Thoughts on the WikiHow Page Creation Process.......

             Making a WikiHow page was a really cool, new experience. I really thought that it was a lot more difficult then it was. Especially when it came to coding the page in HTML style. However, this is the part that I found to be the easiest. Literally it all made sense to me, everything has a denomination, that is to say, a symbol that makes it look one way over another way. This I understand; it was like typing regularly albeit a slight change. An example of this, which I found entirely difficult to forget, would be using asterisks in the place of bullet points. I know that this is most likely the most basic form of HTML coding, but I feel as if I have the knowledge necessary at this point, at least, to tackle a harder coding project.

            I almost feel like I could possibly be one of those weird people that would make a Wiki page when bored. It was honestly so simplistic to publish my own work, which was an achievement in and of itself. Why not share my knowledge, no matter how minuscule with the world at large? Honestly, I wrote about Pokemon for heaven’s sake. And although it was something as juvenile as a children’s video game, I really do hope and think that somebody out there in “internet-land” will totally look up my page and be better off because of it. That’s such a cool thought, and that brings my thoughts back to those that we discussed in class especially dealing with Web 2.0 and how innovative an enhancement to the web at large it was.

           
             The action of creating a WikiHow page directly correlates with the idea of Web 2.0. We live in an age where we can just publish something to the web on a whim, if we so choose to. A publication is exactly that: public. I believe that the timing of the WikiHow assignment for class as well as the Web 2.0 discussion was not just a coincidence. Web 2.0 allowed us to connect with one another on a virtual level; it allowed all of this to be possible, including this blog. The fact that people can read the words that I am writing here and can share them if they want to is incredible. It almost feels intrinsic to my generation and that’s almost a scary thought simply because it is such an innovation to everyday life itself. The scariest yet most incredible part of all of this innovation is that the web is still growing and evolving. It has already encroached on Web 3.0 territory and may even be, according to some people, well within the troughs of Web 4.0.

            Coming up with the ideas wasn't too difficult as my previous blog entry alluded to, it was choosing a singular one and thinking of the idea I chose in a step-by-step fashion. This took some getting used to as it meant slowing down my brain slightly to think of a task as a process rather than just diving into it. It can also be said that topics were limited by what one could actually do and get photo proof of. Then once the topic was chosen a series of pictures had to be taken in order to illustrate the step-by-step process.  I was lucky enough to have to only take photos of my video game console as I played through my game. Predominately the topic came to me from my years and years of being a “Poke-geek.” In comparison to something such as a place where a lot of research had to be done, I am pretty well versed within the world of Pokemon. However I did refer to a Wiki site solely created for Pokemon so that I could clarify some things I was murky on, such as a specific time in game that it would be possible to take on the task I was displaying. Other than my personal photos and knowledge, not much else was required to down to business. I think I picked a great topic, although it is a little bit sophomoric.

            I think that creating a Wiki page is totally a great way to breach into other web design and is easy enough to understand as well as being difficult enough, at first, to be considered a challenge. The fact that this was my first stint into the world of web design; and that I understood it and came out of it successfully speaks volumes. This has solidified to me that I will be able to go on to the next level and be successful in this field of expertise. Future projects and job opportunities will be much easier as a result of this experience and that is so invaluable.

            One thing that I don’t like is that people can take my work and change it. What concerns me is that these changes may not be in the best interest of the page and may in turn get it either taken down, which would be awful, or completely change my work to the point of it looking as if I never even wrote any of it myself. That would be worse. Within 10 hours of publishing the page, I was rewarded with an email saying that one of the admins had changed the page slightly to reflect WikiHow format. That was a constructive discretion. I am just scared of that time when it is not constructive in the slightest. But of course that is all the opposite side of the coin known as Web 2.0. It is also pretty much the essence of any wiki page, such as Wikipedia or Bulbapedia, from which I procured some of the information needed for my page. The link to said site and page I used is as follows: http://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Pok%C3%A9mon_Ruby_and_Sapphire_Versions.  I understand that this project has its flaws as well as its triumphs. Such is with anything in the entirety of the universe.

            At the end of the day, this project has made me grow as a beginning web designer and this growth will be essential to many of my future endeavors and for those I am excited and ready to begin! Here is the link to my WikiHow page: http://www.wikihow.com/Defeat-the-LV.-100-Battle-Tower-in-Pokemon-Ruby-and-Sapphire.