Wikipedia, the most visited online platform is getting a makeover to align with modern technology and to make it easy for users to navigate the platform. The facelift is the 1st major desktop interface update in ten years.
The announcement was made by The Wikimedia Foundation, the nonprofit that operates Wikipedia and other Wikimedia projects.
According to Wikipedia’s parent, the move is part of Wikipedia celebrating its 22nd birthday and prioritizes usability and modernizes the Wikipedia experience to make it easier for everyone to access, explore, and share knowledge.
“The Wikipedia desktop update is one of the major improvements the Wikimedia Foundation is making to help people easily access the world’s knowledge, in support of our mission to make sure every person on the planet has free and equitable access to knowledge, regardless of where they live or where they are from,” said Selena Deckelmann, Chief Product and Technology Officer at the Wikimedia Foundation.
Some of the desktop updates will includes a number os features such as the following:
- An improved search experience that now leverages images and descriptions that makes it easier to find articles on Wikipedia, leading to a 30 percent increase in user searches based on testing
- More prominently-placed language-switching tools that allow multilingual readers and editors to more quickly find their preferred language and switch between over 300 languages
- An updated sticky header with commonly used links such as Search, Page name, and Sections that move with logged-in users as they scroll. This allows users to focus on reading and editing, and reduces scrolling fatigue with user tests showing a decreased scroll rate of more than 15 percent
- A table of contents that provides context on the article and the ability to navigate throughout the reading experience
“The changes make it easier for people to find and learn from the work of our incredible volunteers. These features were created with feedback from readers and volunteers from all over the world, aiming to meet the needs of our increasingly diverse audience, while keeping the simple and straightforward feel that millions of people have come to trust over the last 22 years” adds Deckelmann.
