Google Sidewiki

I use the Ars Technica online magazine for a lot of my tech news. Today, I stumbled upon an article that discusses a new application offered by Google called Sidewiki.

The Sidewiki allows Google users to read and make comments on any website. Google does a pretty good job highlighting the great potential in this technology. First of all, it gives users the impression that they can contribute to any web page on the entire Internet. Your comments can be easily visible on websites that previously had no commenting section. They also highlight the potential for expert advice of, say, doctors visiting a medical website. Webmasters can use the Sidewiki to guide visitors around their website, or provide further background information on the site's services. Here is a video that goes over some key features.

Ryan Paul, the Ars Technica journalist who authored the article, makes some valid critical assessments of the emerging application. Firstly, he notes that it is not a wiki in the true sense of the word, where users are able to edit the annotations of other users. Also, the app has just been released, so most of the comment threads are shallow and not very useful.

There does seem to be great potential for a new form of digital communication here, though, especially in countering misinformation. Sidewiki creates an environment where reliability and authority can be put under the microscope more often. Many people (myself included) consider items and "facts" displayed prominently on an official looking website to convey truthful, authoritative information. Sidewiki annotations that contest certain information could open up a lot of dialogue and lead more and more people to critically assess their information resources.