The idea is to combine two formally unconnected technologies to a great real-world application:
Using semacode I can produce encoded URLs of *anything* on the web. These URLs are then printed out and stuck *anywhere*. A passer-by can now use his smartphone, take a picture of this encoded and printed URL, use the installed semacode reader to transform the semanode (resembling a barcode on steroids) into a browseable URL which can then be downloaded to the mobile device.
The promise of this system would be to provide relevant ad-hoc free high quality information.
- Relevant because it is location/object based.
- Ad-Hoc because it is available at once (assuming you have mobile access to the internet)
- Free because the service of installing a node and retrieving the URL from Wikipedia is free to use (although you will probably have to pay for the internet access itself)
- High Quality Information because these nodes are only reffering to Wikipedia URLs
Ok, where does this fit in with wikipedia? Right in the middle!
What I can do now is to encode wikipedia-URLs that link to real-world things such as the hofburg here in Vienna. I create the semacode URL using semacreate (a small and nicely working java application), print out this semacode and stick it ONTO the actual referenced object. (In this case this might sound a little guarilla, but imagine: This can be very valuable to the actual owner) because NOW some one else (for example a tourist, of which we have quiet a lot here in Vienna) can use his smartphone, "Click" on the semacode-encoded wikipedia link (which means taking a picture of it and send it to the semacode server) and obtain the wikipedia article on the requested object (in this example the hofburg). The use could be great especially for tourists who tend to carry thick books around with them. Using this technique, the information retrieval on a real-world object could become very simple and fast.
Steps to create and use a semawiki
- a real and existing object (building, statue, company, shop,...)
- an existing article on the object at wikipedia
- create the semacode-node using semamake
- print out the semacode-node
- stick it onto the real and existing object (of course politely asking beforehand)
- use your favourite smartphone to "click" the semanode
- obtain the wikipedia page through your smartphone-browser
After initial email contact with Stan Wiechers, the naming of semawiki should be considered to be more precisely (and more sexy) semapedia. The last 20 days have been a very close work of Stan and me and we launched Semapedia.org last monday! Have a look at http://www.semapedia.org