Wikipolicy

Wikipolicy (pronounced WEE-kee-POL-i-cey) is a web-based, free-content encyclopedia of technology policy based on an openly-editable model. The name “Wikipolicy” is a portmanteau of the words wiki (a technology for creating collaborative websites, from the Hawaiian word wiki, meaning “quick”) and policy. Wikipolicy articles provide links to guide the user to related pages with additional information.

Wikipolicy is written collaboratively by a statewide group of technology professionals, academics, consumers and policy makers. Users can contribute anonymously, under a pseudonym, or with their real identity if they choose.

People of all ages and backgrounds can write Wikipolicy articles as most of the articles can be edited by anyone with access to the Internet.  Anyone is welcome to add information, cross-references, or citations, as long as they do so to an appropriate standard. Substandard or disputed information is subject to removal. Users need not worry about accidentally damaging Wikipolicy when adding or improving information, as other editors are always around to advise or correct obvious errors, and Wikipolicy’s software is carefully designed to allow easy reversal of editorial mistakes.

Because Wikipolicy is a massive live collaboration, it differs from a paper-based reference source in important ways. In particular, older articles tend to be more comprehensive and balanced, while newer articles more frequently contain significant misinformation, unencyclopedic content, or vandalism. Users need to be aware of this to obtain valid information and avoid misinformation that has been recently added and not yet removed.  However, unlike a paper reference source, Wikipedia is continually updated, with the creation or updating of articles on developments in the tech section within hours, minutes, or even seconds, rather than months or years for printed encyclopedias.