Open Source - Changing the Digital World

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Open source is something that is over-looked by many people. When you talk about open source with someone unfamiliar with it, they are usually hesitant about using open source software. Many people might wonder how the software created by people on their free time can compare to software produced by large companies like Microsoft.

About twenty years ago, Microsoft released their own encyclopedia known as Microsoft Encarta. Having vast amounts of information on a computer was very impressive at the time. Fast-forward to the 21st century and the way we perceive information changed dramatically. Information was no longer a luxury, it became a necessity. This was the time Wikipedia, an open source website, began to gain popularity. It allowed anyone to add or change content to create the most up-to-date and comprehensive encyclopedia.

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The eventual popularity of Wikipedia led to the downfall of Microsoft Encarta. Microsoft could not keep up with the influx of information. The community is what drives Wikipedia and many other open source projects. It is a community that donates their free time to help others while doing what they enjoy. It gives them a sense of fulfillment that cannot be paid for.

I am very grateful for what open source has brought us. I believe the mere existence of open source; makes companies like Microsoft work harder. Wikipedia is an example that open source is competition and seeing what it did to Encarta, I am excited to see what open source can do for us in the future.

References

Rosenzweig, R. (2006). Can history be open source? Wikipedia and the future of the past. The Journal of American History, 93(1), 117-146.

Cohen, N. (2009). Microsoft Encarta dies after long battle with Wikipedia. The New York Times, 30.