The Wiki

That’s right, we now have a CO ISOC Wiki to collaborate on! It is based on the MediaWiki software which also powers the Wikipedia.  I did some very minor tweaks to the default layout to make it our own, let me know what you think!

The First Project

More importantly though is why we now have a wiki of our own. While I have been planning to set one up for some time, the driver to finally do it now is a new CO ISOC initiative that we are calling Internet User Best Common Practices. As stated on the project page:

This project was kicked off at the (first ever) Downtown Denver Brainstorming Breakfast on 25 May, 2010. At the meeting were Trent Adams, Chris Grundemann, Yannis Konstantopoulos and Bobby Larson.

The idea is to start [here] on the wiki by gathering and creating a repository of information on how to be a good Netizen. That is, how to be a safe and responsible Internet user. We want to use this information, once gathered and verified, to create simple and accessible resources for the general population.

Ask yourself the question: “How would I explain proper Internet behavior and online habits to my parents, my grandparents, to my child?” That explanation (in an easily reproducible format) is exactly what we are trying to come up with!

Beyond creating a set of BCPs for Internet users, we also intend to use the data gathered to identify existing gaps in user privacy, safety and security and spread this information to those who can solve the problems. That is, to find the opportunities for action and either address them directly or, at least, expose them to others who are in positions to create positive change (standards bodies, software developers, hardware designers and possibly law enforcement and/or policy makers).

The Invitation

You guessed it, this is the part where I tell you that participation is open to all and that we would love to have you join us!

So do it!

Start by checking out the wiki itself: wiki.coisoc.org. Be sure to notice the links to MediaWiki’s User Guide and FAQ at the bottom of the main page.

Once you have signed up (or not) and gotten comfortable with the software; check out the UserBCP project page. Read more about what we are trying to do and how. If you have any questions feel free to ask them on the wiki, here on the blog, or via email (info <at> coisoc <dot> org).

Or, if you are ready to jump right in, go here and add your questions! We are looking for any and all questions about using the Internet. This could be questions you have heard or questions you have yourself. Don’t worry about the answers, for now we just want to list as many questions as we can. Later on we will work to categorize and then probably split them up and form teams to answer them.

Want to do more? Great! Take a look at the complete list of information that we are looking to gather under First Steps and if you can contribute to one of the areas listed – Do! If you have some information that doesn’t quite fit one of those categories, feel free to add your own!

The Point

The point of this post is to spread the news of our new wiki and of the Internet User BCP project. Please help us out by sharing this article with your friends, co-workers, Twitter followers, Facebook friends, etc… We really appreciate it!

The point of the wiki is to launch projects and foster collaboration, so if you have a project idea – please feel free to let us know!