The document discusses the idea of creating a "1000 character Wikipedia" to better serve mobile users who want quick access to factual information. It notes that Wikipedia readership via mobile is lower than other sites due to articles often being long, while mobile users want fast fact checks. A 1000 character limit version could provide key facts upfront for mobile users in the style of scientific article abstracts. The document considers how such a service could be implemented and integrated with the existing Wikipedia platform. It concludes by offering the idea for others to pursue if they feel it has potential.

1. WILL
the
small
screen
KILL
Wikipedia?

2. No!
But something
has to be done…
C C - B Y- S A : H T T P : / / W W W. F L I C K R . C O M / P H O T O S / G A R R Y K N I G H T / 7 0 0 3 1 7 8 8 5 7 / S I Z E S / L /

3. ”Only 20 percent of the readership of the English-language
Wikipedia comes via mobile devices, a figure substantially
lower than the percentage of mobile traffic for other media
sites, many of which approach 50 percent.”
H T T P : / / W W W. N Y T I M E S . C O M / 2 0 1 4 / 0 2 / 1 0 / T E C H N O L O G Y / W I K I P E D I A - V S - T H E - S M A L L - S C R E E N . H T M L

4. People read more and more text on their mobile
devices.
On mobile, people want to check facts quickly.
Most of the (good) articles in Wikipedia are long.

5. The solution
1000 character
Wikipedia
=
like conventional Wikipedia, but there is a character limit
in the articles.

6. PROS
• Mobile user wants to do a quick check on a subject.
• Even in a well-written article the introduction in the
beginning does not usually cover the key facts in the
article.
• An analogy: abstracts in scientific articles.
• Easy to create high quality texts: the character limit is
your friend.

7. HOW TO IMPLEMENT?
• As new service / startup / nonprofit?
• Mediawiki software (which Wikipedia runs on) is free and open
software - it is easy to set up a new wiki with a character limit.
• As Wikimedia Foundation new project?
• As a separate ”language” in Wikipedia (like English vs. Simple
English currently are)?
• As a new feature in Mediawiki and Wikipedia?
• On mobile browser, the 1000 character abstract is shown (with
an option to tap to the full article.

8. And: I don’t have time for this currently, please
steal the idea if you think it’s good.
– VESA LINJA-AHO