Notable Examples

1. Wikipedia: Perhaps the most famous example, Wikipedia is a free online encyclopedia created through the collaborative effort of volunteers around the world. Anyone with internet access can write and make changes to Wikipedia articles (except in certain cases where editing is restricted to prevent vandalism). This crowdsourcing approach has made Wikipedia one of the largest and most popular reference websites.
2. Waze: This GPS navigation software app uses crowdsourcing to gather real-time traffic and road info. Users of Waze can report traffic incidents, road hazards, speed traps, and other useful information, which is then shared with other users in real time. This approach helps drivers avoid traffic jams and find the best routes.
3. Kickstarter: This is a global crowdfunding platform focused on creativity and merchandising. Individuals or companies can use Kickstarter to fundraise for their projects or products, gathering small amounts of money from a large number of people. This has enabled numerous projects, from films to gadgets, that might not otherwise have found funding.
4. OpenStreetMap: Similar to Wikipedia but for maps, OpenStreetMap is a collaborative project to create a free editable map of the world. It's built by a community of mappers who contribute and maintain data about roads, trails, cafés, railway stations, and much more, all over the planet.
5. Zooniverse: A platform for citizen science projects, Zooniverse enables volunteers to contribute to scientific research. These volunteers help professional scientists with tasks that require human cognition, such as classifying galaxies, transcribing handwritten documents, or identifying wildlife in camera trap images.