Davis Wiki Wins Knight News Challenge Grant

The LocalWiki project, created by Davis Wiki founders Philip Neustrom and Mike Ivanov, will create the  next generation of wiki software tailored to the needs of local communities.  The new software, to be tested in several “pilot” communities, will allow citizens a to easily collaborate on a common repository of local information, providing the context behind the people, places, and events that shape our communities.

Inspired by the success of the Davis Wiki, currently the world’s largest and most active community wiki, the LocalWiki project will apply the lessons learned there to new communities while creating new tools that will enrich online collaboration.  The new LocalWiki software will focus on ease of use as well as giving users new ways to share and explore local news and information, such as  editable maps and time lines.  For instance, users will be able to see a local landmark on a map and visualize its history on a timeline, in the context of other historic events.  The free and open-source software will be released to the public in 2011.