Should PUDL's Open Dictionary be international?

[Stuart Thiessen]

If you are concerned with bandwidth issues or storage issues, then why 
not look into ways of distributing the load?  This could be done 
through mirroring, or through delegation of data (each site stores a 
subset of the data), or some other approach.  Then no matter where a 
user goes, they can still get to all the data, but no one server is 
burdened by the load.

One of the advantages of the internet is the ability to distribute 
information like this.  What do you think?

Stuart

On Mar 11, 2004, at 12:45 PM, Stephen Slevinski wrote:

> Charles,
>  
> OK.  I'll consider it.  I've actually thought about it from day one.  
> I know just how I would do it.  It would take me a few hours to get 
> set up.
>  
> But would anyone really use this? 
>   
> What I have right now is very basic.  If a dictionary gets large, it 
> will require attention.  I am willing to give an ASL dictionary this 
> attention, but could become overwhelmed by multiple languages.
>  
> However, I could improve the dictionary significantly.  For each 
> signed language, I could create utilities for managers, supervisors, 
> and contributors who would be able to manage each dictionary on their 
> own.  I could set up a voting system for input from users about 
> existing signs.  Dictionaries could have definitions, synonyms, and 
> antonyms.  I could even create an online utility for creating new 
> signs.  Really anything is possible, and I'd really love to do this, 
> except for time and money.
>  
> And if the dictionary becomes popular, the bandwidth requirements 
> could get very expensive each month.  I would never charge for access 
> to the site, so if I set this up I would add a begging page to the 
> site.  I might even have a quarterly fund-raiser that would appear at 
> the top of the page.
>  
> So I really need some feedback here.  Would it be used?  Would it 
> provide value?  Anyone know of any good grants?
>  
> And back to ASL. I have 1464 signs in the ASL dictionary, and I've 
> only finished up to letter D.  I've been transcribing from SignWriter 
> Java.  I really like the source field.  I've made sure to give proper 
> credit for each sign.
>  
> Has anyone tried the Build utility with the dictionary?  I like to 
> think of it as a simple SignWriter Online.  It’s really easy to use.  
> You can either type in text directly in the build section, or you can 
> search for a sign, view it, and  press the add button. 
> www.pudl.info/dictionary/searchPlus.php
>  
> -Stephen Slevinski
> www.pudl.info