In [[May 2001]], a wave of non-English Wikipedias was launched — in [[Catalan language|Catalan]], [[Chinese language|Chinese]], [[Dutch language|Dutch]], [[Esperanto]], [[French language|French]], [[German language|German]], [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]], [[Italian language|Italian]], [[Japanese language|Japanese]], [[Portuguese language|Portuguese]], [[Russian language|Russian]], [[Spanish language|Spanish]], and [[Swedish language|Swedish]]; these were soon joined by [[Arabic language|Arabic]] and [[Hungarian language|Hungarian]].[https://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Announcements_May_2001]. In September, [https://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Announcements_September_2001] Wikipedia announcements — September 2001 [[Polish language|Polish]] was added and further commitment to the multilingual provision of Wikipedia was made. At the end of the year, [[Afrikaans]], [[Norwegian language|Norwegian]], and [[Serbocroatian language|Serbocroatian]] versions were announced.

===Wikipedia statistics===

===Wikipedia statistics===

:''Main articles: [[Wikipedia:Statistics]], [[Wikipedia:Size of Wikipedia]]''

:''Main articles: [[Wikipedia:Statistics]], [[Wikipedia:Size of Wikipedia]]''

There are more than [http://en.wikipedia.org/wikistats/EN/TablesWikipediansEditsGt5.htm 75,000 active contributors] working on some [http://en.wikipedia.org/wikistats/EN/TablesArticlesTotal.htm 5,300,000 articles] in more than [http://en.wikipedia.org/wikistats/EN/Sitemap.htm 100 languages]; every day [http://www.wikipedia.org/wikistats/EN/TablesUsageVisits.htm hundreds of thousands] of visitors from around the world make tens of thousands of edits and create thousands of new articles to enhance the knowledge held by the Wikipedia encyclopedia. Visitors do not need specialised qualifications to contribute, since their primary role is to write articles that cover existing knowledge; this means that people of all ages and cultural and social background can [[Wikipedia:Who writes Wikipedia|write Wikipedia articles]].

There are more than [https://en.wikipedia.org/wikistats/EN/TablesWikipediansEditsGt5.htm 75,000 active contributors] working on some [https://en.wikipedia.org/wikistats/EN/TablesArticlesTotal.htm 5,300,000 articles] in more than [https://en.wikipedia.org/wikistats/EN/Sitemap.htm 100 languages]; every day [https://www.wikipedia.org/wikistats/EN/TablesUsageVisits.htm hundreds of thousands] of visitors from around the world make tens of thousands of edits and create thousands of new articles to enhance the knowledge held by the Wikipedia encyclopedia. Visitors do not need specialised qualifications to contribute, since their primary role is to write articles that cover existing knowledge; this means that people of all ages and cultural and social background can [[Wikipedia:Who writes Wikipedia|write Wikipedia articles]].

All of the text in Wikipedia, and most of the images and other content, is covered by the [[GNU Free Documentation License]] (GFDL). Contributions remain the property of their creators, while the GFDL license ensures the content is freely distributable and reproducible. (See the [[Wikipedia:Copyrights|copyright notice]] and the [[Wikipedia:Content disclaimer|content disclaimer]] for more information.)

All of the text in Wikipedia, and most of the images and other content, is covered by the [[GNU Free Documentation License]] (GFDL). Contributions remain the property of their creators, while the GFDL license ensures the content is freely distributable and reproducible. (See the [[Wikipedia:Copyrights|copyright notice]] and the [[Wikipedia:Content disclaimer|content disclaimer]] for more information.)

At a project level the Foundation also co-ordinates the global policies, practices and facilities of Wikipedia in all languages and its sister projects, provides legal and intellectual property input as required, and is formally responsible for the development of the [[open source]] Wikipedia software ([[Mediawiki]]) as requirements change.  

At a project level the Foundation also co-ordinates the global policies, practices and facilities of Wikipedia in all languages and its sister projects, provides legal and intellectual property input as required, and is formally responsible for the development of the [[open source]] Wikipedia software ([[Mediawiki]]) as requirements change.  

In line with its goal of producing reference material free to all people, the Foundation also operates a [[m:Main Page|Metawiki]] where matters impinging upon all projects, global discussions can take place, and global policies can be formally documented and developed, and an [http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Proposals_for_new_projects incubator] for proposed new projects and new languages, to facilitate their launch and early stage development. [[As of August 2007]] there are around 100 new reference projects in various stages of development initiated by members of the Wikipedia and related communities.

In line with its goal of producing reference material free to all people, the Foundation also operates a [[m:Main Page|Metawiki]] where matters impinging upon all projects, global discussions can take place, and global policies can be formally documented and developed, and an [https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Proposals_for_new_projects incubator] for proposed new projects and new languages, to facilitate their launch and early stage development. [[As of August 2007]] there are around 100 new reference projects in various stages of development initiated by members of the Wikipedia and related communities.

==Making the best use of Wikipedia==

==Making the best use of Wikipedia==

Many visitors come to this site to acquire knowledge, others to share knowledge. In fact, at this very instant, dozens of articles are being improved, and [[Special:Newpages|new articles]] are also being created. You can view changes as they happen at the [[Special:Recentchanges|Recent changes]] page. You also can view [[Special:Randompage|random articles]]. Over 1,500 articles have been designated by the Wikipedia community as [[Wikipedia:Featured articles|featured articles]], exemplifying the best articles in Wikipedia. Another 2,500 articles are designated as [[Wikipedia:Good articles|good articles]]. Wikipedia also has [[Portal:List of portals|portals]], which organize content around topic areas. You may also [[Wikipedia:Searching|search]] for articles, using the search box on the left side of the screen.

Many visitors come to this site to acquire knowledge, others to share knowledge. In fact, at this very instant, dozens of articles are being improved, and [[Special:Newpages|new articles]] are also being created. You can view changes as they happen at the [[Special:Recentchanges|Recent changes]] page. You also can view [[Special:Randompage|random articles]]. Over 1,500 articles have been designated by the Wikipedia community as [[Wikipedia:Featured articles|featured articles]], exemplifying the best articles in Wikipedia. Another 2,500 articles are designated as [[Wikipedia:Good articles|good articles]]. Wikipedia also has [[Portal:List of portals|portals]], which organize content around topic areas. You may also [[Wikipedia:Searching|search]] for articles, using the search box on the left side of the screen.

You also might enjoy reading Wikipedia in other languages. Wikipedia has more than two hundred different languages (see [[#Wikipedia versions in other languages|other language versions]]), including a [http://simple.wikipedia.org Simple English] version, and related projects include a dictionary, quotations, books, manuals, and scientific reference sources, and a news service (see [[#Sister projects|sister projects]]). All of these are maintained, updated, and managed by separate communities, and often include thought-provoking information and articles which can be hard to find through other common sources.

You also might enjoy reading Wikipedia in other languages. Wikipedia has more than two hundred different languages (see [[#Wikipedia versions in other languages|other language versions]]), including a [https://simple.wikipedia.org Simple English] version, and related projects include a dictionary, quotations, books, manuals, and scientific reference sources, and a news service (see [[#Sister projects|sister projects]]). All of these are maintained, updated, and managed by separate communities, and often include thought-provoking information and articles which can be hard to find through other common sources.

===Basic navigation in Wikipedia===

===Basic navigation in Wikipedia===

Wikipedia is '''written by consensus'''; an approach that has its pros and cons. Censorship or imposing "official" points of view is difficult to achieve and almost always fails after a time. Eventually for most articles, all notable views become fairly described and a [[WP:NPOV|neutral point of view]] reached. In reality, the process of reaching consensus may be long and drawn-out, with articles more fluid or changeable for a long time compared while they find their "neutral approach" that all sides can agree on. Reaching neutrality is occasionally made harder by [[Wikipedia:Tendentious editing|extreme-viewpoint contributors]]. Wikipedia operates a full editorial dispute resolution process, that allows time for discussion and resolution in depth, but also permits months-long disagreements before poor quality or biased edits will be removed forcibly.

Wikipedia is '''written by consensus'''; an approach that has its pros and cons. Censorship or imposing "official" points of view is difficult to achieve and almost always fails after a time. Eventually for most articles, all notable views become fairly described and a [[WP:NPOV|neutral point of view]] reached. In reality, the process of reaching consensus may be long and drawn-out, with articles more fluid or changeable for a long time compared while they find their "neutral approach" that all sides can agree on. Reaching neutrality is occasionally made harder by [[Wikipedia:Tendentious editing|extreme-viewpoint contributors]]. Wikipedia operates a full editorial dispute resolution process, that allows time for discussion and resolution in depth, but also permits months-long disagreements before poor quality or biased edits will be removed forcibly.

Studies suggest that Wikipedia is broadly as reliable as ''[[Encyclopedia Britannica]]'', with similar error rates on established articles for both major and minor omissions and errors. [http://www.research.ibm.com/visual/projects/history_flow/results.htm]There is a tentative consensus, backed by a gradual increase in [[Wikipedia:Wikipedia as an academic source|academic citation as a source]], that it provides a good starting point for research, and that articles in general have proven to be reasonably sound. That said, articles and subject areas sometimes suffer from significant omissions, and while misinformation and vandalism are usually corrected quickly, this does not always happen. (See for example [[John Seigenthaler Sr. Wikipedia biography controversy|this incident]] in which a person inserted a fake biography linking a prominent journalist to the Kennedy assassinations and Soviet Russia as a joke on a co-worker which went undetected for 4 months, saying afterwards he "didn’t know [[Wikipedia]] was used as a serious reference tool.") Therefore, a common conclusion is that it is a valuable resource and provides a good reference point on its subjects.  

Studies suggest that Wikipedia is broadly as reliable as ''[[Encyclopedia Britannica]]'', with similar error rates on established articles for both major and minor omissions and errors. [https://www.research.ibm.com/visual/projects/history_flow/results.htm]There is a tentative consensus, backed by a gradual increase in [[Wikipedia:Wikipedia as an academic source|academic citation as a source]], that it provides a good starting point for research, and that articles in general have proven to be reasonably sound. That said, articles and subject areas sometimes suffer from significant omissions, and while misinformation and vandalism are usually corrected quickly, this does not always happen. (See for example [[John Seigenthaler Sr. Wikipedia biography controversy|this incident]] in which a person inserted a fake biography linking a prominent journalist to the Kennedy assassinations and Soviet Russia as a joke on a co-worker which went undetected for 4 months, saying afterwards he "didn’t know [[Wikipedia]] was used as a serious reference tool.") Therefore, a common conclusion is that it is a valuable resource and provides a good reference point on its subjects.  

Discussion pages are an important resource on contentious topics. There, serious researchers can often find a wide range of vigorously or thoughtfully advocated viewpoints not present in the consensus article. Like any source, information should be checked.

Discussion pages are an important resource on contentious topics. There, serious researchers can often find a wide range of vigorously or thoughtfully advocated viewpoints not present in the consensus article. Like any source, information should be checked.

A [[2005]] editorial by a [[BBC]] [[technology]] writer comments that these debates are probably symptomatic of new [[cultural learning]]s which are happening across all sources of information (including search engines and the media), namely "a better sense of how to evaluate information sources." [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4534712.stm What is it with Wikipedia?] 16 December 2005.

A [[2005]] editorial by a [[BBC]] [[technology]] writer comments that these debates are probably symptomatic of new [[cultural learning]]s which are happening across all sources of information (including search engines and the media), namely "a better sense of how to evaluate information sources." [https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4534712.stm What is it with Wikipedia?] 16 December 2005.

===Disclaimers===

===Disclaimers===

See also:

See also:

* [http://bugzilla.wikimedia.org Bug tracker], for reporting issues with the Wikipedia web site or the [[MediaWiki]] software that runs it

* [https://bugzilla.wikimedia.org Bug tracker], for reporting issues with the Wikipedia web site or the [[MediaWiki]] software that runs it

* [[Wikipedia:Village pump (proposals)|Village pump: proposals page]] for non-policy suggestions

* [[Wikipedia:Village pump (proposals)|Village pump: proposals page]] for non-policy suggestions

* [[Wikipedia:Help desk]] — Wikipedia's general help desk, if other pages haven't answered your query.

* [[Wikipedia:Help desk]] — Wikipedia's general help desk, if other pages haven't answered your query.