Wikipedia gets a new interface; first desktop update in a decade

Wikipedia has launched a new desktop interface that aims to improve usability, making it easier for internet users to find reliable and trustworthy knowledge.

“The updated interface, which comes on the heels of English Wikipedia’s 22nd birthday (January 15), prioritizes usability and modernizes the Wikipedia experience to make it easier for everyone to access, explore, and share knowledge,” the company said in a press release.

Talking about the desktop update, Selena Deckelmann, Chief Product and Technology Officer at the Wikimedia Foundation, said, “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.”

“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,” she added.

The desktop update introduces a variety of new features, including:

• Users will now be able to use a new search experience that combines images and descriptions, making it easier to find articles on the platform.
• The platform has placed language-switching tools more prominently to assist multilingual readers and editors. Users can almost instantly access their preferred language and switch between more than 300 languages.
• Users will also get an updated sticky header with links to Search, Page name, and Sections that will move as users continue to scroll. The change has been incorporated into the portal to reduce fatigue from endlessly scrolling.
• Table of contents that provides context on the article and enables users to navigate throughout their reading experience.

The updated Wikipedia interface does not remove any previous functionality. It instead introduces new tools to improve the existing website experience through enhancements based on consultation with Wikipedia volunteer editors, data analysis, and user testing.

More than 30 different volunteer groups from all over the world, ranging from India and Indonesia to Ghana and Argentina, were engaged throughout conceptualization, product development, testing, and rollout.