New user interface for Research4Life planned for mid-2021
After a successful tender process, we are thrilled to announce that Research4Life will be working with Ingenta to create a new user interface for its content portal. Ingenta, based in the United Kingdom, is a provider of content services for the international publishing industry, specialising in academic and educational areas.
For several years, the user interface for the Research4Life content portal has been in need of a refresh. Thanks to the painstaking work of the volunteer members of Research4Life’s Technology Subcommittee, a contract has been signed with Ingenta to deliver a much-needed upgrade to the platform. Ingenta provides services for the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (which incorporates the United Nations iLibrary) and has also worked with the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.
Modern look
The new platform will be based on Ingenta’s Edify technology. As a result, the interface will be intuitive and user-friendly with a more modern look and feel. It will benefit from a sophisticated search functionality, making it easier for users to find the content they need. The platform will also be optimised for mobile users. This is critical for users in lower- and middle-income countries, since they often rely on mobile devices.
“Our user surveys regularly show that the existing content portal’s old-fashioned look and feel, and its lack of advanced features users expect of modern websites, undermines the high value of the content we offer,” said Ged Cheng, Co-Chair of Research4Life’s Technology Subcommittee.
The aim is to have the new platform ready for users by mid-2021, levelling the playing field still further for users in disadvantaged parts of the world.
