Brain Browser
Intuitive vocabulary lookup using associations and context rather than just word matching.
This prototype was based on an idea I had during a time when I was actively collecting every new word I encountered while learning a language. I used to write these words down and add them to a personal dictionary that I could query using a Telegram bot I had built.
But sometimes, when I tried to look up a word in my dictionary—a word I knew I had written down—I couldn't find it. This was frustrating because my dictionary didn't just contain isolated words; it also included the entire sentence where I had found each word, along with information about the source.
Rich Context
Each word included the entire sentence where I found it, providing full context for understanding usage.
Source Information
Detailed source tracking—chapter 2 of a book, specific movie with timestamp, etc.—for reference and review.
Telegram Bot Interface
A custom Telegram bot that allowed me to query my personal dictionary on the go.
Memory Challenges
Despite all this information, I often couldn't remember the exact sentence or how I had recorded it.
Brain Browser was an idea to fix the limitation of traditional word lookup. The goal was to store not just the word, sentence, and source, but also any associations I had when I first encountered the word.
How Memory Really Works
Maybe the word sounded similar to another word you already knew, or it reminded you of something personal. Later, when trying to recall that word, you'd think, "What was that word again that sounded like...?"
With this tool, you could search not just for the word or sentence, but for any of the associations you'd saved with it.
Word + Context Storage
Store the word, the full sentence in which it appeared, and detailed source information (book, movie, timestamp).
Association Tracking
Save any personal associations, sound similarities, or memory triggers you had when first encountering the word.
Intuitive Search
Search by word, sentence, source, or any association—making vocabulary lookup more connected to how we actually remember things.
Memory-Based Retrieval
Find words based on how you actually remember them, not just exact text matches.
More Intuitive Vocabulary Management
Traditional dictionaries and vocabulary apps force you to remember exact words or phrases. Brain Browser was designed to work with how memory actually functions—through associations, similarities, and personal connections.
Instead of thinking "What was that German word for..." you could search "What was that word that sounded like 'house' but meant something about time?" and find it through your saved associations.
Learning to Program Priority
At the time, I was more focused on learning how to program than on building a finished language learning tool.
Shift Away from Language Learning
I was also moving away from intensive language learning myself, reducing my personal motivation to complete the tool.
Complex Implementation
Building a system that could effectively search through associations and memory patterns required sophisticated algorithms and user interface design.
While Brain Browser never evolved beyond a prototype, the core insight—that vocabulary lookup should work with how we actually remember things rather than forcing exact matches—remains a compelling idea for language learning tools. It represents an early exploration of more intuitive, human-centered approaches to vocabulary management.
Explore the Concept
While incomplete, the prototype demonstrates an innovative approach to vocabulary lookup that could revolutionize how language learners manage and retrieve their word collections.
Try the Prototype