Blogs and wikis are two software applications that have made significant contributions to the way people utilize computer technology. The main functions of blogs and wikis are to make vast amounts of information available to the users and anyone who would like to read them. Not only do they provide information, they have created a virtual or computer society that discusses ideas, topics, jobs, sports, electronics, and anything under the sun via a personal computer, mobile device, or tablet. The article Walmart Task-Makers Write Unfiltered Blog explains how blogs are used to make consumers aware of what products to buy and not buy. This technology has been a vital contributor to the convergence of people around the globe that allows anyone with access to a computer to publicize information and knowledge and create a well-informed, well-aware, and intelligent society.
Blogs and wikis are similar in many ways. They both allow people to collaborate and communicate with one another. For example, a blog can be used to collaborate and communicate for business purposes. If, say, a group of employees were assigned to a special project and must communicate and organize via the computer they can start a blog about the tasks that must be performed to complete the job. They can post about the tasks each will be performing, any problems they might want to bring to the attention of the group, or any findings that may hurt or help the group. Blogs would be very helpful for this type of use because the individuals in the group can always refer to the blog and remember what is required and any information that would help complete the job.
With both blogs and wikis, users can all input information and make contributions to discussions that have been created. No one can feel left out because they are available to anyone, except for private blogs and wikis that can only be viewed and edited by selected individuals. The article An Internal Wiki That's Not Classified explains how that State Department uses the wiki Diplopedia to make information available to State Department officials. This is a private wiki that allows those with viewing and editing authorization to contribute to the articles, discussions, and biographies. If the government uses it, it must be a quality medium of discussion and information sharing.
Blogs and wikis are also very different in many ways. If you have seen a blog and a wiki before you can immediately tell that the layouts are different. Blogs are designed more like a discussion board that allows users to post a comment and answer to previously posted comments of other users. Wikis are designed to be more informative than blogs. Each individual user can contribute to the wiki by adding to the information of the chosen topic. The contributions entail writing one's own thoughts or editing another users contributions. Blogs do not allow one user to edit another user's posts.
Wal-Mart Tastemakers Write a Blunt and Unfiltered Blog, NY Times, march 3, 2008, p. C1, at:http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/03/business/03walmart.html
An Internal Wiki That’s Not Classified by Noam Cohen. The New York Times, August 4, 2008 http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/04/business/media/04link.html
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