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