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Proposal:Wiki in a Stick, with auto-update

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The status of this proposal is:
Request for Discussion / Sign-Ups

Every proposal should be tied to one of the strategic priorities below.

Edit this page to help identify the priorities related to this proposal!


  1. Achieve continued growth in readership
  2. Focus on quality content
  3. Increase Participation
  4. Stabilize and improve the infrastructure
  5. Encourage Innovation


Proposal

I propose releasing Wikipedia in a USB stick, which would include an easy solution for auto-updating.

There are already movies being bundled with high-capacity USB sticks, so why not a USB-stick with Wikipedia? The content + auto-updating software could be either given for free (USB manufacturers should be interested = max coverage), or it could be used to bring in money (select coverage).

Using Wiki(pedia) in a Stick would also reduce the load (hits) on online wikipedia. But auto-updating would increase it in another way.

Motivation

  • Increasing coverage in online-challenged environments (esp. developing countries)
  • Taking a leap from geeky "offline wikipedias" to a polished, easy to use, version with better chance of wide adoption

Key Questions

  • Which parts would be included (size limit). Most popular articles, articles with most encyclopedic value, articles without media or categorized packages?
  • Free or profit
  • Specs of the auto-updating software (what kind of an edit in the online WP would mark the article as updated, and to be included in autoupdate download)
  • User interface: Should the stick include a customized browser for this one purpose?
  • USB stick not the only possible physical media for this use. Bluray would be one alternative (video consoles!).

Potential Costs

  • Creating auto-updating software
  • Increased volume of dump downloads

References

Community Discussion

Do you have a thought about this proposal? A suggestion? Discuss this proposal by going to Proposal talk:Wiki in a Stick, with auto-update.

Want to work on this proposal?

  1. .. Sign your name here!