| There's a new kid on the online block named Knol | | | | Internet and its various content. |
| and even this early in the development stage, | | | | Manber also stated that another important goal of |
| some people are already predicting that it could | | | | Knol was to cover a wide range of topics, from |
| bring about yet another significant change to the | | | | the various sciences to health concerns to history. |
| way we share information on the Internet. | | | | Eventually they hope to have Knol become the |
| Knol is a new Web service being developed by | | | | first stop for research on any topic. Today it is |
| Google that is meant to serve as a virtual | | | | Wikipedia that provides that function and its web |
| storehouse of knowledge on the Internet. With | | | | pages show up at the top of the results page of |
| content being contributed by various experts on | | | | Google and many other search engines more |
| different topics, it will behave much in the same | | | | often than not. |
| way that Wikipedia does currently. In fact many | | | | Some in the industry have suggested that this |
| industry experts have made the suggestion that | | | | latest move of Google is driven by the |
| Knol is set to become a direct competitor to | | | | unprecedented growth of web sites that combine |
| Wikipedia and other similar types of web sites. | | | | knowledge resources such as Wikepedia, and that |
| Google is of course the go to web site as far as | | | | Google feels the need to have a strong presence |
| search engines go, being the most popular search | | | | in that particular area. |
| engine web site today by far. If Knol is as | | | | Wikipedia is by no means the only web site that |
| successful in drawing a widespread following as | | | | offers that type of service. Many other |
| the developers hope, it could bring about the | | | | companies have taken slightly different |
| Google's transition from a search engine into a | | | | approaches in functioning as knowledge |
| company that creates and publishes Web content. | | | | repositories on various topics on the Internet. |
| Some industry observers warn that one problem | | | | These services include Squidoo, Yahoo Answers, |
| that could potentially arise is that Google's | | | | and Mahalo. |
| objectivity in presenting search results could be | | | | In spite of the widespread popularity of these |
| compromised. | | | | services-as well as the existence of many free |
| Knol-the name of which is derived from the word | | | | tools that allow experts and regular people the |
| "knowledge"-is being developed to allow people to | | | | means by which they can share their knowledge |
| create Web pages on virtually any topic. When | | | | online-Manber said that Google feels that it is still |
| completed, it will include several features that will | | | | not easy enough for the average user to do |
| allow its users the ability to perform a number of | | | | those things. |
| tasks, such as submitting comments, rating | | | | Interestingly, considering all the hype and |
| individual web pages and suggesting changes. | | | | excitement that is currently surrounding the news |
| We mentioned earlier in this article that Knol has | | | | of Knol's existence, Google has refrained from |
| been compared to Wikipedia by many industry | | | | discussing the project any further than these initial |
| analysts. While there are in fact many similarities | | | | details, and have even said that it is still an |
| between the two web services, the main | | | | experimental project at this time. This means that |
| difference is that Wikipedia allows virtually anyone | | | | just like many other Google tests that never saw |
| to edit an entry while Knol only allows the author | | | | the light of day, Knol could end up never even |
| of each particular "knol,"-which is what the | | | | being released publicly at all. |
| individual pages in the service will be called-to do | | | | As for Wikipedia, site founder Jimmy Wales has |
| so. This means that the same topics could have | | | | downplayed his site's comparison with Knol, saying |
| many different authors with sometimes | | | | that while Wikipedia's goal is utmost objectivity in |
| contrasting-or even competing-points of view. | | | | its content, with each individual article being the |
| Google has stated that the main thrust of the | | | | sum total of the collective knowledge of its |
| Knol project was to focus attention on authors | | | | various authors, Knol's model will likely result in |
| who have sufficient expertise on particular topics. | | | | highly opinionated and possible even contradictory |
| As vice president for engineering at Google Udi | | | | articles on even the simplest of topics. |
| Manber wrote in the Google corporate blog | | | | Another important distinction is that Wikipedia is a |
| recently, the Internet has evolved largely without | | | | strictly non profit web site that does not carry |
| the benefit of a standardized means to highlight | | | | any type of advertising, while Knol is a decidedly |
| the author's name on each web article. He goes | | | | more commercial venture, with its content |
| on to say that the company believes that | | | | authors earning revenue from any Google ads on |
| knowing who wrote a particular web article what | | | | their site. |
| will considerably aid users make better use of the | | | | |