I have included the link to show this and it also has his will attached to that page.

Thank you, Pete Snider

We need a Wikipedia reference in one of the next futuristic Sci-Fi blockbuster movies. Better yet the hero has to use an computer to research some info and it gets him out of a jam :-)

I like your phrase “intelligently fuse human input with machine smarts.” The whole becomes more than the sum of parts. I keep hearing Aristotle alongside algorithms for future data system organization.

I am co-organizing a TEDxHuntsville that will take place about a year from now and, though you presented at TED 2005, an open keynote speaking invitation is extended from your hometown to you. My goal is for participants to gain new perspectives on the creativity underlying what becomes future tech. Using Kevin Kelly’s definition of technology: “anything useful created by the human mind”, I think you are an excellent candidate.

I realize you are busy saving the world by supplying us internet nomads with information for our endless pursuit of knowledge. And that you probably have fifteen ongoing projects and ten transcontinental flights a week. If time is really against us, perhaps we could illustratively blend technovation and idea generation into a pre-recorded video, even just five minutes, giving you free reign to share your inspiration and perspective on future innovations and how the pursuit of your passions and interests in life changes both who you are and the world in which you live.

I’ll be in touch. Cheers!

Amy Robinson

The comments to this particular entry contained several with suggestions to how we could fix our current deficit problem. I began to wonder…what if you could harness this power of collective thought to try and come up with solutions to our country’s problems. You know, the old saying “two heads are better than one”. How would you do this using the internet?

Disflaimer: I am just an average user of computer and internet technology. I currently work as an aerospace engineer.

So I thought, what type of sites collect and assemble information using inputs from users? It was not hard to realize that Wikipedia does this very thing. So I woneered how hard would it be to use the social networking power of the internet to come up with solutions to our problems. God knows our politicians can use all the help they can get.

I guess you could set up topics and invite people to contribute ideas in a discussion format. There would be rules, of course, like no cruel criticism. Only constructive criticism would be allowed. I think it would be wonderful if everyday citizens were offered the opportunity to participate in solving our problems and I think the internet will play a key role in this area. Think of the power social networking sites could have in a collective thought process.

I figured you would be the persoh with an open mind to this suggestion. And it looks like “Hunch” runs along the lines of what I just mentioned. After reading the article mentioned in my first paragraph I did a little research. To be honest, I didn’t know who Wikipedia’s founder was until 20 minutes ago.

Take Care.;

Iam Deepa here from Chennai, India.

Iam a great fan of Wikipedia and use it as a reference for almost every but of information which i need.I think Wikipedia is a real wonder in terms of the information which it offers about everything possible in this universe.

I would suggest that Wikipedia also be converted in to book and sold to Indian/Asian Market.There is a huge amount of population who would like to read these contens in the form of a book as well apart from using internet to refer.i would like to publish it as a book if iam given rights to do that and a revenue model.

If you google ‘offline wiki’ you can find instructions for creating an offline, off-site, workable version of wiki, which many portable users find useful because a wifi connection isnt always available.

I myself looked into getting an offline wiki onto a laptop for the family to use while at the cottage or while on vacation.

If wiki offered a digital subscription service, allowing users to pay a onetime nominal fee of $100 which would allow them access to offsite ‘image’ of wiki thats fully workable in local environments. Monthly snapshot image updates, (or bi-yearly even.) could be offered.

Im sure I could convince my dad to drop a hundo just so he would be able to search for info on; how to build a deck, what type of bird he just saw, and to treat a serious burn from the fire.

Just an idea.. offer the people what they’re doing anyways (offline wiki backup), with an ease-of-use factor that negates the cost of paying the premium.. itunes did it.. people were downloading mp3s anyways, they made it easy, and charged 99cents and changed the industry.

$100 bucks, wiki for life, offline. with status updates. (i think the whole site properly compressed and indexed locally is 16 gigs? perfect for netbook users. it will even fit on an SD card. ;D)

Something to think about..