Listen to Wikipedia
 | |
| Developer(s) | Stephen LaPorte, Mahmoud Hashemi |
|---|---|
| Repository | github |
| Written in | JavaScript and HTML |
| License | 3-clause BSD license |
| Website | Official website  |
Listen to Wikipedia, also known as L2W or Hatnote: Listen To Wikipedia, is a multimedia visualizer developed by Mahmoud Hashemi and Stephen LaPorte which translates recent Wikipedia edits into a display of visuals and sounds. The open source software application creates a real-time statistical graphic with sound from contributions to Wikipedia from around the world. To accomplish this, L2W uses the graphics library D3.js.[1]
The project won Silver in the Interactive Visualization category of the Kantar Information is Beautiful Awards in 2013.[2] The concept of Listen to Wikipedia is based on BitListen, originally known as Listen to Bitcoin, by Maximillian Laumeister.[3][4]
Presentation
[edit]
Audio
[edit]Each edit produces a note in the pentatonic scale.[5] The bell-like sounds of a celesta correspond to edits with a net addition of content to Wikipedia, and the strums of a clavichord correspond to net subtractions of content. The pitch is inversely proportional to the size of the edit (lower pitched notes are produced by larger edits).[6] Newly registered Wikipedia users are welcomed by a string chord.[7][4]
Visuals
[edit]Each edit creates a circle of one of three colors: white for registered users, green for unregistered users, and violet for Wikipedia bots. The size of a circle is proportional to the magnitude of change executed by the edit; larger circles are produced by larger edits.[4] The name of the article edited is displayed in the center of the circle. Clicking on the text opens a Wikipedia page in a new tab in the user's browser, showing the revision. A blue bar at the top of the screen will appear whenever a new Wikipedia user is registered, listing their username. At the bottom left corner, there is a bar showing the amount of edits per minute.
References
[edit]- ^ "Listen to Wikipedia". Hatnote. August 30, 2013. Archived from the original on August 30, 2013. Retrieved August 27, 2013.
- ^ "Information is Beautiful Awards Entry for Listen to Wikipedia".
- ^ "Listen to Wikipedia – Wikimedia blog". July 30, 2013. Archived from the original on June 24, 2016. Retrieved June 23, 2016.
- ^ a b c Hashemi, Stephen LaPorte and Mahmoud. "Hatnote Listen to Wikipedia". listen.hatnote.com. Archived from the original on January 11, 2017. Retrieved June 23, 2016.
- ^ Wilson, Mark (August 23, 2013). "Listen To The Orchestra Of Users Updating Wikipedia". Fast Company. Archived from the original on August 10, 2016. Retrieved December 23, 2019.
- ^ "Listen To Wikipedia: Engineers Translate Edits Into Sound". NPR. Archived from the original on June 11, 2016. Retrieved June 15, 2016.
- ^ Seifert, Dan (August 9, 2013). "Fall asleep to the sound of Wikipedia". The Verge. Archived from the original on December 24, 2019. Retrieved December 23, 2019.
External links
[edit]
- Official website
- Stephen LaPorte, Mahmoud Hashemi, Listen to Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation blog, July 30, 2013
