Anki

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Anki
Developed by Damien Elmes
Written in Python
OS Windows, Linux, Mac OS X
Platform Cross-Platform
Available in English, Japanese, Czech, French, Dutch, Spanish
Development status Active
Genre Accelerated Learning & Memory Software
License GPL v3
Website [1]

Anki (from the Japanese word meaning "to memorize") is a spaced repetition flashcard program focusing on language learning. The software is similar to SuperMemo, a commercial product for the same purpose, and Mnemosyne, a minimalist free software alternative.

The SM2 algorithm, created for SuperMemo in the late 80s, forms the basis of the spaced repetition methods employed in the program. Anki's implementation of the algorithm has been enhanced through the addition of features like item priorities and a revision queue.


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[edit] Features

  • Supports pictures, sound, and LaTeX
  • Supports importing of card databases from plain text and Mnemosyne files
  • Card databases can be synchronized online, allowing access from computers and cell phones through a web interface
  • A specially designed cell phone interface for Japanese cell phones that minimizes the data transferred when testing cards.
  • A plugin system allows additional features to be added by others

[edit] Facts and Cards

Within Anki, data is held in two forms: "facts" and "cards". Facts are like database entries and can have an arbitrary number of fields. For example, for learning a language, a fact may have the following fields and example entries:

  • Field 1: Expression in target language - "gateau"
  • Field 2: Pronunciation - [sound file with the word "gateau" pronounced]
  • Field 3: Meaning in your own language - "cake"

The user can then design cards that test the information contained in each fact. Cards have two sides: a question and an answer. With the above example, one card may have "cake" as the question and "gateau" as the answer. Another card may have the pronunciation sound file as the question and "gateau" and "cake" as the answer. After facts have been specified, an arbitrary number of cards can be designed.

When creating cards in Anki, the user enters all of the information for the fact and the cards are automatically generated.

Anki comes with pre-made fact models for various languages.

[edit] Spacing

Given that several cards can be created for the same fact, Anki supports a "spacing" feature which ensures that related cards are not shown in close proximity. For example, having just seen a card that tests whether you can remember that "gateau" means "cake", you might prefer to wait before seeing the related card that tests whether you can remember that "cake" is "gateau". The feature is adjustable and can be disabled.

[edit] Features for Japanese

The Japanese fact model automatically generates the pronunciation of a Japanese phrase in kana, and generates cards for Japanese to English and English to Japanese review. Similar systems exist for other languages and new models can be created by customizing the default ones. In addition, there are several Japanese-focused features such as integrated dictionary lookups, and the plugin system allows for the addition of new kinds of lookups and statistics on kanji-learning progress.

[edit] Production and Recognition Cards

The pre-made fact models for languages have cards referred to as "Production cards" and "Recognition cards". Production cards have the user's language as the question and the target language as the answer, testing whether the user can "produce" the target expression. Recognition cards have the target language as the question and the user's language as the answer, testing whether the user can "recognise" the target expression.

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