Washington Post Launches “Sideways Dictionary” to Simplify Complicated Technology Concepts

The Washington Post has launched Sideways Dictionary, a new tool that uses analogies to help explain a range of technological terms and ideas. In collaboration with Google’s technology incubator, Jigsaw, The Post aims to supplement its reporting by offering readers clarity and comprehension for stories using tech jargon.

According to a Post piece:

““Jargon is the enemy of good storytelling,” said Jeremy Gilbert, director of strategic initiatives. “The analogies in the Sideways Dictionary mimic the natural, often verbal patterns people use when explaining unknown terms. We hope this additional context helps users better understand how a word or term is being used.”

“When reading a story on The Post’s tech and policy blog, The Switch, users will see highlighted terms they can click on which opens the dictionary. An analogy for the term is then presented in-line, and there is an option to view more analogies.”