Blog v Wiki

      A blog possesses all the attributes of a personal journal. Instead of pen and paper the instruments we used to record our thoughts, ideas, and opinions are technological mediums. Considering the above implications it is safe to define a blog as a personal Internet journal. While blogs have a more individual oriented style, wiki is more communal oriented. The accessibility is different. A blog is created by an individual and its content can only be created, edited, update, or erase by the specific individual. Wiki can be accessed by a group of people whom might create, update, or delete the information. Margaret Locher states that  a wiki is a software application that allows groups of users to create, edit and comment on online documents. The purpose of the software is to allow each  team member to contribute and access up-to-date information on their projects. People using the software have the most current information, they are able to make better decisions and get the project done faster  In a technological era convergence is necessary to unify in an uniformed manner the information we have access to. 

     Through blogs groups of people can become together for a common goal. At the same time they can become aware of what's happening in their neighborhood or area of interest. On the article Brooklyn Blog Helps Lead to Drug Raid, Michael Wilson gives an example on how blogs can be used for collaboration. Neighbors came together to denounce the criminal activities perpetrated in  their neighborhood. According to the article, "peering turned to blogging, and blogging turned to action, as neighbors started filing complaints with the 68th Precinct station house and attending Community Board 10 meetings and generally making noise until a narcotics investigation began, leading to the arrests".

     As stated by Kathy E. Gill on How can we measure the influence of the blogosphere?, blogs have the power to affect events, "As the World Wide Web approaches its teens, we have new

expectations about both the right to express an opinion and

access to information upon which to base that opinion.

Blogs have played a role in raising those expectations; thus,

blogs have demonstrated influence: the power to affect

events".

Liz Ventura