Mercyhurst College Institute For

Intelligence Studies

Innovative Use Of Wikis Project

Sarah JonesJennifer Macri

Sarah RudawitzJared Semrau

Samantha Shelnick

Terms of Reference

Who are the likely innovative users and what are the likely innovative uses of wiki technology over the next two years?• Where is this occurring?

• Identify successes and frustrations in using wikis

• Identify trends in use by wiki providers

• What changes will likely make wikis more broadly acceptable, accessible, and valuable?

Innovation

+ Includes some element unseen in predecessors

Key Findings: Users

Closed communities

Narrowly defined niche

A specifically declared goal

Key Findings: Uses

Collaborative mimics of regular websites

Self-identify as wikis

Encouraging editing from the internet community

Key Findings: Diffusion Of Innovation

Wiki innovation likely to more than double

Dr. Everett Roger's Theory of Diffusion of Innovation

Analytical Statistics

Total number of wikis viewed: Over 5,000

Non-innovative/ encyclopedic : 99%

Determined innovative:

46 (<1%) Users: 28/46 (61%) Uses: 18/46 (39%)

Innovative Users

Organizations for promoting causes and fundraising

Communities for facilitating democratic participation among members

Groups for documenting events and projects

Military for more rapid information-sharing and distribution of expertise

Organizations For Promoting Causes And Fundraising

Organizations with a similar goal use wikis to: Raise awareness and funding Rapidly respond to

crises/events Collaborate regardless of

geographical locationExamples- United Nations- Disaster relief organizations

Communities For Facilitating Democratic Participation Among

Members

Communities with a similar goal use wikis to: Target a specific

audience to establish community participation

Generate broadly accepted final product

Examples- New Zealand Police- Melbourne City

Groups For Documenting Events And Projects

• Means of communication between group memberso Event planningo Travel and lodging

information

• Distinct beginning and end

• All members can edit

Examples-ART Community-Mercyhurst College Institute for Intelligence Studies (MCIIS)

Military For More Rapid Information-Sharing

And Distribution Of Expertise

Despite warnings of precariousness

Heightened military use of wikis due to:o Need for more rapid information among

hierarchal command structureo Need for efficient distribution of expertiseo Peer collaboration

Examples-Milipedia-Intellipedia

Innovative Uses

Editable web-mapping Questioning the accuracy of

information provided by traditional source

Self-help and how-to manuals

News sources and whistle-blowing

Editable Web-mapping

Mapping is primary purpose

Visually stimulating Similar to Google Earth

Use own platform Examples-WikiMapia- WikiSky

Questioning The Accuracy Of Information Provided By

Traditional Sources

Access to unbiased, objective information

Used in Corporate News reporting Government Medical

Anonymity of users

Examples-WikiLeaks-WikiCrimes

Self-Help And How-To Manuals

Posting whole products

Medical information Edited by licensed

physicians Commented on by users

Examples-AskDrWiki-ElephantStaircase- EnviroWiki

News Sources And Whistle-blowing

Real-time, unbiased news

Peer-reviewed nature of wikis

Whistle-blowingExamples-WikiNews- WikiLeaks

Sub-Question: Where Is This Occurring?

No strong trend in demographics

Weak trends: 19 of 46 have known

geographic regions 8 of 46 associated with

colleges/universities 7 of 13 American wikis

associated with colleges/universities

Sub-Question: Identify Trends In Use Of Wiki Providers

Frustrations Formatting/

collaboration issues

Wiki vandalism

Wiki spam

Lack of accuracy features such as collaborative editing approval

Sub-Question: Identify Successes And Frustrations In Using Wikis

Successes Availability of

information to large groups

Ease and ability of embedding media

Cheap cost

Information based on responses to Wiki Intelligence Team survey

Multimedia integration

Attribution technology

Easier formatting tools

Sub-Question: What Changes Will Likely Make Wikis More Broadly Acceptable,

Accessible, And Valuable?

Contact Information

Sarah Jonessjones49@mercyhurst.edu

Jennifer Macrijmacri57@mercyhurst.edu

Jared Semraujsemra99@mercyhurst.edu

Samantha Shelnickssheln86@mercyhurst.edu

Teammciis.wiki@gmail.com

Sarah Rudawitzsrudaw53@mercyhurst.edu