In a world where access to information is a fundamental right, the ability to search and explore multilingual knowledge seamlessly is an essential tool for empowerment. This vision became a reality through the 1-Click-Info browser extension, a project funded by the Arcadia grant through the Wikimedia Deutschland and fiscally sponsored by the Dagbani Wikimedians user group. Leveraging the power of Wikidata, the extension simplifies the process of searching and retrieving multilingual data, enabling communities worldwide to explore knowledge indifferent languages.
The development of this extension by a dedicated team of volunteers led by Jaccob Kondo and his team was a journey of collaboration, resilience, and innovation. Guided by the goal of integrating the Wikidata API for an intuitive search experience, the team faced various challenges but ultimately succeeded in creating a tool that fosters inclusivity and accessibility. Through the work of highly dedicated Ghanaian Wikimedians the 1-Click-Info extension now provides a robust platform for users to effortlessly tap into the vast resources of Wikidata. This project not only showcases the power of community-driven development but also highlights the importance of volunteers collaborating with local Wikimedia groups like the Dagbani Wikimedians user group, whose support and coordination ensured that the team successfully executed the project.
This project leverages Wikidata to provide a seamless search experience while empowering communities to access multilingual knowledge with ease. The development of the 1-Click-Info browser extension marked a significant achievement, fulfilling its primary goal of integrating the Wikidata API for user-friendly search functionality.
Challenges
From countless late nights of troubleshooting code to brainstorming features and seeking inspiration online, the team’s resilience eventually paid off. The integration of sitelinks, a feature advised by Lydia Pintscher, added an important layer of functionality. Despite these challenges, the collaborative spirit of the team ensured the extension’s completion.
From Concept to Reality
The project’s objectives spanned API documentation, UI design and integration, testing, deployment, and project management. Here’s a breakdown of how each was accomplished:
API Documentation
The team thoroughly examined Wikidata’s REST API and action API. It was determined that the action API, specifically the WbSearchEntitiesAction aligned with the project’s needs. This ensured seamless integration and efficient data retrieval for the extension.
UI Design
The UI design prioritized simplicity and accessibility. Featuring a clean, minimalistic layout, the design includes:
- A language selection dropdown for multilingual support.
- Intuitive icons for search functionality.
- A clear call-to-action: “Please select a word and click on the extension.”
- Pagination buttons for easy navigation.
These design choices ensure an inclusive user experience while maintaining consistency across different themes, including plans for a dark mode.
UI Integration
The team focused on populating the UI with results from the API and enabling user interactions such as pagination and detailed views of selected items. This brought the user interface to life, making it intuitive and functional.
Testing
Rigorous testing was conducted to ensure the extension’s reliability. This included verifying successful API requests, handling errors, and evaluating user options. The testing phase guaranteed that the extension functioned as intended.
Deployment
The 1-Click-Info extension was deployed on the Mozilla Add-ons store and Google Chrome Web Store. The process involved completing detailed forms, meeting platform requirements, and submitting the extension for review. Once approved, the extension became available for public use.
Published Outcomes
The 1-Click-Info browser extension is now available for download and use on:
Project Management
Project management involved navigating personnel changes, onboarding a new team member, and coordinating tasks among the team. Regular meetings, both virtual and in-person, were essential for progress tracking. The project leader, in collaboration with the Dagbani Wikimedians user group, also managed budgets, invoices, and resource allocation to ensure the project’s smooth execution.
Looking Ahead
This project exemplifies the power of collaboration and innovation within the Wikimedia movement. By simplifying access to Wikidata’s vast resources, the 1-Click-Info extension empowers users to explore multilingual knowledge effortlessly. It also underscores the critical role of individual volunteers and local Wikimedia communities in driving impactful initiatives.
In the future the team is planning an improvement of the extension such as an implementation of the REST API to retrieve concise data when switching from different languages and an implementation of lexemes in the long term.
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