Wondir: eliminating the barriers between questions and answers.

A team of respected search industry veterans are building a new and different kind of Internet information service that is trying to unite cutting edge technology with the web's original democratic vision of people freely helping people.

The premise behind Wondir is that there are thousands of organisations, companies and service providers, and millions of individuals throughout the world who want to help others by providing information, guidance and expertise. There are many people who need their help. But despite all the advances in the Internet, communications and search technology, it is still far too difficult for these forces to connect.

The Wondir information service will strive to be a simple yet effective way for people with an information need to ask a question and get a good answer from those sources who are out there, ready to help. Since a primary goal of Wondir is to open up the gifts of knowledge to people with fewer advantages, the service will be free to all, and open to all.

How is this new “service” different? Why do we need another search capability on the ‘Net?

Wondir are trying to fill a void that currently exists on the Internet. They are trying to integrate all the many different kinds of sources into an answer. You might think of Wondir as the blending of a universal search engine with a universal bulletin board and then stimulated with real time communication.

The Wondir information service is designed to help people find practical, focused answers to questions, with an emphasis on connecting people who have questions with other people who can provide needed help. These experts, tutors, mentors, enthusiasts, and peers might be volunteering on their own or as part of an organised online help program, such as an Ask-A-Question type service of libraries, government or public service, companies, special interest groups, professional associations, universities and schools etc.

Free access means easy, unfettered access to relevant information. Wondir’s target populations are those people with the biggest need, rather than those who are most commercially attractive. Wondir may well end up being the only popular search service whose results remain totally free of commercial influence.

Wondir aims to be both authoritative because it hopes many answers will be identified as coming from recognised and credible professional organizations.

Identifying relevant information sources and answers, and merging and presenting results requires state-of-the-art search technology and great attention to user interaction. The Wondir team is committed to the creation of a truly effective, user-focused experience.

What kinds of questions can you ask?

You can ask Wondir just about anything. To get some idea take a look at the Question Ticker or the list of recently asked questions. These show what kinds of questions others are asking.

Wondir provides two kinds of answers: any documents it has found by searching the Internet, and answers from people responding to the question personally.

What do the people offering answers know about?

Well, lots, and that will grow even further over time. Wondir eventually hopes everyone will be linked and they will share all the knowledge in the world.

How do you ask a question?

Simply type the question into the question box. Wondir then goes about searching Internet databases and the profiles of its “Wondir Experts”. From these sources it tries to select the most relevant documents and experts. Once you receive the results of your search, you can click on any document headline to see the whole document, or click on an expert to send the question to that expert (via email or instant message).

Wondir can also post your question to the live Wondir “Question Ticker”. This ticker is viewable by anyone anywhere. Anyone who would like to answer a question can do so by clicking on the question as it scrolls by on the ticker. They can choose to respond by Instant Message, by Email or by posting their answer to the Questions & Answer board.

As long as you don’t close the Wondir IM services window that pops up when you ask the question, people may IM you with responses to your question. If you log out (or close that window) you can come back later and login again. Wondir will remember your temporary Wondir ID if you are not a registered user.

If you get overloaded with responses you can block any user by clicking on the Block button on the knock-knock screen you get when someone responds to your question. Of course at any time you can also click on a button that says, “Do not send me any more answers to this question”.

Can anyone on the Internet answer a question?

Yes. Questions can be answered in several ways. By clicking on the question you are given a series of choices, depending on how the user has asked the question and what the user is doing right now. For instance, you can respond by Instant Message if the user is still logged on to Wondir instant messaging. Email can be used if user is registered with Wondir. Lastly an answer can be posted that will be displayed with the question when the question is viewed on the Question Ticker. Your answer may also show up in the Related Questions with Answers section of the results page.

Do I need to be registered to use Wondir?

No, but there are benefits to registering. Registering can let Wondir work better in asking questions, answering them, or both. Registered users can improve the quality and convenience of the results they receive.

Who owns this project?

Wondir will be an open source project. This means that anyone can license and use the Wondir technology at no cost. It is hoped that the open source nature of the project will attract volunteers to help with the technological development of the service.

Wondir is currently ramping up to begin alpha tests of the service, and is seeking help both from volunteers and from sources interested in sponsoring the effort.

Arthur Hissey
Computer Research & Technology
www.crt.net.au