Message: 2 Date: Fri, 17 Aug 2012 08:54:38 -0400 From: Nathan [email protected] To: Wikimedia Mailing List [email protected] Subject: Re: [Wikimedia-l] Wikipedia redefined -- typography and UX and such Message-ID: <CALKX9dTTP_GOQgXjOn3ftcwbhBCmRBfkm=yJtnh_2RCT= [email protected]> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
No one will argue these days that the WMF is short of money, so this is a good opportunity for it to deploy some of that funding for a real impact. The main page on the English Wikipedia is an ideal starting point for a conscious effort at design evolution throughout Wikimedia. The Foundation should solicit and pay for several design firms to submit efforts to the main page contest, which is in dire need of some talented input. The community can still select between them, let's just make sure they have a number of great options.
We should by now have enough user data to be able to calculate user retention rates by skin. It would be interesting to see how the implementation of Vector affected editor retention rates.
WSC
A follow-up article on the redesign. Excerpt:
---o0o---
So, will we all be able to enjoy this clear and concise online experience anytime soon? Kazlauskas put the odds at a discouraging, and definitive, “zero chance,” even though the response has been positive. “So far the reaction of people at Wikipedia--creators, not users, mind you--is they are not ready for anything radical,” he says (and the whole endeavor reminds me a bit of Wired’s similar attempt to updating Craigslisthttp://www.wired.com/entertainment/theweb/magazine/17-09/ff_craigslist_makeover for a feature package a few years ago).
Despite the unlikelihood of implementation, the team still sees an opportunity to leverage what they’ve done for an audience who would no doubt welcome the opportunity to tool around with the slick style. “We are already working on app which will use new interface to read Wikipedia,” Kazlauskas explains. “We’ll see how that goes and if anyone’s interested.” What say you, knowledge-seekers? ---o0o---
Personally, I would welcome third-party offers of alternative skins.
Keyhole solution: The MediaWiki API and Wikipedia copyright and trademark licences allow Wikipedia Redefined to implement their ideas already. It will, of course, be marketed as an alternative browsing and editing device like AWB currently is. If there's enough uptake, it's never too late for WMF to buy them up :)
On 5 September 2012 22:11, Andreas Kolbe [email protected] wrote:
A follow-up article on the redesign. Excerpt:
---o0o---
So, will we all be able to enjoy this clear and concise online experience anytime soon? Kazlauskas put the odds at a discouraging, and definitive, “zero chance,” even though the response has been positive. “So far the reaction of people at Wikipedia--creators, not users, mind you--is they are not ready for anything radical,” he says (and the whole endeavor reminds me a bit of Wired’s similar attempt to updating Craigslist< http://www.wired.com/entertainment/theweb/magazine/17-09/ff_craigslist_makeo...
for a feature package a few years ago).
Despite the unlikelihood of implementation, the team still sees an opportunity to leverage what they’ve done for an audience who would no doubt welcome the opportunity to tool around with the slick style. “We are already working on app which will use new interface to read Wikipedia,” Kazlauskas explains. “We’ll see how that goes and if anyone’s interested.” What say you, knowledge-seekers? ---o0o---
Personally, I would welcome third-party offers of alternative skins. _______________________________________________ Wikimedia-l mailing list [email protected] Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l
They have no financial means or interest in doing so, Deryck. They are a design studio trying to push their work to prospective employers. Although they could serve ads alongside the content, they do not have the advertising budget to facilitate any sort of uptake. Plus, they could never compete in Google.
The only way Wikipedia's interface will improve is if we demand to improve it.
On Wed, Sep 5, 2012 at 2:49 PM, Deryck Chan [email protected] wrote:
Keyhole solution: The MediaWiki API and Wikipedia copyright and trademark licences allow Wikipedia Redefined to implement their ideas already. It will, of course, be marketed as an alternative browsing and editing device like AWB currently is. If there's enough uptake, it's never too late for WMF to buy them up :)
On 5 September 2012 22:11, Andreas Kolbe [email protected] wrote:
A follow-up article on the redesign. Excerpt:
---o0o---
So, will we all be able to enjoy this clear and concise online experience anytime soon? Kazlauskas put the odds at a discouraging, and definitive, “zero chance,” even though the response has been positive. “So far the reaction of people at Wikipedia--creators, not users, mind you--is they
are
not ready for anything radical,” he says (and the whole endeavor reminds
me
a bit of Wired’s similar attempt to updating Craigslist<
for a feature package a few years ago).
Despite the unlikelihood of implementation, the team still sees an opportunity to leverage what they’ve done for an audience who would no doubt welcome the opportunity to tool around with the slick style. “We
are
already working on app which will use new interface to read Wikipedia,” Kazlauskas explains. “We’ll see how that goes and if anyone’s
interested.”
What say you, knowledge-seekers? ---o0o---
Personally, I would welcome third-party offers of alternative skins. _______________________________________________ Wikimedia-l mailing list [email protected] Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l
Wikimedia-l mailing list [email protected] Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l