Wikipedia looks to new editing systems

Online encyclopaedia site Wikipedia is said to be looking at several new features to overhaul its editing systems and provide greater accuracy.

The site's administrators are reportedly considering the use of a colour-coded system known as WikiTrust. Developed by researchers at the University of California Santa Cruz, the service uses a number of methods to colour-code text within Wikipedia pages.

The developers say that the tool can allow users to easily spot pages which have been altered recently and quickly sort out false or suspicious information within a Wikipedia entry.

News of the new feature comes just days after parent group Wikimedia said that the site would also be changing its editing processes. Wikipedia will be limiting editing powers for new users and also installing a new system designed to better track and notify users of page revisions.

The moves are part of an ongoing effort by Wikipedia to overhaul its policies to provide greater accuracy. In recent years the site has come under criticism when overzealous users took advantage of the community editing features to post false information and deface pages.