Knol settings make it easy to change collaboration modes and include ads with your Knol article.

Google aims to kill Wikipedia with its latest product, Knol

Danny Gorog28 July 2008, 1:00 PM

Don't believe Google when it says say Knol is not designed to be a Wikipedia killer, because it is.


As you've come to expect from the search giant, Google's the new Wikipedia-style site, Knol, has launched with a 'beta' moniker. While Google won't admit it, their new site, called Knol (http://knol.google.com), is designed to be a Wikipedia killer.

Google says Knol has one aim - to 'help you share what you know'. According to Google, a Knol (not to be confused with a 'Knole' which is a sofa with adjustable sides) is a 'unit of knowledge', and the Knol site is designed to be a central repository for many Knols.

Anybody can author their own Knol, and Google encourages collaboration between authors, but also allows you to mark your Knol as read-only. If you're interested, Google have provided an extensive Help page that outlines best practices in writing and managing your Knols.

Because Knol has just launched it doesn't have anywhere near the depth that Wikipedia does, but it also approaches the Wiki concept from a slightly different angle - it encourages users to collaborate, but gives very granular controls over collaboration. For instance, when you create your Knol you can choose one of three different collaboration modes: open collaboration (where all signed in users can edit your Knol), moderated collaboration (users can suggest edits to your knol, but these need to be approved by you before publishing) and closed collaboration mode (where only owners and authors can edit the knol).

You've also got the ability to select different licensing models for your content including Creative Commons (both commercial and noncommercial) and all rights reserved. Any content on Wikipedia, on the other hand is covered under the GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL), where contributions remain the property of their creations but subscribe to the GFDL which means the content is freely distributable and reproducible.

Google is giving Knol authors the option of showing ads and earning income from their Knols. This is the most significant difference to Wikipedia, which doesn't allow advertising at all. It's also likely the biggest driver to get people to start contributing to Knol.

As well as advertising, you can expect your Knol to be searchable on Google, though it's not clear whether Google will preferentially display Knol content (Google say they won't) before Wikipedia content. If they do, you can bet Knol will quickly catch on.

Creating a Knol is easy - if you've already got a Google account all you need to do is click the 'Write a Knol' button and start adding information. The interface is much cleaner and more accessible than Wikipedia's and uses a familiar WYSIWYG style editor, rather than the arcane Wiki markup required for writing Wikipedia entries. Preferences for sharing and adding advertisements are also easy to find.

Because Knol is just new, the discussion is only beginning. A good analysis of the potential of Knol, and the threats it poses to Wikiepedia and other free web based encyclopedias are, ironically, discussed in a Wikipedia article here.

What do you think? Will Knol kill Wikipedia?

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Wazza (User):

If it was anyone else at the helm you'd have to say no. But with the letters G-O-O-G-L-E associated, surely it can only be a success.

Wikipedia is a big site to be going up against though.

28 July 2008, 2:04 PM (1 year ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Tiger Beer (New user):

Certainly will be interesting to see what happens

28 July 2008, 2:07 PM (1 year ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Me In Oz (Cornerstone member):

My uni lecturer's used to make it very clear from the outset of a semester that if anyone used Wikipedia as a reference, they would automatically fail the assignment. I wonder how Knol will be accepted, knowing it's contents will be user contributed ?

28 July 2008, 3:03 PM (1 year ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Jeff (User):

Quoting Me In Oz:
if anyone used Wikipedia as a reference, they would automatically fail the assignment


I had a Uni project where the project specification explicitly directed us to a Wikipedia article...

It seems that Wikipedia is acceptable by some and not by others - only time will tell how Knol will go...

28 July 2008, 3:22 PM (1 year ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

AndyCee (Advanced member):

I was in the same boat as "Me in Oz", but the whole point of using wikipedia for research is to get an idea of the gist of opinions/definitions going, then use the citations as references.

With a bit of further investigation, of course.

29 July 2008, 6:10 PM (1 year ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Me In Oz (Cornerstone member):

You didn't go to uni in Brisbane too ;)
The lecturers were using it though for quick access to info. But there was no way they'd admit it !
I still use wiki for instant info access on the basic levels now but would never bet my life on some of the content.

29 July 2008, 9:45 PM (1 year ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Hemma (User):

Rather than seeing it as acceptance, perhaps it has something to do with the fact that people shouldn't be lazy and rely everything on a single source? One would be tempted to do that with the aid of Wikipedia. Its like the old days of doing assignments with Encarta.

29 July 2008, 11:39 PM (1 year ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Me In Oz (Cornerstone member):

Quoting Hemma:
doing assignments with Encarta.

Ahhh ! Those were the days ! ..... The whole universe on one cd :)




30 July 2008, 8:14 AM (1 year ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Jeff (User):

Maybe they will appeal to different people - maybe they can co-exist...

Or is that too much to ask?

28 July 2008, 3:18 PM (1 year ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

plutonium210 (Advanced member):

Quoting Jeff:
Or is that too much to ask?

Come on Jeff ! We are dealing with human nature here !
We have ....
Ford vs Holden
Win vs Mac
Linux vs Everybody
Libs vs Labor
IE vs Firefox
and now ................. Wiki vs Google




31 July 2008, 1:55 PM (1 year ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Tiger Beer (New user):

Automatically fail? That's a little harsh

28 July 2008, 5:18 PM (1 year ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Your Average Joe (Regular user):

Quoting Tiger Beer:
Automatically fail

Ditto here in one of Qld's largest universities




29 July 2008, 1:13 PM (1 year ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

tl8 (User):

Wow 'Kill' instead of 'Buy', Are you sure this is really Google and not Microsoft?

28 July 2008, 6:33 PM (1 year ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

dwr50 (User):

I'll never use Knol because it's just more advertising that I'd have to block out.

29 July 2008, 12:29 AM (1 year ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Tiger Beer (New user):

Quoting dwr50:
I'll never use Knol because it's just more advertising that I'd have to block out.

Yeah that's the great thing about Wikipedia - lack of ads is brilliant.




29 July 2008, 11:21 AM (1 year ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

plutonium210 (Advanced member):

Great more Google toolbars on top of my browser !
It's got a fair way to catch up to the content in wiki !

29 July 2008, 10:06 PM (1 year ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

david burta (New user):

AN OPEN, MULTIMEDIA ALTERNATIVE TO BOTH WIKIPEDIA AND KNOL:

Beyond WikiPedia and now KNOL is a new website that proliferates training, teaching and learning on virtually any subject where authors of those programs can contribute (for free) or charge (for fees) for their knowledge and content. Additionally, this same website provides a global training provider directory where training providers in any training, teaching or learning domain can provide a FREE listing. Sign-up and Membership to this website is completely FREE to all and courses are free or paid based on the wishes of the provider. Go to:

http://www.latitudeu.com to see this OPEN alternative to KNOL and WikiPedia.

Contact: David Burta at dburta@gmail.com for additional information.
Posted 19:53 30 Jul 2008 by David Burta

31 July 2008, 6:15 AM (1 year ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

david burta (New user):

AN OPEN, MULTIMEDIA ALTERNATIVE TO BOTH WIKIPEDIA AND KNOL:

Beyond WikiPedia and now KNOL is a new website that proliferates training, teaching and learning on virtually any subject where authors of those programs can contribute (for free) or charge (for fees) for their knowledge and content. Additionally, this same website provides a global training provider directory where training providers in any training, teaching or learning domain can provide a FREE listing. Sign-up and Membership to this website is completely FREE to all and courses are free or paid based on the wishes of the provider. Go to:

http://www.latitudeu.com to see this OPEN alternative to KNOL and WikiPedia.

Contact: David Burta at dburta@gmail.com for additional information.
Posted 19:53 30 Jul 2008 by David Burta

31 July 2008, 6:19 AM (1 year ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

david burta (New user):

Beyond WikiPedia and now KNOL is a new website that proliferates training, teaching and learning on virtually any subject where authors of those programs can contribute (for free) or charge (for fees) for their knowledge and content. Additionally, this same website provides a global training provider directory where training providers in any training, teaching or learning domain can provide a FREE listing. Sign-up and Membership to this website is completely FREE to all and courses are free or paid based on the wishes of the provider. Go to:

http://www.latitudeu.com to see this OPEN alternative to KNOL and WikiPedia.

Contact: David Burta at dburta@gmail.com for additional information.
Posted 19:53 30 Jul 2008 by David Burta

31 July 2008, 6:19 AM (1 year ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

david burta (New user):

AN OPEN, MULTIMEDIA ALTERNATIVE TO BOTH WIKIPEDIA AND KNOL:

Beyond WikiPedia and now KNOL is a new website that proliferates training, teaching and learning on virtually any subject where authors of those programs can contribute (for free) or charge (for fees) for their knowledge and content. Additionally, this same website provides a global training provider directory where training providers in any training, teaching or learning domain can provide a FREE listing. Sign-up and Membership to this website is completely FREE to all and courses are free or paid based on the wishes of the provider. Go to:

http://www.latitudeu.com to see this OPEN alternative to KNOL and WikiPedia.

Contact: David Burta at dburta@gmail.com for additional information.
Posted 19:53 30 Jul 2008 by David Burta

31 July 2008, 6:19 AM (1 year ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

david burta (New user):

Beyond WikiPedia and now KNOL is a new website that proliferates training, teaching and learning on virtually any subject where authors of those programs can contribute (for free) or charge (for fees) for their knowledge and content. Additionally, this same website provides a global training provider directory where training providers in any training, teaching or learning domain can provide a FREE listing. Sign-up and Membership to this website is completely FREE to all and courses are free or paid based on the wishes of the provider. Go to:

http://www.latitudeu.com to see this OPEN alternative to KNOL and WikiPedia.

Contact: David Burta at dburta@gmail.com for additional information.
Posted 19:53 30 Jul 2008 by David Burta

31 July 2008, 6:19 AM (1 year ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

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