Recently I came across an interesting browser extension called Wikiwand. It is available for free for Chrome, Firefox or Safari web browsers, and there are companion apps for iPhone and Android. Once installed, Wikiwand automatically transforms any Wikipedia page that you visit into a visual feast for your eyes!
The first thing you will notice are the big, vibrant, cover images that dominate the top of an entry and provide context to the content of the article. There is a convenient table of contents on a sidebar on the left that remains on the screen no matter how far down you scroll. Links in the article have pop-up previews when you hover over them and give you a summary of what is being linked to. There is even a media slideshow that you activate by clicking on any of the images. The slideshow has all the images from that Wikipedia page.
Not convinced yet? Take a look at the images below for a before and after shot of Wikipedia and the Wikiwand version of the same page. You can also check out a random Wikiwand page by clicking here.
The first thing you will notice are the big, vibrant, cover images that dominate the top of an entry and provide context to the content of the article. There is a convenient table of contents on a sidebar on the left that remains on the screen no matter how far down you scroll. Links in the article have pop-up previews when you hover over them and give you a summary of what is being linked to. There is even a media slideshow that you activate by clicking on any of the images. The slideshow has all the images from that Wikipedia page.
Not convinced yet? Take a look at the images below for a before and after shot of Wikipedia and the Wikiwand version of the same page. You can also check out a random Wikiwand page by clicking here.
A standard Wikipedia page about NASA
The same Wikipedia page viewed with the Wikiwand extension
Wikiwand does not provide any additional information to the page you are looking at, but it does make it a lot nicer to look at. It makes Wikipedia pages easier to navigate and easier to read (thanks to the hyperlink pop-ups). There is a text-to-speech feature that you can activate by clicking the speaker in the bottom right-hand corner of the screen, but the voice is not as good as some other options you have in this area, so it may not be as useful as you might hope.
However, in a world of visual learners, where design is becoming increasingly important in our lives, Wikiwand stands out from the crowd as a way to access information in a clean and efficient way. If you haven't tried it yet, it is well worth a look. Check it out at www.wikiwand.com.
Jonathan Wylie, Grant Wood AEA Technology Consultant, @jonathanwylie
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However, in a world of visual learners, where design is becoming increasingly important in our lives, Wikiwand stands out from the crowd as a way to access information in a clean and efficient way. If you haven't tried it yet, it is well worth a look. Check it out at www.wikiwand.com.
Jonathan Wylie, Grant Wood AEA Technology Consultant, @jonathanwylie
For more posts like this, please subscribe to our blog! You can also connect with us on social media if you Like us on Facebook, Follow us on Twitter or add us to your circles on Google+.
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