Debt to Wikipedia Society

Last Thursday I gave a presentation on an introduction to digital media for the web, to a creative media agency, getting some practise in whilst setting up a new training business.

Writing up the notes in Eric Meyer's flexible S5 slide-show presentation, I noticed the huge numbers of references I'd made to Wikipedia, the venerable and oft-quoted online encyclopaedia. I counted 45 out of 78. That's 58%. That's a lot.

Some of the entries are well-written, informative and enjoyable (for example, the entry for vector graphics). Others are a little less polished. Nonetheless, I use Wikipedia incessantly, for workshops, blog entries and generally finding out about things.

Which is why I read the letter from Michael Snow and Jimmy Wales, asking for help with the development of the Wikimedia movement. What is interesting is that it asks for participation rather than just funding. I feel it's the least I can do, considering how much I rely on its services.