Definition
Jimmy Wales is not a technology term; rather, Jimmy Wales refers to the individual who co-founded Wikipedia. Jimmy Wales (James Donal Wales) is an American internet entrepreneur, born on August 7, 1966. He is best known for his pioneering work in creating the open-source, collaboratively-edited online encyclopedia, Wikipedia.
Phonetic
The phonetic pronunciation of “Jimmy Wales” is: ˈʤɪmi weɪlz
Key Takeaways
- Jimmy Wales is the co-founder of Wikipedia, a free, multilingual, open-source online encyclopedia.
- Wales champions the concept of free knowledge for all, focusing on internet accessibility, open-source software, and freedom of information.
- He has been recognized with numerous awards for his contributions to the internet and has built a reputation as an influential digital entrepreneur and visionary in the field of internet technology.
Importance
Jimmy Wales is an important figure in the world of technology due to his significant contribution as the co-founder of Wikipedia, the world’s largest open-source encyclopedia.
As a pioneer of the digital age, Wales revolutionized the way knowledge is accessed and shared across the globe by establishing the Wikimedia Foundation.
This non-profit organization supports the principles of free and accessible information, empowering millions of people to collaborate on a vast range of topics, creating a comprehensive, updated, and reliable knowledge base.
His vision and commitment towards providing democratized access to information has had a profound impact on education, research, and technological advancements worldwide.
Explanation
Jimmy Wales, more commonly known as the co-founder of the widely popular online encyclopedia, Wikipedia, is not necessarily a technology term, but rather a key figure within the digital information landscape. In forming Wikipedia, Wales pioneered a new form of collaborative knowledge-sharing that relies on crowd-sourced content and opens the realm of human intelligence to millions on a global scale.
His role as an internet entrepreneur and advocate for free access to information has earned him widespread recognition in the tech world. Beyond the sphere of Wikipedia, Wales founded Wikia (now Fandom), another popular web-hosting service that houses countless fan communities.
The purpose behind Jimmy Wales’ numerous contributions to the online landscape is to democratize access to knowledge and foster communication among users to share their expertise in real-time. By creating a platform that allows for continuous editing, updating, and collaboration, Wales has revolutionized how we find and trust digital information.
The Wikimedia Foundation, a non-profit organization he co-founded, operates on donations to ensure that knowledge remains free and accessible to users across the globe. With his vision and innovative mindset, Jimmy Wales continues to advocate for open-source initiatives, an free and unbiased internet, and the ongoing push for worldwide access to education and information.
Examples of Jimmy Wales
Jimmy Wales is not a technology, but rather the co-founder of the collaborative encyclopedia, Wikipedia. Here are three examples of technological projects and platforms related to Jimmy Wales:
Wikipedia: Launched in 2001, this is the most famous project that Jimmy Wales has been involved in. Wikipedia is a free, web-based encyclopedia created by millions of volunteer contributors from around the world. People can view and edit articles on various topics, offering a constantly updated and comprehensive information source.
Wikia: Also known as Fandom, Wikia is a platform that allows users to create and collaborate on their own wiki-based websites focused on particular topics, such as games, movies, TV shows, and other areas of interest. Co-founded by Jimmy Wales in 2004, it enables people to contribute their knowledge and connect with others who share similar interests.
WT.Social: Launched in 2019 by Jimmy Wales, WT.Social (or WikiTribune Social) aims to provide an alternative to traditional social media platforms. It focuses on collaboration between users to generate content, with an emphasis on news stories and in-depth analysis. Intended to be ad-free, WT.Social relies on a subscription model and donations to sustain itself.
FAQ: Jimmy Wales
Who is Jimmy Wales?
Jimmy Wales, full name Jimmy Donal Wales, is an American internet entrepreneur who is best known as a co-founder of the online non-profit encyclopedia, Wikipedia. In addition to Wikipedia, he also co-founded the for-profit web-hosting company, Wikia (now Fandom).
When was Jimmy Wales born?
Jimmy Wales was born on August 7, 1966, in Huntsville, Alabama, United States.
What inspired Jimmy Wales to create Wikipedia?
Jimmy Wales was inspired by the idea of making the world’s knowledge freely available to everyone on the Internet. He credits the open-source software movement and his own experience as a futures and options trader in creating the platform. The collaborative editing and the use of volunteers to create content for the encyclopedia were groundbreaking and helped shape the platform into what it is today.
What other projects has Jimmy Wales been involved in?
Aside from Wikipedia and Wikia, Jimmy Wales has been involved in various other ventures, which include Wikitribune (a news website), Wiki Education Foundation (a non-profit organization), and WT.Social (a social network). He also serves on the boards of various non-profit organizations, including the Wikimedia Foundation and Creative Commons, and has given many talks on the topics of open knowledge and digital rights.
What recognition and awards has Jimmy Wales received?
Jimmy Wales has received numerous awards and honors throughout his career, such as the Pioneer Award, the Time 100’s list of most influential people, and the Social Media Stars by The Daily Telegraph. He has also been awarded several honorary degrees from prestigious institutions such as Maastricht University and the University of Oxford.
Related Technology Terms
- Wikipedia
- Wikimedia Foundation
- Internet Entrepreneur
- Free Knowledge Advocate
- Wiki Software
Sources for More Information
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmy_Wales
- Wikimedia Foundation: https://wikimediafoundation.org/
- TED Talks: https://www.ted.com/speakers/jimmy_wales
- World Economic Forum: https://www.weforum.org/agenda/authors/jimmy-wales/
