Sean Kollak

In July 2011 we have introduced three major new functions to improve the communication between the users of the explain engine. From now on:

1. You can leave public messages in each other’s
   “Speakers’ corner” to start a group discussion.
2. You can write private messages using “Chinese whispers”.
3. You can configure your own automatic notifications with the “Radar”.

In addition you can use this blog, the support system, or our social media channels such as Facebook, Twitter, Youtube as well as numerous RSS feeds for feedback and information.

How do Speakers’ corner, Chinese whispers and the radar work?

1. Speakers` corner for public discussion

Every user has an individual Speakers` corner which is made up of the public entries of other users and your own answers. This is the equivalent of the timeline you know from Facebook or the discussion page at Wikipedia. A long time ago this used to be called a guestbook. You may use the Speakers’ corner to praise, criticise or correct other users. To make appointments for group action and to ask for additional information. Don’t be shy to use it: All your public messages can be deleted again by yourself at any time.

2. Chinese whispers for private messages

Some things should stay private. If a message is only intended for a single user Chinese Whispers is the appropriate medium. Advice: As soon as you have new whispers in your inbox a red symbol lights up at the top frame – reading “You have X messages.” If you click on this your message centre opens. By the way: You can comment directly on any explanation while reading it. Simply click on the little envelope symbol in the bottom right corner of the speech bubble. Then you decide weather to write a public or private message. The link to the explanation you are referring to is automatically inserted in your message.

3. Radar for individual notifications

With the radar you will never miss an update on a topic that is important to you. You can be notified when one of your explanations has been voted up or down. You can be notified when another user writes an explanation for a topic you have already explained. And you can add specific users to your radar you share mutual interests with. The radar can be used to control specific users but also makes collaborative work on specialist topics easier. (More radar notifications are already in the pipeline.)

You simply want some peace?

No problem. You can alter every setting for Speakers’ corner, Chinese whispers and radar at any time – or simply deactivate them all. By this means you can focus on explaining topics in 140 characters without any community exchange.

Love to hear what you think of the new community functions.

Tags: community, functions, messages, notifications

Sean Kollak

2010 has been quite amazing for Twick.it.: The explain engine won an international augmented reality competition, earned second place in the German Social Media Prize and launched a podcast for definitions under Creative Commons licence in cooperation with the German Wikimedia foundation. Here you can find links to the official announcements. If you need further information feel free to contact me.

Wikitude Augmented Reality Worldcup

On 18th of August 2010 Wikitude announced the winners of the international Augmented Reality Worldcup. The best applications for the augmented reality browser of Wikitude were awarded. Twick.it won in the category "Social" in spite of strong competition by internationally established services such Gowalla and Sagis.

Social Media Prize 2010 by Twittwoch e.V.

On the 10th November 2010 Twittwoch e.V. named the winners of the German Social Media Prize 2010. More than 15.000 people voted by e-mail in the final round. Twick.it won the second place in the category "society".

Podcast for Free Knowledge

Since the 1st of February 2011 Twick.it offers a podcast with spoken definitions. The podcast is realized in cooperation with Tabitha Hammer who has won the WissensWert competition of Wikimedia Deutschland e.V. The spoken definitions which have a Creative Commons licence can also be received at iTunes.

Tags: augmented reality, awards, competition, Free Knowledge, podcast, press, Social Media Prize, Twittwoch, Wikimedia, Wikitude

Sean Kollak

Twickit presentation on the Webciety stage at CeBIT 2010

Twick.it hit the big stage. At least 150 people were listening to our vision of a universally accessible social glossary which we presented on the Webciety stage at the CeBIT. Not to mention the people watching the lifestream on the internet. After the presentation (which failed spectacularly) we had a professional photo shooting and met Sascha Lobo – Germany’s most famous blogger. By the way: More videos of the CeBIT are available at TwickitTV.

After driving through a snow storm for four hours we arrived at the CeBIT in Hannover and prepared the presentation. To make sure nothing could go wrong we installed and opened all the files on the laptop. All the presentation lady had to do was to press the right button. She messed it up, of course. Markus waited on stage for about a minute absolute ages before he could carry on. Luckily I made a backstage documentation of this historic #fail. At least we you have got something to laugh at feel sorry for.

more>>

Tags: CeBIT, social glossary, Webciety

Sean Kollak

Definition of explanation

As Twick.it calls itself an explain engine – you will expect a convincing answer to the question: “What is an explanation?” I say: An explanation enlightens the listener. It clarifies something by stating the relevant facts. Logical, consistent, sensible – and straight to the point. On the other hand an explanation is interpretation of information directed towards a certain person or group. It relies on context, understanding and existing knowledge of the addressee. Thus every explanation is subject to discussion.

Synonyms for explanation

There are several synonyms for the word explanation: Account, description, reason, justification, rationalization, vindication, clarification, elucidation, explication, definition, enlightenment and so on. This list indicates that facts are central to an explanation. In order to explain something I require secure knowledge – and I have to argue my conclusions coherently. I have to reason. Unfortunately this is where objectivity ends. more>>

Tags: definitions, explanations, information theory

Sean Kollak

Twick.it is the original

When we started Twick.it – we had a vision: to create a collaborative encyclopaedia such as Wikipedia which would be as easy to use and straight to the point as Twitter. This is how we found the name: Twitter + Wikipedia = Twick.it. Of course we researched thoroughly that no similar tool existed in the internet. It was very important for us to create something new and not copy an American model. And that’s the way it is: Twick.it was the first encyclopaedia that applied the principle of preciseness – the strict limitation to the magic 140 characters. Naturally we did not expect to stay the only ones with this idea. For a few months we have been watching a little start-up in Berlin named Wikwik.it which we would like to introduce to you.

Two names – one concept?

Isn’t it funny how similar the names Twick.it and Wikwik.it are? Both glossaries have an Italian domain and limit the explanations to 140 characters. What’s more: Just like Wikwik.it we started of with the slogan “Straight to the point” before we decided to drop it for the claim “The explain engine” which is easier to remember for a newbie. It’s really curious. If the guys of Wikwik.it weren’t so cute one could easily believe that they have shamelessly copied our whole concept. But wait: if they had copied us they would have also applied more of our functions. more>>

Tags: 140 characters, concept, encyclopaedia, Twitter, Wikipedia

Sean Kollak

An answer to every question

Who are the Muffin Men? What does Hendrix chord stand for? What is the meaning of the abbreviation WWW? Many bloggers and writers use specialist terms and acronyms or cite names their readers have never heard of. They sometimes link to an external website which offers more information. The disadvantage of hyperlinks is obvious though: Some readers will not return to your own website. That’s why we developed the Twick.it Tool Tip. This plug-in allows every webmaster to display 140 character short explanations as tool-tip. Even better: By pressing the alt key and highlighting text the reader can decide himself which words he wants to have explained. Thus TTT can give an answer to every question.

For writers and readers

The Twick.it Tool Tip empowers both writer and reader: The author of an article can define topics which might need explaining. In addition the reader can check on every word of the whole text. This is how it works:

1. The author marks words with the html-command [ twickit]. TTT searches for the currently best explanation in our database and sets a link. As soon as the reader hovers above the link the tool-tip will be displayed. If the reader clicks on the link he will be forwarded to the equivalent Twick.it topic page.
2. On every website that installed the Twick.it Tool Tip the reader can mark any word, sentence or list for explanation. All he has to do is hit the alt key and highlight the text segment.

(An article about the installation of our tool-tip is in the making. Please bear with us.)

Future explanations

Webmasters can mark any word with the [ twickit]-command. If the marked word has not been explained at Twick.it yet – nothing will happen. The reader doesn’t notice. As soon as somebody writes a corresponding Twick – the word will be transformed into a link. This function helps your articles stay up to date.

Explaining whole articles

You can use the [ twickitall]-command to find explanations for whole articles. But beware: As our database is growing rapidly your article will be transformed into a confusing hyperlink graveyard. Therefore we would suggest using this function for lists only. Remember: Too much information distracts the reading process. And if you promote the Twick.it Tool Tip to your reader, the -command is superfluous anyway, as….

Highlights are better than hyperlinks

Every webmaster knows this problem: He cannot look into the head of his readers. Even if he could every reader has got individual questions. Look at this simple sentence for example: “John Lennon was the mastermind of The Beatles.” How am I to know which component of this sentence needs to be further explained to a certain reader? Maybe he has never heard of John Lennon. Maybe he spontaneously wants to know the meaning of the first name John. Maybe he is looking for basic information concerning the music group The Beatles or he would like an explanation for the term Mastermind.

Whatever question is on your reader’s mind: TTT brings the answer onto the screen – without the need of leaving the browser-window currently opened.

Explaining every word in the web

Twick.it’s Tool Tip functions in every language, in every browser and in every programming code. In theory we can explain every word in the web. It all depends on two factors: Users filling Twick.it with useful content and webmasters integrating and promoting it on their homepages. We believe this can create a win-win situation: The better the Twicks are, the higher is the use of external applications. The more external applications are in use, the greater is the competition and quality control for the best possible explanation.

Download WordPress plug-in

We have created a plug-in for the blog-software Wordpress which has been tested on several blogs and works fine. You can download it here. Installation is a matter of seconds – and the configuration is quite simple as well.

Feedback welcome

If you are a web developer or blogger and have tried the Twick.it Tool Tip please give us some feedback. Does the standard configuration harmonise with your website? Do you need additional functions or configuration presets? To all fans of Joomla and Typo3: Why don’t you programme a Twick.it Tool Tip yourself? The code couldn’t be any more simple and millions of downloads can’t do your reputation any harm. We would be happy to promote your Twick.it plug-in in our blog, Facebook fan page and Twitter account.

Tags: concept, social glossary, Tool Tip