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cinderboy · 04-18-2007, 02:57 PM

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/6566749.stm

Wikipedia offers access offline

Nearly 2,000 Wikipedia articles will be sold on compact disc to give people without a net connection access to highlights of the popular web resource.

Above: Jimmy Wales founded the free online resource in 2001

The Wikipedia Version 0.5 CD collection includes topics such as geography, arts, literature, science and history.

The articles were selected by software that rated their quality and importance to the Wikipedia community.

Martin Walker, a senior academic from the US also helped set the selection criteria for the $13.99 (£7) disc.

"We wanted to cover the major topics, while also including a selection of articles considered to be the very best of Wikipedia," said Professor Walker, of the State University of New York, Potsdam.

"These featured articles aim to be well written and comprehensive, and also free from errors, bias, vandalism and marketing."

Language plans

The 1,964 articles were only selected from the English version of the online resource, which currently contains more than 1.7 million entries.

The Wikimedia Foundation, the group behind Wikipedia, said the CD reflected its mission of "making knowledge available to every human being."

"Not only does it provide those not connected to the worldwide web access to knowledge, but it also showcases some of the best articles created on Wikipedia," said Florence Devouard of the Foundation.

The collection is not the first time that the online resource has been distributed offline.

In 2006, children's charity SOS Children released a free encyclopaedia made up of articles selected from Wikipedia. The CD, aimed at eight to 15 year olds, included articles that had been "tidied up" by volunteers.

The CD is the first of many offline projects planned by the wikipedia community.

A DVD of 239,000 hand-checked Polish Wikipedia articles will be released in the next few weeks, and a French language version of the new CD is planned.

Other systems already allow users to take the online resource out and about.

Webaroo allows users to carry the free encyclopaedia on a smart phone with a compact flash card, whilst Encyclopodia puts the open source project on an iPod.

The latest offerings from Wikimedia means it further encroaches into markets traditionally dominated by companies such as Encyclopaedia Britannica.

Ramstien · 04-18-2007, 03:42 PM

They should turn Wikipedia into a series of books. That would rock.

Onii-San · 04-18-2007, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ramstien

They should turn Wikipedia into a series of books. That would rock.

BOOKS THAT YOU CAN EDIT~!

I would love to open a wikibook, look up the term "amatuer", and reading 5 pages of spam that says "noooooooooooob"

Jeszus · 04-18-2007, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ramstien

They should turn Wikipedia into a series of books. That would rock.

Books are so last gen man. just give me a chip I can implant into my head so I could read it in my sleep.

cinderboy · 04-18-2007, 11:40 PM

Hope the info provided are certified correct >.<

Bard · 04-19-2007, 12:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ramstien

They should turn Wikipedia into a series of books. That would rock.

I second that.

Mr. First Name Basis · 04-19-2007, 12:51 AM

While their at it, why don't they turn Wikipedia into a full length movie? Of course the random spam would be annoying but that would be great!! /idea ridicule

Slade · 04-19-2007, 12:52 AM

Hold up, only 2000 articles? That sucks. Wikipedia has thousands and thousands of articles.

cinderboy · 04-19-2007, 02:23 AM

Schools should start encouraging the students to actively participate in Wikipedia ~

Legacyweapon · 04-19-2007, 02:45 AM

Lawl so they gona release expansion packs too?

04-18-2007, 02:57 PM	#1 (permalink)
cinderboy The Beast of the East Join Date: May 2006 Location: The Internetz Posts: 13,172 Reputation: 228	Wikipedia offers access offline http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/6566749.stm Wikipedia offers access offline Nearly 2,000 Wikipedia articles will be sold on compact disc to give people without a net connection access to highlights of the popular web resource. Above: Jimmy Wales founded the free online resource in 2001 The Wikipedia Version 0.5 CD collection includes topics such as geography, arts, literature, science and history. The articles were selected by software that rated their quality and importance to the Wikipedia community. Martin Walker, a senior academic from the US also helped set the selection criteria for the $13.99 (£7) disc. "We wanted to cover the major topics, while also including a selection of articles considered to be the very best of Wikipedia," said Professor Walker, of the State University of New York, Potsdam. "These featured articles aim to be well written and comprehensive, and also free from errors, bias, vandalism and marketing." Language plans The 1,964 articles were only selected from the English version of the online resource, which currently contains more than 1.7 million entries. The Wikimedia Foundation, the group behind Wikipedia, said the CD reflected its mission of "making knowledge available to every human being." "Not only does it provide those not connected to the worldwide web access to knowledge, but it also showcases some of the best articles created on Wikipedia," said Florence Devouard of the Foundation. The collection is not the first time that the online resource has been distributed offline. In 2006, children's charity SOS Children released a free encyclopaedia made up of articles selected from Wikipedia. The CD, aimed at eight to 15 year olds, included articles that had been "tidied up" by volunteers. The CD is the first of many offline projects planned by the wikipedia community. A DVD of 239,000 hand-checked Polish Wikipedia articles will be released in the next few weeks, and a French language version of the new CD is planned. Other systems already allow users to take the online resource out and about. Webaroo allows users to carry the free encyclopaedia on a smart phone with a compact flash card, whilst Encyclopodia puts the open source project on an iPod. The latest offerings from Wikimedia means it further encroaches into markets traditionally dominated by companies such as Encyclopaedia Britannica. __________________

04-18-2007, 03:42 PM	#2 (permalink)
Ramstien Fabio_R's Fruitcup Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 3,686 Reputation: 21	They should turn Wikipedia into a series of books. That would rock. __________________

04-18-2007, 11:40 PM	#5 (permalink)
cinderboy The Beast of the East Join Date: May 2006 Location: The Internetz Posts: 13,172 Reputation: 228	Hope the info provided are certified correct >.< __________________

04-19-2007, 12:51 AM	#7 (permalink)
Mr. First Name Basis Lothia's Lurker Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: The Distant Future Number of Victims: Countless Infractions: 4/9 (6) Posts: 3,787 Reputation: 71	While their at it, why don't they turn Wikipedia into a full length movie? Of course the random spam would be annoying but that would be great!! /idea ridicule __________________

04-19-2007, 02:23 AM	#9 (permalink)
cinderboy The Beast of the East Join Date: May 2006 Location: The Internetz Posts: 13,172 Reputation: 228	Schools should start encouraging the students to actively participate in Wikipedia ~ __________________

04-19-2007, 12:52 AM	#8 (permalink)
Slade Eriond's Egotist Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 1,733 Reputation: 17	Hold up, only 2000 articles? That sucks. Wikipedia has thousands and thousands of articles.

04-19-2007, 02:45 AM	#10 (permalink)
Legacyweapon Lockhart’s are forever Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: New York Posts: 398 Reputation: 10	Lawl so they gona release expansion packs too? __________________ The Infamous "That Woman Speech" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nP5FunbZvJ8 "Sweat saves blood, blood saves lives, and brains save both."

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