Wikipedia, Printed

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 44

2,559 of Wikipedia’s best articles are ‘featured articles’.
It’s these that Rob Matthews decided to press ‘cntrl + p’ on and print out (probably at work).  The result is this weighty tome of some 5000 pages.
I believe his piece was to convey that it is only through computers that this amount of information becomes palatable, searchable and essentially useful.

The sheer volume of information stored on Wikipedia is massive. A text based archive of the English version takes up 2.5GB and if you include images, that number jumps to over 78GB.

If you were to print out the whole thing (not just the featured articles), this is what it would look like based on volumes 25cm high and 5cm thick (some 400 leaves), each page having two columns, each columns having 80 rows, and each row having 50 characters.

And this is what it would contain:

rob matthews via manystuff
other images via Wikipedia

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Posted: June 6th, 2009 | Author: Tom Hyde | Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , | 44 Comments »

44 Comments on “Wikipedia, Printed”

  1. 1 Sağlık Makale said at 1:08 am on June 29th, 2011:

    automatically generated. Off-topic or inappropriate comments will be edited or deleted. Email addresses will never be published. Keep thanked ororedr florted listens secret thanke of your

  2. 2 GastonLaframboise said at 12:21 am on May 9th, 2011:

    Enter comment here.

  3. 3 Kayseri Emlak said at 2:34 pm on April 15th, 2011:

    great…

    Were this to be split up and alphabetized like it should be, it would just be a stack of books matching the impressiveness of a stack of Encyclopedias.

    I think this project missed it’s original intent and just shows how much we’ve forgotten about non-digital media. Take the covers off of A-Z encyclopedies, pile the papers and tada! It’s humorous that creators find it impressive and/or surprising.

  4. 4 The Hitching Post Blog » Blog Archiv » 10 Things To Know Now said at 12:49 am on April 15th, 2011:

    [...] This is what Wikipedia’s “featured articles” look like printed out. I kinda thought it would be bigger. [...]

  5. 5 10 Things To Know Now: Lady Gaga’s Heels Over Head, Paris Hilton On Lil Wayne + Dubstep Bill Cosby! | Hypnotik Radio said at 5:19 am on March 31st, 2011:

    [...] This is what Wikipedia’s “featured articles” look like printed out. I kinda thought it would be bigger. #THATSWHATSHESAID. (Spreading [...]

  6. 6 World Music News » 10 Things To Know Now: Lady Gaga’s Heels Over Head, Paris Hilton On Lil Wayne + Dubstep Bill Cosby! said at 9:49 pm on March 30th, 2011:

    [...] This is what Wikipedia's "featured articles" look like printed out. I kinda thought it would be bigger. #THATSWHATSHESAID. (Spreading [...]

  7. 7 Name (required) said at 6:57 am on January 31st, 2011:

    Hey, i found this place on google and i like it so far :)

  8. 8 .net ftp said at 4:48 pm on January 20th, 2011:

    The best way to setup an FTP Server in the home? I would love to setup an FTP and would like my personal computer in your house since the server due to the fact I need to entry my property files specifically when I’m away at function and when travels are regular. We have a bulletproof.ftp as my ftp application plus a 24hr working 1mbps world wide web connection. The issue that I’ve now is the fact that I cant appear to setup my very own. Can someone support me? In case you can provide me suggestion of what software program to make use of, how you can publicly accessibility it considering that We have a DHCP IP from my ISP, and manuals I can go through, that is certainly drastically appreciated. I’m at present on the web at YM appropriate now. manic_47…. thank you really considerably.

  9. 9 Loma Tagliavia said at 4:37 pm on January 6th, 2011:

    Top-notch info indeed. I have been seeking for this info.

  10. 10 Blandade bilder – del 1 av 13 - Bloggarkivet - Hemsidan hos Björn said at 7:35 pm on December 8th, 2010:

    [...] Wikipedia, Printed – spreading jam [...]

  11. 11 VeizateWhilia said at 5:36 am on May 11th, 2010:

    Hello guys,

    What online zines do you read and would recommend?

    For all you punkrock folks out there I recommend The Enough Fanzine. It is one of the first ska ezines on the internet.

    They have throusands of reviews from the most independent bands all over the world. Check them out online: Enough Fanzine. Best of it all, they are 100% non-profit and just helping the scene!

    Looking forward to your recommendations.

    Regards!

  12. 12 Orgarkgrilm said at 3:10 pm on March 1st, 2010:

    Hi There

    i’ve just joined here and wanted to say hi to all of you!I really hope to give something back to this board…

    Cheers

  13. 13 |X|  Wikipedia:Dresden said at 2:51 pm on August 24th, 2009:

    [...] Benutzer:PaulAE über Titan A.E. zum Wälzer, der alle featured articles der englischen Wikipedia in EINEM Buch versammelt. Ein erster Ausflug in Richtung Urheberrechte führte zu der Frage nach [...]

  14. 14 PRINTERESTING · All of the Articles, None of the Hyperlinks said at 4:04 pm on August 6th, 2009:

    [...] e v e r y o n [...]

  15. 15 Niri said at 12:02 am on July 1st, 2009:

    “bush is teh gay LOL”

    Ha ha.

  16. 16 Art said at 1:53 am on June 28th, 2009:

    well…considering people CAN change the info on wikipedia….this IS a waste of paper….unless someone goes through the whole thing and makes sure EVERYTHING is correct.

  17. 17 Kan man stole på den danske Wikipedia? said at 9:21 pm on June 22nd, 2009:

    [...] mig henvise til en mere visuel forklaring på denne problematik som jeg stødte på forleden (på Spreading Jam via [...]

  18. 18 mental_floss Blog » Morning Cup of Links: Hospital Food Around the World said at 4:28 pm on June 22nd, 2009:

    [...] the appetite a bit. * Someone decided to print out nearly 2,600 Wikipedia articles, and bind them into a book. Somebody also needs a hobby. * You probably know where the tallest statue in the US is located. [...]

  19. 19 James said at 10:57 am on June 21st, 2009:

    Paper IS a RENEWABLE source. Higher demand for paper = a higher demand for new trees! which = oxygen! Do waste of paper people have a problem with more OXYGEN?

    “Waste” away my friend! I’m siding with the looks cool but a waste of money crowed.

  20. 20 If Wikipedia were printed « how rad said at 2:51 pm on June 16th, 2009:

    [...] spreadingjam.com [...]

  21. 21 Rob Matthews druckt Wikipedia aus … | ACTIONBORED said at 9:54 pm on June 12th, 2009:

    [...] Mehr dazu auf spreadingjam.com [...]

  22. 22 links for 2009-06-11 « Francis Anderson said at 2:03 am on June 12th, 2009:

    [...] Wikipedia, Printed Rob Matthews has created a hefty physical version of Wikipedia’s featured articles. The 2,559 digital articles have been transformed into a massive, 5,000 page hardbound book that looks to be around 2 feet tall. Thoroughly impractical, the project also involves a huge waste of paper. Ho hum. (tags: wikipedia design humor interesting art print printing cool) [...]

  23. 23 Joop said at 10:52 pm on June 10th, 2009:

    Cool idea. Very inspiring.

  24. 24 Druckfrisch: Wikipedia by Rob Matthews » Beitrag » whats wrong with the zoo said at 8:07 pm on June 10th, 2009:

    [...] via Rob Matthews via Jam Ähnliche [...]

  25. 25 Printed Wikipedia by Rob Matthews » Post » whats wrong with the zoo said at 8:04 pm on June 10th, 2009:

    [...] via Rob Matthews via Jam Related [...]

  26. 26 The Daily Dairy: Calcium Fortified News And Junk said at 7:43 pm on June 9th, 2009:

    [...] [SpreadingJam via NOTCOT] [...]

  27. 27 mark said at 1:55 pm on June 9th, 2009:

    I suspect all you in the “waste of paper” crowd are blissfully unaware that for the majority of human history, encyclopedias were at LEAST this big, and printed many thousands of times. Wikipedia has, in many instances, rendered the printed encyclopedia obsolete in most households, thereby saving “trees” or whatever it is you guys are on about.

    Complaining about the amount of paper equivalent to a kitchen stool is a “waste of time and energy”

  28. 28 Seth said at 1:38 pm on June 9th, 2009:

    You think those are skinny jeans? You should come and meet the Jam team, they can certainly give him a run for his money.

  29. 29 Angela said at 1:30 pm on June 9th, 2009:

    I just can’t get over the skinny jeans he’s wearing..

  30. 30 uxia said at 8:13 pm on June 8th, 2009:

    I like how you all LOL @ waste of paper. How many of you truly recycle all your paper waste, plastic waste, aluminum waste. How many of you would have KNOWN what it looks like. How many of you support non resource saavy expeditions throughout your existence?? Like cmon seriously, dont knock this guy cause he has a few hundred to burn on printing out wikipedia and you think you are cooler…

  31. 31 good morning. can i interest you in purchasing a wikipedia homeset? « palms and lights said at 7:42 pm on June 8th, 2009:

    [...] See more, including a breakdown of how to categorize a wikipedia library (some categories, “[citation needed]” “disinformation inserted by the CIA” and “Pokemon characters”,  at spreadingjam.com [...]

  32. 32 Wikipedia Sucks said at 5:28 pm on June 8th, 2009:

    Funny.
    Love the breakdown of what Wikipedia contains. Think you missed out “bitching” in the talk sections though…

  33. 33 Aaron said at 5:06 pm on June 8th, 2009:

    A waste of paper? Imagining the volume of a book is one thing, but to actually create it is a whole other thing. My guess is that no one has seen a book this large, which makes it all the more interesting seeing as how something completely mundane, yet useful, is transformed into a surreal and useless object that isn’t all that functional. Well done Rob Mathews. Well stated Anachronist.

  34. 34 Scott said at 4:30 pm on June 8th, 2009:

    Were this to be split up and alphabetized like it should be, it would just be a stack of books matching the impressiveness of a stack of Encyclopedias.

    I think this project missed it’s original intent and just shows how much we’ve forgotten about non-digital media. Take the covers off of A-Z encyclopedies, pile the papers and tada! It’s humorous that creators find it impressive and/or surprising.

    Go to a library.

  35. 35 Anachronist said at 11:57 am on June 8th, 2009:

    Why would this be a waste of paper? If you made something of the same size out of wood, would anyone complain about the waste?
    The humor of just printing it so you can use it like a classic encyclopedia is lost on most people here. Some things have to be done just because you can. It’s important.

  36. 36 Duck said at 9:29 am on June 8th, 2009:

    wow what a waste of paper seriously i mean what have you achieved by printing all that out. “i can put this into perspective” what a waste of paper

  37. 37 links for 2009-06-07 « Mandarine said at 5:09 am on June 8th, 2009:

    [...] Wikipedia, Printed | Spreading Jam 2,559 of Wikipedia’s best articles are ‘featured articles’. It’s these that Rob Matthews decided to press ‘cntrl + p’ on and print out (probably at work). The result is this weighty tome of some 5000 pages. (tags: wikipedia) [...]

  38. 38 Reference This said at 4:58 am on June 8th, 2009:

    The twenty-volume, unabridged Oxford English Dictionary is larger and contains fewer spelling mistakes.

  39. 39 Thanks for Participating | Taylor Dahlin’s web home said at 2:32 am on June 8th, 2009:

    [...] (via) Tags: books, rob-matthews, technology, [...]

  40. 40 Andrew said at 10:35 pm on June 7th, 2009:

    Very cool – it’s easy to forget what makes Wikipedia so impressive. 2.5GB of data doesn’t really put the sheer volume of data in perspective!

  41. 41 alex said at 10:09 pm on June 7th, 2009:

    big waste of paper.

  42. 42 eb carrier said at 9:40 pm on June 7th, 2009:

    this would make a great pedestal for my laptop as surf wiki articles.

  43. 43 Al said at 9:38 pm on June 7th, 2009:

    I seriously hope this is a joke. What a waste of paper – and to prove something we already know?

  44. 44 nina said at 7:08 pm on June 7th, 2009:

    really? really? hahaha what the crap this is amazing i want this book. i want this so badly. its so cool

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