User Experience in Wikipedia: How Can We Improve It?
Channel: Wikimedia Foundation
Date: 2018-08-16

https://wikimania2018.wikimedia.org/wiki/Program

Wikipedia User Experience (UX) is one of the most important aspects to guarantee the project's future. What is striking about the Wikipedian community is that those editors who entered the project in 2007 are still among the most active, while it is difficult to attract new committed editors. In fact, many studies have focused on understanding why editors leave the project, what causes them to stay and how their interactions continue to motivate them. However, could this knowledge help us in finding the necessary changes for Wikipedia to continue evolving? What can we do as Wikipedians?


In this presentation I want to introduce and discuss the possible hurdles editor engagement encounters and its more effective solutions. First, I will provide a brief state of art. Second, I propose discussing topics such as how technological design change occurs, which I believe it should be treated as an entire community matter and be as inclusive as possible. It may be that Wikipedia values are empowering editors to overcome their difficulties, but at the same they set a high expectation on many levels, and this might stop specific types of contributors from joining.


Some might think that UX is not critical. After all, Wikipedia gets better everyday. However, I believe that by understanding the user experience of all the potential users could help communities grow bigger and more diverse. Third and finally, as part of the findings of my doctoral research, I want to present a list of suggestions and principles to work on, such as overcoming the distinction between editor and reader in order to stimulate different types of contributors. I believe that the more diverse and plural the community becomes, the easier it will be to share the knowledge and connect all humanity - the ubuntu way forward.