Twick.it
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|---|---|
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| The explanatory machine | |
| Free, collectively created knowledge platform with brief explanations | |
| languages | German English |
| Registration | optional |
| On-line | November 2009 (currently discontinued in 2012) |
| http://twick.it | |
Twick.it ( newly created word, formed from “ Twi tter” and “ Wik ipedia”; it indicates an English imperative) was a glossary with explanations of a maximum of 140 characters. The user-generated content was ranked by approval and rejection . Twick.it has been called an "explainer machine" by its community. The limitation of entries ("Twicks") to 140 characters was taken over by Twitter and the joint creation of explanations based on Wikipedia ; However, due to the individual authors, the content in Twick.it was not created collaboratively and, due to their brevity, the entries do not result in an encyclopedia but a glossary. The content was under the Creative Commons license “CC-BY”.
history
The project by Markus Möller and Sean Andrew Kollak started in November 2009 with a public beta phase and was presented to the public at CeBIT 2010. The project has been reported in print media and radio broadcasts since the end of 2009. In 2010 it won second prize at the German Social Media Prize in the "Society" category.
The service was discontinued on August 1, 2012 because it did not meet the hoped-for interest. At this point in time, over 2000 users had written more than 20,000 entries in two languages. In August 2014, the software and the database were published by the founders for free use under an open source license, and the user data was anonymized.
technology
The platform was programmed in PHP . MySQL served as the database . In front were JavaScript frameworks Prototype and Script.aculo.us used.
An open REST API enabled external applications to access the existing entries.
details
In addition to the specified brevity, Twick.it mainly differed from other online lexicons in that any number of articles could be posted on any topic. A system of ranking , in which all registered users could participate equally, determined that the respective best-rated explanation appeared in the most prominent place in search queries; Articles that the community judged to be incorrect or incomplete rank in irrelevant lower ranks in search results.
The topics were automatically tagged with keywords. This keywording made it possible to find other related topics.
The official second project phase started in June 2011, during which the platform was supplemented with functions for community building (pin board, message center, automatic notifications).
Linking with other media
The aim of the platform was to make the collected declarations available to the public through as many links as possible to other services and media. External services were enriched with brief explanations through mashups .
On websites
The platform plugin belonged Twick.it Tool Tip : On sites where the corresponding JavaScript code tooltips was installed, the short definition of Twick.it was directly available. The website visitor did not have to be forwarded to Twick.it via hyperlink. Instead, the texts of the linked Twicks appeared on the respective page as a mouseover - there was always the article that the Twick.it community chose as the most relevant per term. A corresponding plug-in existed for the WordPress blog software .
On mobile devices
The collected explanations could also be displayed on smartphones using augmented reality browsers such as Layar , junaio and Wikitude . Location-based explanations were displayed on the mobile phone screen. In August 2010, Twick.it was recognized as the best "Augmented Reality World" in the "Social" category at the Wikitude World Cup.
The apps Twickdroid ( Android ), Twick.it Mobile ( iPhone ), Twick.it-2-go (iPhone) and Twick.it-2-goHD ( iPad ) were also available for looking up explanations .
In audio format
Read Twicks have been available as a podcast since February 1, 2011 . In this way, free knowledge was brought closer to people with visual impairments or reading difficulties. The project was carried out as part of the WissensWert competition organized by Wikimedia Germany - Society for the Promotion of Free Knowledge V. funded.
Quickipedia
At the beginning of 2015, a commercial provider took over the short explanations under Creative Commons and continues a similar project as Quickipedia .
Web links
- Press review from Twick.it
- Jens Plaum: 140 characters get to the point. DerWesten , January 19, 2010, accessed March 25, 2010 .
- Article about Twick.it in the WDR local time Südwestfalen
- Handelsblatt : The world explained in 140 characters
Individual evidence
- ^ The concept of Twick.it . Retrieved March 5, 2011.
- ↑ Webciety CeBIT 2010 . Retrieved March 20, 2010.
- ↑ press . Retrieved October 18, 2011.
- ^ Social Media Prize 2010 . Archived from the original on July 17, 2011. Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Retrieved August 11, 2011.
- ↑ Blog post by the operator
- ↑ Twick.it as open source software at github.
- ↑ Description of the technical platform . Retrieved May 3, 2010.
- ↑ REST API . Retrieved March 22, 2010.
- ^ Twick.it Tool Tip . Retrieved March 20, 2010.
- ↑ Wordpress plugin . Retrieved March 22, 2010.
- ↑ What is augmented reality . Archived from the original on November 15, 2010. Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Retrieved August 18, 2010.
- ↑ Wikitude World Cup - Winner Announcement! . Retrieved August 18, 2010.
- ↑ Now there's something for your ears. The Twick.it podcast goes on air. . Retrieved February 1, 2011.
- ↑ WissensWert / 1 - Free knowledge as an audible podcast . Retrieved October 19, 2011.
