Article by George Norman

On 17 May 2010

First it was the popular video sharing site YouTube that updated its looks. Then Google.com updated the way the search engine looks. Now popular online encyclopedia Wikipedia has updated its looks as well. Here’s what’s changed:

• Navigation

The new theme is called “Vector” and is supposed to make it easier for the user to find essential functions on Wikipedia. The search box is not located in the top right-hand corner; the tabs at the top of each page more clearly define whether you are viewing the page or discussion page, and whether you are reading or editing a page.

• Editing toolbar

The editing toolbar has been modified to be even easier to use. A table wizard that makes creating tables a lot easier has been introduced. Formatting pages is a lot simpler. There’s a new find and replace feature.

• Link wizard

Links to other Wikipedia pages or to external websites can easily be added thanks to this easy-to-use tool.

• Search

Speed is important – getting to the right page is important. So the search suggestions have been improved to make it easier and faster to get to the right article. Again, the search box is now in the upper right-hand corner.

• Wikipedia logo

The new Wikipedia puzzle globe is now 3D. For “The Free Encyclopedia” tag the Wikimedia Foundation now uses Linux Libertine (an open-source typeface), not Hoefler.

“Wikipedia has some new improvements, thanks to the hard work and dedication of over half a million beta testers and volunteers who worked with the Wikimedia User Experience team over the last year! With a beta testing group of 635,000 people and an 83% user retention rate, we’re proud to introduce you to Wikipedia’s new look and feel. This is the first major initiative the Wikimedia Foundation and its volunteers have ever undertaken for Wikipedia’s interface,” commented Naoko Komura, on behalf of the Wikimedia User Experience team.


If you do not like the new interface, you can always switch back. To do so you need only click the “Take me back” link; you can just click here (please note that you need to login or create an account first).



Tags: Wikipedia, Wikimedia

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