Google launched Knol, a monetizable Wikipedia, last July, and since then most people seem to have either forgotten about it entirely or decided that it will never be as good as its Wiki predecessor.
Today the site is launching a new section called Knol Debates, and while I don’t think it will ever get me to use the site as a reference encyclopedia, it’s a great idea. Google has brought together economists from the Cato Institute and the Economic Policy Institute (EPI) who have written their opinions regarding the current economic climate. Users are encouraged to participate in the conversation by leaving their comments, reviews, and suggested modifications to the original arguments.
Google is also allowing users to vote on future topics for Knol debates with its recently launched Google Moderator tool. For more information, check out the announcement on Google’s official blog.
Sounds like a good idea, but I’m not sure it will help Knol in general.
This is a great technology that Google are bringing to the tech arena…with their skill and ability to scale projects globally, we will all enter a new era of mass debating..!
Knol is toast. Google should just buy Mahalo or Squidoo. They’re just loosing focus by trying to develop these projects in-house. Knol is the Cuil of content. Premature releases can kill you.
do folks use mahalo?
Google should buy the universe.
Textbook case of how the name will kill the product or service. Knol never had a chance. And to think it’s all because of that shitty name. Dumb, dumb , dumb!
Gotta agree with Marc about the name. I’m not sure why, but it’s weak as a brand and does not sound or recall anything like what it’s supposed to offer/provide
Knol schnol… google should stick to search. Everything else they do is second rate.
Thanks Google .
Debate site better than Knol: http://www.CreateDebate.com