FAQ
To check what the term FAQ means, go to the Factolex entry.
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What is Factolex?
Factolex is a community-powered fact lexicon that enables you to build your own lexicon.
By ticking the checkboxes you can select the facts that describe the term best for you. This will create your invidiual explanation for the term and build your own lexicon. Also adding your own terms and facts is quick and easy.
As everyone contributes with their terms, facts and selections, the better the lexicon gets. The more people find a fact important, the higher it appears in the list, the quicker you can understand what the term is about. -
Why use Factolex when there is Wikipedia?
Factolex has been developed to be well suited for internet usage. Terms are described in small, easy to grasp facts.
We aim at explaining terms at a different level than Wikipedia. You go to Factolex for the essential facts about a term and then move on to the source of the fact (this might be Wikipedia) that is particularly interesting to you.
As another aspect, Factolex tries to embrace the democratic aspect of the users acting together, everyone can contribute. You don't need deep knowledge of the rules that apply to the lexicon in order to help. -
What makes Factolex different?
Factolex divides knowledge into short texts: facts. While this might limit the depth of the contained knowledge, it also makes knowledge easier to handle.
By clicking the checkboxes next to a fact, users can create their own lexicon, "the world according to User X".
Factolex then uses these small user contributions to rank the facts for a term. If it all works out nicely, the top term will already define a fact pretty well, giving you an instant answer to what the term is about.
Then it's up to you, how many more facts you want to read about it. -
For which actions do I need to have an account?
You can create your your own lexicon anonymously.
For adding a term or adding a fact you will need an account. But registration is quick and easy. -
What are the checkboxes next to a fact?
The checkboxes allow you to select a fact as being important for yourself. The chosen fact then moves up to your personal selection and gets value in the overall ranking. You can also drag and drop already checked facts.
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What do the icons next to a fact mean?
User Icon
It shows which user added the fact. It can be either the default picture or one uploaded by the user.
Source Icon
Default user icon
Custom user icon
It shows which source of knowledge was used.
Personal Knowledge
Website
Wikipedia
Book
TV
Newspaper -
What is "Community Importance"?
The more people select a fact as being relevant to them (ie. ticking the checkbox), the higher it moves up in the list, the more "Community Importance" it gets attributed.
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What is "My lexicon"?
By selecting facts of terms you find relevant, Factolex automatically creates your personal lexicon. This is very useful when you are doing research on a topic or just want to have a list of terms you read up on most.