Wikipedia:Wikipedia Signpost/2009-10-05/In the news
Wikipedia used by UN, strange AFDs, iPhone reality
Wikipedia graph used in UN climate report
As first reported on the blogClimateAudit.org,a graph in theUnited NationsreportClimate Change Science Compendium 2009originated on Wikipedia. Thefile,which showsatmospheric CO2and mean global temperature during the past 1000 years, was drawn by Norwegian WikipedianHanno.Several other blogs picked up the story, including the blogtalkingabouttheweather.com,which quotes an email from user:Hanno pointing out that he has no qualifications "to judge whether the underlying data are correct or erroneous, and have never pretended to be able to do so." Hanno further explained his point of view atcommons:File talk:CO2-Temp.png.
The Telegraphon article deletion
A story inThe Daily Telegraphon 1 October, "Wikipedia: 20 articles earmarked for deletion",highlighted some of the more unusual articles to go throughAfDrecently. Articles mentioned includeMatrix (fictional universe),Raptor Jesusand explodingsheep,toadsanddonkeys.
Two iPhone apps use Wikipedia content for "augmented reality"
Twoaugmented realityapps for theiPhonewere released this week that use Wikipedia content to provide information about a user's surroundings.ReadWriteWeb reviewsCyclopedia, a new app that costs US$2, and Wikitude, a free app that was previously available forAndroid phones.According to the ReadWriteWeb article, both applications require the newest iPhone, the 3GS:
| “ | That's because the 3GS is the first iPhone with an internal compass—Augmented Reality (AR) apps use your phone's GPS to know where you are and the compass to know which direction you're looking at. Then these two apps can tell you what you're looking at that's written up in Wikipedia. | ” |
Among others, William Beutler ofThe Wikipedianalsoreviews Wikitude.
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