I was contacted by someone working (for) (at) Webzzle, who want to meet me (for unknown reasons as of today).
I googled Webzzle to better identify who the guy is and what he is likely to talk to me about. And what I found let me quite dubious.
Please have a look here: http://www.webzzle.com/explorer/home.kol
There is a presentation of the concept here: http://www.webzzle.com/intl/en/help.html
I kind of now suspect what the meeting will be about and I think I'll settle down for a phone meeting rather than an expensive and time consuming face to face meeting in Paris :)
But I'd like to have your opinion about this website and the use it makes of Wikipedia.
I am asking here in particular because there are obvious technical implications. But I am sure some of you could reflect on the less technical implications ;)
thanks
ant
Je l'ai rencontré :) ----- Original Message ----- From: "Florence Devouard" Anthere9@yahoo.com To: wikitech-l@lists.wikimedia.org Sent: Thursday, October 08, 2009 6:17 PM Subject: [Wikitech-l] Webzzle
I was contacted by someone working (for) (at) Webzzle, who want to meet me (for unknown reasons as of today).
I googled Webzzle to better identify who the guy is and what he is likely to talk to me about. And what I found let me quite dubious.
Please have a look here: http://www.webzzle.com/explorer/home.kol
There is a presentation of the concept here: http://www.webzzle.com/intl/en/help.html
I kind of now suspect what the meeting will be about and I think I'll settle down for a phone meeting rather than an expensive and time consuming face to face meeting in Paris :)
But I'd like to have your opinion about this website and the use it makes of Wikipedia.
I am asking here in particular because there are obvious technical implications. But I am sure some of you could reflect on the less technical implications ;)
thanks
ant
Wikitech-l mailing list Wikitech-l@lists.wikimedia.org https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikitech-l
On Thu, Oct 8, 2009 at 12:17 PM, Florence Devouard Anthere9@yahoo.com wrote:
I was contacted by someone working (for) (at) Webzzle, who want to meet me (for unknown reasons as of today).
I googled Webzzle to better identify who the guy is and what he is likely to talk to me about. And what I found let me quite dubious.
Please have a look here: http://www.webzzle.com/explorer/home.kol
There is a presentation of the concept here: http://www.webzzle.com/intl/en/help.html
I kind of now suspect what the meeting will be about and I think I'll settle down for a phone meeting rather than an expensive and time consuming face to face meeting in Paris :)
But I'd like to have your opinion about this website and the use it makes of Wikipedia.
I am asking here in particular because there are obvious technical implications. But I am sure some of you could reflect on the less technical implications ;)
thanks
ant
Wikitech-l mailing list Wikitech-l@lists.wikimedia.org https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikitech-l
This snippet from their "Why Use Webzzle" page leaves me feeling all warm and fuzzy...
"For Wikipedia editors: Because you add more value to your Wikipedia content and because you can overcome the Wikipedia external links policy,"
-Chad
On 08/10/2009, at 5:17 PM, Florence Devouard wrote:
There is a presentation of the concept here: http://www.webzzle.com/intl/en/help.html
I don't know why they bothered using a demo to explain their technology, clear explanations like "organize the real-time knowledge web" and "explore the knowledge web in 1-click" just speak for themselves.
-- Andrew Garrett agarrett@wikimedia.org http://werdn.us/
On Thu, Oct 8, 2009 at 7:16 PM, Andrew Garrett agarrett@wikimedia.org wrote:
On 08/10/2009, at 5:17 PM, Florence Devouard wrote:
There is a presentation of the concept here: http://www.webzzle.com/intl/en/help.html
I don't know why they bothered using a demo to explain their technology, clear explanations like "organize the real-time knowledge web" and "explore the knowledge web in 1-click" just speak for themselves.
The idea of mix Google and Wikipedia search in a mashup is not new...
The Google FX extension alredy did it.. http://userscripts.org/scripts/show/31950 http://img78.imageshack.us/img78/4999/googlefxv205mk1.jpg
A greasemonkey script can change the google page, because is the user, Is like watching monalisa with sun glasses. But maybe a mashup service has to ask permissions...
About webzzle: Seems ( insane || cool || naive ) people but not (smart && evil) people. Most spammers are naive and insane, so I will classify webzzle there, but is not a perfect fit.
Tei wrote:
On Thu, Oct 8, 2009 at 7:16 PM, Andrew Garrett agarrett@wikimedia.org wrote:
On 08/10/2009, at 5:17 PM, Florence Devouard wrote:
There is a presentation of the concept here: http://www.webzzle.com/intl/en/help.html
I don't know why they bothered using a demo to explain their technology, clear explanations like "organize the real-time knowledge web" and "explore the knowledge web in 1-click" just speak for themselves.
The idea of mix Google and Wikipedia search in a mashup is not new...
The Google FX extension alredy did it.. http://userscripts.org/scripts/show/31950 http://img78.imageshack.us/img78/4999/googlefxv205mk1.jpg
A greasemonkey script can change the google page, because is the user, Is like watching monalisa with sun glasses. But maybe a mashup service has to ask permissions...
About webzzle: Seems ( insane || cool || naive ) people but not (smart && evil) people. Most spammers are naive and insane, so I will classify webzzle there, but is not a perfect fit.
Ok.
I still feel there is something not quite right. But if I am the only one, everything is probably fine ;)
Thanks
Ant
Florence Devouard Anthere9@yahoo.com wrote:
Ok. I still feel there is something not quite right. But if I am the only one, everything is probably fine ;) Thanks
Well the thing not right might be that they want you to legitimize their product, by giving them some kind of tie to Wikipedia and Wikimedia, whereby they can claim some kind of official status or affiliation to investors. That's the obvious possibilty. As Tei said, "the idea of mix Google and Wikipedia search in a mashup is not new.." I myself have been using Googlepedia for years now, and in any case Wikipedia articles show up top in Google searches anyway. So, cheezy product with a cheezy name that nobody will want to use, wants a former Wikimedia board member to juice its personell roster...
That's what it looks like to me, and I just read your email four minutes ago.
-Stevertigo "My mind it got a dent...
On Sat, Oct 10, 2009 at 2:36 AM, stevertigo stvrtg@gmail.com wrote:
So, cheezy product with a cheezy name that nobody will want to use, wants a former Wikimedia board member to juice its personell roster...
That's what it looks like to me, and I just read your email four minutes ago.
Well they went ahead and started adding[1] links[2] to 'demo' how much it would help Wikipedia. Just seems like search engine results to me. They've petitioned feedback on the Village Pump[3], which thankfully, or unfortunately depending on how you look at it, happened before they got the banstick[4] for violating existing policy. And as I mentioned on VPP, it just seems like a solution in search of a problem.
1 - http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Champagne_(wine)&diff=prev&... 2 - http://www.webzzle.com/explorer/webResource.kol?action=20020&url=http%3A... 3 - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Village_pump_%28proposals%29#Improve_... 4 - http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Log&type=block&pag...
On 02.11.2009, 11:02 OQ wrote:
Well they went ahead and started adding[1] links[2] to 'demo' how much it would help Wikipedia. Just seems like search engine results to me. They've petitioned feedback on the Village Pump[3], which thankfully, or unfortunately depending on how you look at it, happened before they got the banstick[4] for violating existing policy. And as I mentioned on VPP, it just seems like a solution in search of a problem.
I'd say, BBI (Blacklist, Block, Ignore) them.
Wanna know the best part about Webzzle?
It's blocked at my school. :)
That'll surely help them...
-X!
On Fri, Oct 9, 2009 at 4:16 AM, Andrew Garrett agarrett@wikimedia.org wrote:
I don't know why they bothered using a demo to explain their technology, clear explanations like "organize the real-time knowledge web" and "explore the knowledge web in 1-click" just speak for themselves.
To be fair, it's clear the guy's English isn't too good.
Thing is though, I just don't see the value in this kind of vague mash up. Wikipedia is great. Google is great. Trying to mash them together in some vague "knowledge web"...what problem is this solving? Seems like it would require some huge critical mass to be useful, but the concept (whatever it is) is so nebulous it will struggle to attract contributors.
This is intriguing though:
The Webzzle technology is protected by international patents. General Internet Company, the startup behind Webzzle, gives free access to the patents and free use of the technology
Steve
wikitech-l@lists.wikimedia.org