How many times have you felt the need for information from wikipedia but due to unavailability of internet connection you are left devoid of the information. Wikipedia has come up with Wikireader which is practically the entire wikipedia in your pocket.

Wikipedia has launched a device called wikireader which works entirely offline and is preloaded with full wikipedia encyclopedia. The size of the device is designed so as to easily fit into your pockets so that it is easily portable. The device works entirely offline and there is no need for internet connection even while updating the wikipedia content. You can get updated version of wikipedia mailed to you on SD cards twice a year, eliminating the need for internet connection altogether.

SPECIFICATIONS :

  • Display: 3.5″ reflective monochrome Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) (2.375″ x 2.75″), 240 x 208.
  • Interface: Capacitive touchscreen, on-screen keyboard. Four hardware keys.
  • CPU: Epson S1C33 E07 microcontroller with 8KB+2KB internal memory
  • Firmware: 64 KB Flash memory
  • Memory: 32MB SDRAM
  • Storage: Removable microSD card (SD and SDHC supported, 512MB, 4GB, 8GB sizes supported)
  • File formats supported: native format; a converter from MediaWiki’s XML export format is available.
  • Dimensions: 3.9 x 3.9 x 0.8 inches (H*W*D)
  • Weight: 4.5 oz (127g)
  • Languages: English
  • Warranty: 90 days
  • Power: 2 AAA batteries
  • Battery life: 90 hours; equivalent to 1 year of normal use according to manufacturer

It’s only got four buttons: one up top to turn it on, and three on the face to perform different action such as bringing up a search , navigating through an article and looking up history. Typing is easily done by a virtual keyboard which pops up on the touchscreen whenever you need it. You’ll also use your fingertips to scroll and follow links. The random button is a nice touch and — just as it is with Wikipedia — it can be a fun time-waster to keep hitting random and read about things you never knew existed.

The device is sponsored by Openmoko, who were responsible for a truly open mobile phone before Google came up with Android.  The WikiReader carried forward this concept bringing the free and open content from Wikipedia to people in an open way. The device software itself is open source.

You can update the SD card on your on through your computer using the WikiReader’s website or Openmoko will send you new SD cards four times a year for a $30 annual fee.

THe price of the device may seem to be on the higher side $99 ( Rs.5500 in India including taxes and shipping) but considering the fact it is a touchscreen and has the ability to work entirely offline, the uses may justify its price.

This device can prove useful for multiple sections of society like for students in school and college libraries where students could easily make use of the device and probably even issue it as a book. Also for individuals who wish for information at hand and are continuously let down by unreliable internet connections. Specially in India where internet connectivity is limited to hubs and metros and wireless internet facility even more limited, this device could prove to be extremely useful.

You could get the device from amazon or wikireader website.