tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22763131.post-60268802177067551732008-07-24T05:53:00.000Z2008-07-24T06:06:30.979ZHot on my post on <a href="http://blog.tripdatabase.com/2008/07/medpedia-is-wikifying-medical-search.html"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">MedPedia</span></a> comes the long-awaited (!) release of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Google's</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">wikipedia</span>-competitor - <a href="http://knol.google.com/"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Knol</span></a>. You can read a review via this <a href="http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/knol_google_takes_on_wikipedia.php"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">ReadWriteWeb</span> article</a>.<br /><br />There seems a number of articles on health topics (aimed at consumers) and the author of the article is clearer shown (alongside their credentials) - addressing the main criticism of wikipedia; in that the authors are known. Users can suggest alterations - but the author needs to approve. A few exampl articles:<br /><br /><ul><li><a href="http://knol.google.com/k/bob-nussbaum/cancer-genetics/JQmuV1Qc/wY7whA#">Cancer genetics</a></li><li><a href="http://knol.google.com/k/roger-steinert/cataracts/1k38pczxi398g/2#">Cataracts</a></li><li><a href="http://knol.google.com/k/elyse-foster/mitral-valve-disease/iG_Er9WK/TG3Cog">Mitral Valve Disease</a></li></ul><p>This will be interesting to watch to see if people prefer Knol or Wikipedia. A few years ago Google was perceived in a much more friendly light than it is now - so will users flock to suggest alterations and improve the articles? I think the possibility of payments (via google adsense) might just swing it...</p>Jon Brasseynoreply@blogger.com