I noticed that Matt “tweeted” recently about the Wiki!!!

I forgot all about this project—-but wanted to bump it for all the new folks who might be interested in joining/contributing!

(Yipes, I need to find/remember my user name/password for this…sign in is now required due to spammers. Hmm…I can still click and read but I guess you have to log in now to edit!)

Looks good, Sherri. I was hoping someone would grab that article. Good choices on the links.

Greg, just because I can write dry, doesn’t mean the Wiki has to be that way :o It’s a magic line to dance to have a voice, try to be interesting, stay marginally subjective, etc. I’ve always liked writing, but I tend to overwrite and make sentences that run much longer than they actually need to be to get the point across which can make my writing harder to read for many folks; however, it is hard sometimes to stop at the one something without giving all the excessive counter-points to make sure the actual complexity of the underlying thought is fully expressed with the realization that nothing is really as simple as it may seem at first glance. q.e.d.

Thank you for checking it over, Penster and Greg!! It does seem pretty easy to edit (don’t even need to sign in) in case something needs to be changed or added along the way. Hopefully lots more people will pitch in with this huge project!

Funny that I clicked into help and it asked me if I wanted to create that topic! LOL!

Nice job Sherri. That’s the spirit. No fear, we’re just nursing a new born here.

Sherri…you did GREAT! You have a real knack for writing.

Well, I picked a real doozy of a subject as my first attempt at adding to this InventionWiki…Eeeks…someone please check/edit my contribution with Greg R’s link under Edison Nation for subject in blue, invention promotion company!!!

This was written in my own words and off the top of my head..and hopefully I have those facts straight as I am certainly no expert here! :-O

Was this too biased/opinionated..oh my! Hmm..no spell-checker either..must be careful with this Wiki!!

(Hey Wiki you’re so fine..you’re so fine you blow my mind..hey Wiki!! oops..sorry..stress!)

Thank you my friend. I’m becoming aware of a traditional Wiki style and you have a good grasp of it. If no one takes the initiative I will make some modifications to come in line a little better.

Thanks, Sherri. I think it is fine to link to things. Just edit and add the link.

I’m contemplating doing some more stuff, would be fun to see more people adding things into it.

Greg, I like your selling article.

Here is an awesome Youtube video of Louis explaining Edison Nation in fine detail, too…If this can be added in there /is okay to add in the media section somewhere??? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zjk963FiE-0

Nice job getting this started, Greg!!

I’ve tossed the first gauntlet down in attempting to define Edison Nation.

http://www.inventionwiki.org/wiki/Edison_Nation

That’s correct… Talk is just a feature where people can debate changes to the actual page. You want to make sure you are viewing the page when you click edit so that you edit the correct content.

So talk/discussion is the place where editors discuss what they think of an article, etc.

When you are on the talk page, you’ll see a Page tab next to the active Discuss tab. Click on Page and you’ll see the article, which if you do it for licensing should present you with an edit box. You can paste your article into there, and TADA.

I find the easiest way to make an article is to type the name you want as part of the Wiki address and if the article doesn’t exist click edit and start typing.

For example if I want to make a page on Competition (which I do), I type into the address bar:
http://www.inventionwiki.org/wiki/Competition
or for yours, Andrea:
http://www.inventionwiki.org/wiki/Licensing

I haven’t edited this one yet, but I’ve done a lot of research on Wikis and started one for my team at my last job. Being a longtime nerd helps, I suppose.

Yes, Sherri that is it, I don’t know how to navigate that site, I will have to click around!

Andrea, is this your contribution? http://www.inventionwiki.org/wiki/Talk:Licensing

Shows up when you click recent additions/users/contributions and looks like it is in a “Talk” section?

I tried to add a whole slew of goodies into topics such as: American Inventor’s Protection Act of 1999, America Invents Act of 2011, Thomas Edison, Nikola Tesla, Louis Foreman, infringement, sell sheets, non-disclosure contracts, prior art, inventor’s notebook, person skilled in the art, Eureka effect, Uniform Trade Secrets Act, etc. etc… but left the subject matter blank for someone else to fill in…and just kept adding topics. Then, when I went to "re"search the terms—it was as if I never submitted them and asked me to create them all over again.

Here’s an always up-to-date list of all pages… You guys sure your posts are missing?

http://www.inventionwiki.org/wiki/Special:AllPages

Well Sherri and Andrea, I guess the screening feature is working perfectly. No chameleoning here. hahaahahahahaaha

Oh, I better TM that word.

My post isn’t there either..Matt??

Eesh…none of the “topics” that I tried to add this morning seemed to “stick” in there either! I’m assuming that in order to start the topics, you must write something in there?

First, I went searching “Wikipedia” for all things I could think of off the top of my head that pertained to inventing. I noticed on Wikipedia that many terms were linkable in “blue”. So, I jotted many of these terms down on paper (after I checked the full names/links) and then proceeded to add these to the InventionWiki by searching-not finding-creating the topic. Didn’t add text as I figured someone more in the “know” could add to these things later.

Afterwards, when I tried to re-search a few of the inventing terms/topics that I thought I had created…it asked me again if I wanted to create them! Eeeks!!! I spunt my wheels this morning, I guess?

What about copy/pasting entire subjects from Wikipedia over to InventionWiki…Is that a no-no???? For now, I have stepped away from the Wiki!!! LOL!

Andrea, I don’t see your contribution for “licensing”.

Great points and tips Matt. I have already employed it as an edit.
Thanks for the prop ups Sherri, Michael, Charlie, and Patricia. I’m no expert either, just trying to get it rolling. That’s why I felt safe with “Selling”. It’s not too technical. I can think of a handful of ENventors who could cover all categories.
Bizkit I’m trying to picture your avatar as a chameleon…big bulging eyes, a long curled tongue whipping out at a bug. Man this is approaching something as hideous as Predator. I prefer your bright eyed smile.
BTW sometimes I wonder if the server delivers all mail. Did you get my response to your last email?

Hey Guys, thanks for all of the feedback and questions!

In a sense, this is a sort of “create and release into the wild” type of project. We’ll enforce the rules and step in when necessary but the beauty of it is that if somebody comes in and posts something completely self-serving or incorrect, it’s most likely that one of the visitors (you guys!) will find it and fix it before we even notice.

I’d like to stress that you don’t need to be an expert to get the ball rolling. Often, that’s all it takes to get other people who are more knowledgable on a subject to chime in and contribute. For many, it’s easier to edit (even if there isn’t anything more than a sentence or short outline) than it is to start something new. Please don’t hesitate to start up topics that you’re interested in!

Sherri, all topics that have anything remotely related to invention or innovation are accepted. I’d love to see you guys build out the Edison Nation topic – I’m interested to see EN through your eyes!

As a tip, when you write a word in a definition that you think could use further defining, add two brackets around it [[like this]] and it will turn into a link with that term, which will encourage somebody to click on it and then further define that topic. An example might be something like “Edison Nation hosts four ways to bring your idea to market: [[Live Product Searches]], [[Name Searches]], A [[$25 Million Innovation Fund]], and an [[Insider-Exclusive Licensing Program]].”

Kevin, if you click on “View History” you’ll see who did what to the page. It’s essentially the credits/footnotes for the topic.

Matt this is awesome, I posted in licensing! :)

That helps Greg R…I can see what you’re saying. That’s mighty brave of EN knowing some of the “funny biz” that rears it’s ugly head now and again. I guess until I become a certified expert I will personally remain a viewer and student over there. I really was LOL thinking of EN’s reaction when I signed up! haha

Great Idea Matt and congratulations … Bingo this will be monumental, you all are working so hard, another homerun for EN !!! Nice going Greg!!! Great addition !!

Kevin,
The principle of a Wiki is that anyone can edit and create anything. Edits are stored and folks can review and judge them. If something is inaccurate, misworded, etc. then you can fix it. Typically, there are mod type roles that can freeze articles or force edits into a review phase and other potential mechanisms.

Nothing illustrates the potential of a crowd better, both the good and the bad. One nice thing, is some can sketch in an article they’d like to see with empty spots and things like, “need help with this.” Its organic and will likely attract invention promotion companies self-referencing, people putting down organizations, bad information, turf wars interpreting the new legislation, etc. Be fun to watch.

The crowd can edit and call foul or add caveats. Or spot something and rehash it on these boards and then come to a final version.

Great set up Matt and EN.
Great job Greg, I’m sold my friend

This is a really good idea!
Nice work Greg!
I can see some good write ups coming from this group.

Ya knoooow Sherri The Librararian….THIS is why you are so benevolently rewarded on the payroll!

I created an account. Just to think about EN staff cringing in NC. hahaha

Nah, I shall try, like Sherri, to absorb some MORE new technology that wasn’t part of my regular programming.

One question I have already… is… Greg B contributed to Sales, but there is no way to identify that anywhere…or did I miss it? Also, what the *&^% makes his input (if indeed it IS him) legit? Is there a kind of screening, or something? Since I have the privilege of knowing/of Greg B, I’ll buy it (his input).

But if I were to decide I wanted to input my “expertise” on adding media to one’s IP being submitted to a large, inventor-friendly organization for their licensing consideration, and I was really MOST talented at chameleoning myself as an expert (anyone paying attention knows I am clueless in media), how does my misinformation come to light?

Wow, that was a very nice write up, Greg!

For starting these topics…should we anticipate any words, terms or phrases that are inventing-related that would be used by someone else in a search or are the topics meant to be just the broad, basic topics such as the way the individual forums here are named and set up?

For example, would these be considered appropriate as topics: entrepreneur, brainstorming, Google Patents, patent attorney, direct response television, media tests, sell sheets, tradeshows, crowd sourcing, branding, etc. etc.?

What about slangish terms like “wow factor”,“cold calling”, “eureka moment” or “elevator pitch”?

And words or phrases that are EN-specific like “LPS” “Red X” or “dashboard”?

Namedropping other inventor sites or actual people to be described in a non-selling/no nonsense type of fashion? UIA, InventHelp, Quirky, Telebrands, ThomasNet, Thomas Edison, Louis Foreman, etc.?

(Never saw a new Wiki-thingy like this before and didn’t want to add to the topics without fully understanding the set up…should we all sorta go “FP Phenomenon” wild here thinking of inventor/innovation phrases for these Wiki topics, even if someone else will have to come along and write something up?)

Matt,
Sales was the only category I felt I could make a contribution and strictly as a layman so, it is written. BenFrank is my pen name. I hope the format isn’t too bloggey. This is new to me but fun.
Nice job of covering all things inventing.

This is awesome Matt! This is going to be great!

Awesome idea, and execution. I was just thinking the other day that I need another time sink. :)

p.s. Nice score on a domain name!

Great addition Matt. I registered and now I have writer’s block…

Thanks Mike. It’s been on our (very long) feature wish list for a long time but it was your post a couple of weeks ago that convinced me it was time to re-prioritize it to the top of the list. Thank YOU for the excellent idea!

Excellent idea, Matt. EN, the teacher.