Openmoko putting Wikipedia in your pocket, without Internet access

There’s a good chance this scenario has happened to you before: you just hear about something or are asked about something that you’re not sure about. You don’t have Internet access, but you know once you have it, Wikipedia will most likely be able to answer your question. Now you don’t have to wait until you get Internet access, as Openmoko has designed a device that will give you Wikipedia anywhere you want it.

The device is called the WikiReader. It’s a small device with a 3.7″ monochrome touch screen, with four buttons, and all of Wikipedia (minus the pictures, of course). The device works by containing all of the English Wikipedia articles on a single 4GB microSD card, which can be updated every three months to keep up with the latest changes. The three face buttons allow you to do everything that’s needed for Wikipedia, search (which brings up a keyboard on the touchscreen), history, and of course random article. Openmoko is promising the device will last for one year on just two AAA batteries.

The WikiReader seems like the perfect idea for transporting Wikipedia. Sure, those of us with smartphones could just browse to the website, provided there’s decent, reliable data service, but a dedicated device makes sense. It brings the community encyclopedia into anyone’s pocket, and could prove very handy for quick references. Sure, the screen looks like it’s not the greatest out there, but it should work just as long as there’s some light. Plus, with this being an Openmoko device, it is open to whatever hacking anyone might want to do. Perhaps an open source eBook reader could be possible (provided the correct format is used), that could prove interesting. At $99 from Amazon, the WikiReader surely looks like an interesting device to play with as a user or a hacker.

Read [The WikiReader]
Read [Press Release (PDF Link)]