A “Wiki” is basically a web page that can be viewed and modified by anyone with a Web browser and access to the Internet. It is typically used for collaborative efforts within a group. Students can use one to work on a group project. Company employees can use one to create meeting agendas, notes and comments. Homeowner Associations can use a Wiki to collaborate on common area projects. I’m planning to create and use a Wiki in my computer business as a dynamic knowledge base for everything from company policies to troubleshooting techniques and more. Anyone who collaborates or shares knowledge can benefit from a Wiki.

The downside is that modifications may have to be monitored for content, and that means someone has to take on that job. Also, the content comes from people in the group, true or not, opinion or fact. So, as time changes, opinions and facts may change, and therefore the content may become obsolete with time. Therefore, one should be careful in assuming that Wikis are reliable sources of information.

The upside is that Wikis offer a powerful and flexible way for people to collaborate. Emailing and replying with attachments become a way of the past. Wikis are immediate and accessible to everyone in the group as soon as someone hits the Save button.

To create your own Wiki, all you need is some Wiki software, like Twiki, and a place to host it. You can host it on a website, or even a shared location on your server or computer.