Wikipedia: The Free Online Encyclopedia that Revolutionized Knowledge Sharing
Overview
Wikipedia is a groundbreaking online encyclopedia that has been a cornerstone of modern knowledge sharing since its inception in 2001. Founded by Jimmy Wales and Larry Sanger, this free online crowdsourced encyclopedia has become the largest and most-read reference work in history. With its open collaboration model and MediaWiki software, Wikipedia has empowered a community of millions of volunteers, known as Wikipedians, to create and maintain a vast repository of knowledge that is accessible to people all over the world.
Wikipedia's impact on modern society cannot be overstated. It has democratized access to information, making it possible for people to learn and engage with complex topics in a way that was previously unimaginable. With over 50 million articles in hundreds of languages, Wikipedia has become an indispensable resource for researchers, students, and the general public alike. Its influence extends beyond the realm of academia, with Wikipedia articles often serving as a starting point for further research and exploration.
Background & Origins
Jimmy Wales, a former software engineer and entrepreneur, had a vision to create a free online encyclopedia that would be accessible to everyone. He was inspired by the success of online communities and the potential of the internet to facilitate collaboration and knowledge sharing. Wales teamed up with Larry Sanger, a philosopher and computer scientist, to develop the concept of Wikipedia. They drew inspiration from earlier online encyclopedias, such as Nupedia, which was launched in 2000 but struggled to maintain a high level of quality and accuracy.
Major Achievements & Milestones
[Launch of Wikipedia] (January 15, 2001): Wikipedia was launched as a free online encyclopedia, with its first article being created by Jimmy Wales.
[First Major Expansion] (2002): Wikipedia expanded its community of contributors, with the number of articles growing from 1,000 to over 10,000.
[MediaWiki Software] (2002): Wikipedia adopted the MediaWiki software, which enabled the creation of a collaborative platform for editing and maintaining articles.
Timeline
- 2001: Wikipedia is launched as a free online encyclopedia.
- 2002: Wikipedia expands its community of contributors, with the number of articles growing from 1,000 to over 10,000.
- 2003: The Wikimedia Foundation is established to host and manage Wikipedia.
- 2004: Wikipedia reaches 100,000 articles.
- 2007: Wikipedia reaches 2 million articles.
- 2011: Wikipedia reaches 3 million articles.
- 2015: Wikipedia reaches 5 million articles.
Impact & Legacy
Wikipedia's impact on modern society is multifaceted. It has democratized access to information, making it possible for people to learn and engage with complex topics in a way that was previously unimaginable. Wikipedia has also become a platform for promoting diversity and inclusivity, with articles on topics such as social justice, human rights, and cultural heritage.
Wikipedia's influence extends beyond the realm of academia, with its articles often serving as a starting point for further research and exploration. Its impact on education is particularly significant, with many schools and universities incorporating Wikipedia into their curricula.
Records & Notable Facts
> "Imagine a world in which every single person on the planet is given free access to the sum of all human knowledge. That's what we're doing." - Jimmy Wales
INFOBOX:
- Full Name: Wikipedia
- Born: N/A (launched in 2001)
- Died: N/A (still active)
- Age: N/A (still active)
- Nationality: International
- Occupation: Online encyclopedia
- Active Years: 2001-present
- Known For: Largest and most-read online encyclopedia
- Awards: None
- Spouse: None
- Children: None
- Height: N/A
- Net Worth: N/A
- World Records: Largest online encyclopedia
- Championships: None
FACTS:
- Birth Date: January 15, 2001 (type: date)
- Birth Place: N/A (type: location)
- Death Date: N/A (type: date)
- Career Start: 2001 (type: year)
- Peak Achievement: Largest online encyclopedia (type: achievement)
- Career Earnings: N/A (type: statistic)
- World Record: Largest online encyclopedia (type: record)
- Famous Quote: "Imagine a world in which every single person on the planet is given free access to the sum of all human knowledge. That's what we're doing." - Jimmy Wales (type: quote)
- Fun Fact: Wikipedia has over 50 million articles in hundreds of languages (type: trivia)
- Legacy Stat: Over 50 million articles in hundreds of languages (type: statistic)
TAGS: online encyclopedia, collaborative platform, media wiki, jimmy wales, larry sanger, wikipedia foundation, free knowledge, open access, democratization of information
