Software:Encycloreader

EncycloReader is a web application designed to search multiple online encyclopedias at once and read articles in a unified representation , independent of the formats of external encyclopedias. Unlike general web web search engines that deal with very diverse web resources, EncycloReader is focused on encyclopedic content. Therefore, search results of EncycloReader are not distorted by advertisements and search-engine optimization (SEO) methods to attract visitors.

EncycloReader

. The logo of Encycloreader
Screenshot
Type of site	Distributed networking
Available in	English
Country of origin	United States
Owner	Knowledge Standards Foundation (KSF)
Created by	Sergei Chekanov (project lead.), Larry Sanger (contributions), H.Sanger (icons), N.Hildebrandt (debugging) etc.
Website	Encycloreader.org
Commercial	No
Registration	No
Launched	November 1, 2021 (2021-11-01)
Current status	Active
Written in	PHP and Python

EncycloReader is "search on search" using different types of search technologies from different encyclopedias, therefore, EncycloReader allows a broad coverage of possible search outcomes. This helps accessing content with less censorship and more freedom in expressing opinion.

Supported encyclopedias

Encyclosearch, in its original version (December 1, 2021), supported the following encyclopedias:

• Wikipedia - general topics
• Citizendium - general topics
• HandWiki - computing and general science
• Scholarpedia - general science
• Ballotpedia - politics
• EduTechWiki - education
• Wikitia - general
• Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy - philosophy

The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy is included in EncycloReader search, but viewing articles of this encyclopedia is limited due to the license restrictions.

Software implementation

The original version of EncycloReader is written in Python and PHP. Much of the search indexing code was borrowed from the FactSeek (launched by the same team in December 30, 2020) and Encyclosearch. EncycloReader renders encyclopedia in a unified file format. The software also allows to build archives of viewed articles for internal search indexing in the form of ZWI files.

EncycloReader search uses external encyclopedias to access the most recent content, and to ensure a sufficient decentralization and unbiased representation of search results.

The default search of Encycloreader consists of two parts: (1) an internal ZWI database created by the Encycloreader visitors. It is updated every 90 min after viewing an article; (2) search databases supported by external encyclopedias. This EncycloReader search is slower, but updates happen immediately after articles are updated on external encyclopedias.

The EncycloReader uses "an adaptive and evolving" mechanisms for article searches. The more searches are performed, the more precise and quicker answer one should get. The software does not implement a web scraping or similar automated data-extraction technology designed to populate its internal search database.

In 2021, articles viewed in EncycoReader were automatically submitted to the Encyclosphere network. Originally, the Hypercore Protocol as implemented in the DAT project. However, this approach failed for quickly changed content, therefore, this network was replaced by a HTTPS-based network in 2022.

EncycoReader articles cannot be removed, but the users can improve them using the external encyclopedias that host original versions of such articles, or create new articles. The articles are updated in the network after viewing in EncycloReader.

History

The concept of EncycloReader was originally designed by Sergei Chekanov in September 2021 using FactSeek for testing. In October 2021, the part of the software that renders external encyclopedias where moved under the name of EncycloReader of the Knowledge Standards Foundation (KSF). The icons and the logo were provided by Henry Sanger and Betty Wills. The EncycloReader is affiliated with the Encyclosphere project of the Knowledge Standards Foundation (KSF) led by Larry Sanger.