The original Web 2.0

The Meaning of Everything: The Story of the Oxford English Dictionary by Simon Winchester is a fine example of what Web 2.0 is all about, the creation of a community with a common interest or cause. What makes the story of the Oxford English Dictionary so fascinating is that it happened pre-computer and Internet.

The goal of the Philological Society, established in 1842, was to develop a dictionary of the English language in its "totality". Meaning as Winchester explains in his book, "Whatever this was, it had to be a book-an enormous book...that did its level best to include the totality of the language. And by that was meant the discovery and the inclusion of every single word, every sense, every meaning...such that anyone who wanted to look up the meaning of any word must be confident of finding it there, without a scintilla of doubt."

the question in all of our minds as it was in the minds of those present at the first announcement of this colossus task should be how will this be accomplished? Dean Trench's answer was "common action" where by "many besides its own members (Philological Society) would gladly divide with them the toil and honour of such an undertaking. An entire army would join hand in hand till it covered the breadth of the island...this drawing a sweep-net over the whole extent of English literature, is that which we would fain see..."

Think of the Philological Society as the central node with all those individuals around the world "connected" by the reading and sending via the postal service slips of paper containing data about data (words). When these bits of information arrived at the "Scriptorium" as this central node was to be known they were placed in one of 1,029 pigeon-holes built to hold all the meta data until it could be sorted and reviewed.

After 68 years, 3 weeks a total of twelve "tombstone-sized" volumes containing all the English words which were up to that point in time believed to make up the English language was made available to the public. WOW!!!!

It wasn't the first time that people had joined together to gather information just for the sheer enjoyment of adding to the great body of knowledge that is our human history. The Brothers Grimm had some time before the commencement of work on the OED developed a German dictionary with the help of 83 volunteers who read one or more authors combing for words to be included in the dictionary.

It would seem that we are hard wired for participation in Web 2.0 type activity. We can't help but put our own 2-cents into the mix. So, it shouldn't surprise anyone that Wiki sites and software applications like del.icio.us are popular. Creative common communities have been happening for centuries. To steal a phrase from one of my dear uncles, "It's in the blood..."