Submissions:2016/Interactive and Searchable Wiki Equations

Currently, Wiki equations are merely images that have been created using LaTex code. This enables all users to view these equations. However, such images are not searchable. That is, if one does not know the context or name of an equation, they cannot find the page that discusses it. It might not seem obvious when this feature might be helpful, but often, readers want to find an equation which relates two or more variables; for instance, a search of mass and energy would result in KE=1/2 m v^2, E = m c^2, etc. This feature would be benefit both new students to a subject and advanced student who like to search less common articles.

This feature can be added to Wiki equation by simply creating a list of variable and associating a LaTex code to that variable. Take the following example. As of now, if an editor wants to type Ohm's law, he would type "V = I R". But the symbol "I" has a meaning in this equation; it represents the electric current. LaTex enables us to associate the symbol "I" to our desired syntax, "\ElectricCurrent". Therefore, our list which contains variety of quantities, would contain a row which may look like something like this:

{ {{Electric Current, Electric Charge}, {I}, {\ElectricCurrentI}, {Electromagnetism}, {Physics}}, {{Electric Current, Electric Charge}, {j}, {\ElectricCurrentj}, {}, {Electrical Engineering}} }

Here, I am using the following formalism:

{{{Quantity Names}, {Representing Characters}, {Latex syntaxes}, {Fields of Study}, {Areas of Study}}

Using this formalism we can represent all the possible terminologies and common symbols. Nowadays scientific field are expanding and different fields might use a different representation which would introduce no issue to this structure. I understand this sound a little cumbersome, but we have to keep in mind that we should create something that can be used for many years.

I can present a more clear picture of this formalism in near future, hopefully in the Wiki Conference. I can also create a list of quantities for my own field, i.e. Elementary Physics, Cosmology, and Relativity, but a lot of help is needed for other field and some experts in who can help with the software engineering.

The next step, which is more like a wish than an idea, is to add a feature where users can click on, or hover on, a particular symbol, which would add a small popup explaining what that symbol means and offer related articles. This is a more challenging step since it requires a transition from jpg files to MathML, MathJax, or something entirely made up by Wiki community itself. I understand the frustration, but this must happen, and will happen in near future. Equations are becoming more and more mainstream and it should no longer have to be a hassle to implement them online and worry if some devices cannot view them. It is a necessary transition and if compatibility is an issue, it would be nice if the Wiki community comes up with a more clever solution which has been presented here.