Wikipedia co-founder to speak on campus
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Larry Sanger, co-founder of the popular Web site Wikipedia, is making an appearance on Purdue University's West Lafayette campus on March 28.His talk, which is free and open to the public, will take place from 3-5 p.m. in the Horticulture Building, Room 117.
Sanger first proposed to James Wales, the current Wikipedia leader and the other founder, the concept of merging a "wiki," which is a piece of software that enables computer users to create Web pages, with an encyclopedia. This led directly to the creation of the now-famous Wikipedia, "the free encyclopedia that anyone can edit."
Sanger managed the Web site in its first year and was responsible for many of the policies and decisions that made Wikipedia a success.
He is currently director of Distributed Content Programs at ManyOne Networks in Scotts Valley, Calif., chair of the Board of Stewards of the Digital Universe Foundation and one of the key organizers of Digital Universe projects.
Sorin Matei, assistant professor of communications, says that Sanger is an innovator in the use of emerging communications technologies.
"Sanger not only helped to develop this wonderful digital community that gave the Internet Wikipedia, but he also is an innovator who is working through many of the problems and issues that the Web presents," Matei says.
Sanger's talk is being sponsored by the Department of Communication.
Writer: Steve Tally, (765) 494-9809, tally@exchange.purdue.edu
Source: Sorin Matei, (765) 494-7780, smatei@purddue.edu
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
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