-----Original Message-----
From: Monahon, Peter B. [mailto:Peter.Monahon@USPTO.GOV]
Sent: Wednesday, April 11, 2007 08:41 AM
To: mediawiki-l(a)lists.wikimedia.org
Subject: [Mediawiki-l] What Wiki are we each working on?
.
May I suggest that we share what Wiki we each are working on? Include a
link if your Wiki is public, and include a description, especially if
your Wiki is private. I'll go first:
Peter Blaise's Wiki: Our (US Trademark Office) challenge is how to
publish laws and rules (which are now in HTML, PDF, and DOC on the web),
AND seek community critiques and suggestions that are shared with each
other in full view (Wiki, right?), BUT leave the "statute as it is now"
intact as an uneditable master reference above all suggested
replacements. We want more than discussions on the separate
"discussion" page. We want people to actually rewrite the laws and
rules as they would prefer it, and then edit each other's preference on
how they want the statute to read, word for word. Supporting
discussions are important and informative, but we've noted that
word-for-word replacement suggestions quickly get lost in discussion
pages. We want the community-suggested exact replacements, even a
series of alternative exact replacements - version B, version C, and so
on - right there on the article page below the current statute in force.
I think this idea has great potential for opening up the law world wide,
but off-the-shelf MediaWiki is a tad immature. Wish me luck. Ideas?
So, what's everyone else working on? Can we see?
- Peter Blaise
What a wonderful project. First thoughts: doc and pdf texts are a real pain in the ass,
converting them to a plain text version that is usable is extremely valuable. You will
want to "protect" the text of the existing statutes and regulations with a link
at the top to editable pages where the community's work can go on. I would suggest
several of these to allow allow development of coherent alternatives. On the editable
pages place the current text at the top with a direction to not change it. Should it be
changed, anyone can go to your protected page, get the source and restore the text. The
edit history of the article will show any changes to the original text. As you suggest,
you could also use protected sections, should an extension exist and be usable.
I had no idea you were doing such an admirable and useful project. I'll do everything
I can to get you up and running, although I'm a newbie myself. Now that you've
"come out", perhaps some the real experts will also offer substantial help.
I initiated and do the software on Wikinfo, a fork of Wikipedia:
http://wikinfo.org
Wikinfo offers alternatives for editors who feel constricted by Wikipedia conventions.
We had a good programmer, but he kept forking the software (and throwing his weight
around). I finally gave up on him and went back to the standard version, but am having
quite a bit of trouble, as I am being forced to learn way too much.
Fred