[LINK] RFI: Public Wiki Servers?

[Ivan Trundle]

Dunno Roger - I think that you're looking for a different kind of  
collaborative software, such as is offered in forums (bulletin  
boards). There are heaps of customised versions of forums out there,  
some of which are based on open-source models, others not.

I only offer this opinion since I'm involved in the business of  
developing this kind of collaborative software.

If other linkers are stuck on this, contact me off-list for more info.

Warmly

iT


On 21/12/2006, at 4:58 PM, Roger Clarke wrote:

>> Roger Clarke wrote:
>>>  I'm involved in several organisations that could make use of a  
>>> wiki ...
>
> At 15:43 +0900 7/12/06, Jeremy Malcolm wrote:
>> Try the Wikia first (http://www.wikia.com).  They host many useful  
>> projects and are open to requests to host new ones for free.
>
> I've now had a look at wikia and its cousins.
>
> But they don't offer what I'm looking for.  Notes at bottom.
>
> What I'm on about is the use of wikis by public interest  
> associations, such as dog clubs, privacy lobby groups, and of  
> course The Link Institute.
>
> Such organisations need wiki-spaces with a variety of management  
> models and privileges, e.g.:
> 1.  for the DISCUSSION OF ISSUES:
>     -   create/read/write by anyone
> 2.  for the DEVELOPMENT OF POLICY:
>     -   create/read/write by association members only
> 3.  for the DEVELOPMENT OF CAMPAIGN PLANS:
>     -   create/read/write by Board members only
> In all cases:
>     -   delete by the Board Chair only (or their delegate/ 
> administrator)
>
> Of these, most wiki services support only model no. 1.
>
> Am I looking in the wrong places, using the wrong names?
>
> Since typing that this morning, I've found the buzzword 'wiki farm':
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wiki_farm
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_wiki_farms
> http://c2.com/cgi/wiki?WikiFarms
>
> A first pass located http://pbwiki.com/
>
> I'm playing with it, but it appears that vital features aren't  
> supported by this particular service, viz.
> -   the edits made by the last person aren't visible
> -   there appears to be no ability to display earlier versions
>
> Any further leads or constructive observations much appreciated!
>
> ______________________________________________________________________ 
> ____
>
> Notes on wikia:
>
> http://www.wikia.com appears to be a fully open collaborative  
> space, comparable to wikipedia, but not restricted to encyclopaedia- 
> style entries.  Think 'collaborative fan-zine' (The Muppets, Harry  
> Potter, chess, even Macs - is anyone a fan of the Apple Macintosh  
> any more?). It's depicted in one review as "the commercial  
> counterpart of the non-profit Wikipedia".
>
> See also http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikia
>
> http://scratchpad.wikia.com/ is a small shared space within wikia,  
> set aside for experimentation.  Again it appears that read/write/ 
> delete are entirely open, without the ability to restrict privileges.
>
> http://www.openserving.com/ is, well, I'm not quite sure what.  It  
> isn't actually operational yet.  It appears to be an attempt to  
> 'monetise' (buzzword for 'exploit') the enthusiasm for wikis by  
> giving people an opportunity to 'monetise' their idea for a wiki.   
> At this stage, the sole source of money seems to be Google Adsense- 
> style click-through advertising fees;  but no doubt the business  
> plan lists lots of other possibilities.  I gather it's also meant  
> to be be an open-source alternative to MS Live.
>
> See this of 20 Dec 06:
> http://www.e-consultancy.com/news-blog/362386/interview-with-gil- 
> penchina-of-wikia.html
>
> ______________________________________________________________________ 
> ___
>
> Some commercial products in the collaborative space:
>
> HyperOffice (reasonable documentation)
> http://www.hyperoffice.com/hypermain/hyperoffice_suite.cfm
> http://www.hyperoffice.com/hypermain/document_version_control.cfm? 
> menuset=product
>
> SharePoint (appallingly bad documentation - what does it actually  
> *do*??)
> http://www.microsoft.com/technet/windowsserver/sharepoint/default.mspx
>
>
> -- 
> Roger Clarke                  http://www.anu.edu.au/people/ 
> Roger.Clarke/
> 			            Xamax Consultancy Pty Ltd      78 Sidaway St,  
> Chapman ACT 2611 AUSTRALIA
>                    Tel: +61 2 6288 1472, and 6288 6916
> mailto:Roger.Clarke at xamax.com.au                http:// 
> www.xamax.com.au/
>
> Visiting Professor in Info Science & Eng  Australian National  
> University
> Visiting Professor in the eCommerce Program      University of Hong  
> Kong
> Visiting Professor in the Cyberspace Law & Policy Centre      Uni  
> of NSW
> _______________________________________________
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>

--
Ivan Trundle
http://itrundle.com ivan at itrundle.com
ph: +61 (0)418 244 259 fx: +61 (0)2 6286 8742
skype: callto://ivanovitchk