WikiHow: Difference between revisions
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== Content and article format == |
== Content and article format == |
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wikiHow is a [[wiki]], which |
wikiHow is a [[wiki]], which is a website that anyone can edit. wikiHow operates on open source software and an open content licensing model allowing free use and community ownership of the content. |
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Any visitor to wikiHow can create a new page and write about how to do something. Articles posted to wikiHow follow a standard format consisting of a summary, followed by steps to complete the activity, along with required items, warnings, tips, ingredients, and sometimes links to related how-to articles. Pictures may be added to the articles to illustrate important points or concepts. Once the page is submitted, other visitors can edit, improve or change the page. Anonymous contributors and the wikiHow user community work together to improve the quality of information provided on the site, fix or remove incorrect instructions and revert vandalism. |
Any visitor to wikiHow can create a new page and write about how to do something. Articles posted to wikiHow follow a standard format consisting of a summary, followed by steps to complete the activity, along with required items, warnings, tips, ingredients, and sometimes links to related how-to articles. Pictures may be added to the articles to illustrate important points or concepts. Once the page is submitted, other visitors can edit, improve or change the page. Anonymous contributors and the wikiHow user community work together to improve the quality of information provided on the site, fix or remove incorrect instructions and revert vandalism. |
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Revision as of 09:13, 28 October 2007
| wikiHow Main Page | |
Type of site | Wiki format How-to Manual |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | California |
| Owner | wikiHow |
| Created by | Jack Herrick and Josh Hannah |
| URL | http://www.wikihow.com/ |
| Commercial | Yes |
| Registration | Optional |
wikiHow is a wiki-based community with a database of how-to guides. All of the site's content is licensed under Creative Commons (by-nc-sa); and the site uses a modified version of MediaWiki 1.9.3. The site started as an extension of the already existing eHow website, and has evolved to host over 25,000 how-to articles. wikiHow's mission is to build the world's largest how-to manual and help it grow.
History
In January 2005, eHow owners Jack Herrick and Josh Hannah started wikiHow as a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest how-to manual. While eHow already contained instructions on how to do thousands of things, wikiHow allowed a community of volunteer contributors to build something even bigger and better. On April 28, 2006, eHow was sold and wikiHow was launched as an independent site.[1]
As of September 2007, the number of registered wikiHow users stood at slightly more than 61,000.[2]
Content and article format
wikiHow is a wiki, which is a website that anyone can edit. wikiHow operates on open source software and an open content licensing model allowing free use and community ownership of the content.
Any visitor to wikiHow can create a new page and write about how to do something. Articles posted to wikiHow follow a standard format consisting of a summary, followed by steps to complete the activity, along with required items, warnings, tips, ingredients, and sometimes links to related how-to articles. Pictures may be added to the articles to illustrate important points or concepts. Once the page is submitted, other visitors can edit, improve or change the page. Anonymous contributors and the wikiHow user community work together to improve the quality of information provided on the site, fix or remove incorrect instructions and revert vandalism.
Some criticize the validity and usefulness of a number of articles on wikiHow.[3] Others, drawing on Andy Rutledge's observation that "mediocrity is the only possible result of a wide sampling of opinion or input",[4] claim that "personal preference far too often wins the day" when it comes to deciding article content, rather than any objective standard of usefulness.[5]
Finances
The site's start-up costs were financed partly from Herrick's sale of eHow, but is now funded from advertising on its pages, on the grounds that "tasteful advertising is the most unobtrusive way to fund our operations."[6] It does not seek contributions, asserting that solicitations are annoying.[7]
wikiHow has been set up as a for-profit company, but is not making a profit.[8]
References
- ^ Herrick, Jack (Sept. 2006). "History of eHow and wikiHow". wikiHow. Retrieved 2006-10-26.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "wikiHow Statistics". Retrieved 2007-09-20.
- ^ Addelman, Rebecca. "How to do absolutely everything". MacLeans.ca. Retrieved 2007-03-02.
- ^ http://www.andyrutledge.com/anti-social-media.php
- ^ ""Understanding Web 2.0"". Helium.com. Retrieved 2007-10-19.
- ^ http://www.wikihow.com/About-wikiHow
- ^ http://www.wikihow.com/WikiHow:Is-wikiHow-a-Non-Profit
- ^ http://www.wikihow.com/WikiHow:Is-wikiHow-a-Non-Profit
External links
- wikiHow.com
- wikiHow to Open Content
- "How to do absolutely everything", Macleans, October 16, 2006