Multiplicity

Multiplicity is all around us, in everyday life. However the power of multiplicity has never been so apparent as it is now when harnessed by the internet!
Multiplicity in the sence that I am using it is the dealing of people or information that without the use of a computer or the internet we would find unfathomable as a lone human.

Prior to the internet and computers a couple of classic examples of multiplicity could be workers on a factory line, all doing a small part to put together a final product in hours or days instead of taking one person weeks,months or years to do by themselves. Or maybe multiple reporters collaborating their reports and articles together to form a newspaper.

Following the theme of collaborated publishing, I'm going to investigate Wikipedia . Wikipedia is a free online encyclopedia. Which makes it interesting and relevant to how multiplicity can be such a powerful tool is that wikipedia enables anyone on the internet to edit and contribute to this forever evolving collection of information. Unlike a conventional Encylopedia the articles can be constantly updated whilst still being in circulation. And unlike a conventional Newspaper on author can edit another authors article by adding or correcting content.

One of the great aspects of multiplicty in the case of wikipedia is that instead of just one authours knowledge of a current topic. It invites multiple authors to build a piece of work, this could range from a humanaly managable number of 5 or 10 authors to the unmanagable number of 1000's. It also allows topics to be covered in depth that in conventional publications could be overlooked or thought to be irrelevent.

Because wikipodia invites anyone with an internet access to contribute, current and popular topics can be covered and published online at incredible speed. As an example Swine flu A strain of pig influenza that evolved in such a way that it could be passed onto humans. This was new, but within hours information about it could be found on wikipedia. Unlike a Newspaper that might give one medical experts imformation on the topic wikipedia allows any number of experts to give information. However because you dont need any qualifications or proven knowledge to write an article, sometimes the information displayed is not entirely accurate, but the fact that its up there and open to others with maybe more knowledge in the field to edit and add too is great.

The format of wikipedia can lend itself easily to other more specific topics and communities one example is Wowwiki Which like wikipedia is a collection of information by thoasands of authours but its all information related to World of Warcraft an online multiplayer game(mmorpg). It covers all aspects of the game, again some aspects that you would have alot of trouble finding information on is readily available because of the sheer number of people on the internet posting about what they enjoy and have knowledge in, be it gameplay,programing,lore,class mechanic's, pve elements of the game or pvp.