Wikipedia:WikipediaSpace

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Banner exhibit being installed at the National Archives in October 2015

Wikipedia Space (more recently updated to Wikimedia Space) is a project to create physical learning spaces to promote the use of open content technologies such as Wikipedia and Wikimedia projects, aimed at cultural professionals in the GLAM sector (galleries, libraries, archives, and museums). (This is not to be confused with m:Wikimedia Space, a now-defunct online forum that existed from 2019-2020.)

The design and implementation of a persistent physical presence is an evolution of the current popular form of face-to-face engagement – the Wikipedia edit-a-thon.

Wikimedia Space 2.0 (2022)[edit]

In 2022, Andrew Lih was asked to create an exhibition for the Chautauqua Institution Summer Institute to teach lifelong learners and attendees about Wikipedia, to be shown on July 20, 2022. This led to thinking about how Wikipedia Space from 2015 could be expanded to include interactive multimedia elements. With the higher quality and lower price of video projection hardware, he designed an expanded self-guided space with projected content and QR-code scannable examples to show a range of Wikimedia projects beyond Wikipedia, including Wikidata and Wikimedia Commons.

The physical configuration for the exhibition design was roughly 10x10 meters, in a library space with tables. A full schematic can be seen on a Google Drawing (included snapshot below).

The design as of July 2022 includes:

  • Five original pull-up banners from Wikipedia Space
  • A projection screen showing the Wikimedia sizzle reel video from 2018 (https://vimeo.com/296168439)
  • A projection screen showing/playing audio from Listen to Wikipedia (https://listen.hatnote.com)
  • A table full of scannable QR codes so people can interact with Wikimedia content on their mobile devices.
    • The four examples currently include a Wikidata knowledge graph, 360 photospheres, the Wikimedia Stats site, and how to download the mobile apps. The design of those QR scannable displays is in a Google Drawing Doc, and feedback is welcome and appreciated.

Pilot program (2015)[edit]

The pilot program is being staged at the Innovation Hub at the US National Archives and Records Administration in Washington, D.C., where an exhibit about Wikipedia and Wikimedia is being implemented in a space that allows citizen archivists to scan and upload content. The hope is that experiences with the pilot can help understand how this approach can be replicated in other spaces, such as libraries, museums, universities and classrooms.

The project was created in conjunction with the US National Archives and Records Administration, the Smithsonian Institution and support from the Knight Foundation.

Principals: Andrew Lih, Dominic Byrd-McDevitt, James Hare, Sara Snyder, Phoebe Ayers

Timeline[edit]

  • Feb 10, 2015 - Knight Grant awarded
  • March 3, 2015 - Full-size paper prototypes of banner exhibits started with American University students
  • March 16, 2015 - Visit to empty NARA Innovation Hub, Dominic, Andrew, Dina Herbert (Innovation Hub manager)
  • March 24, 2015 - Digital drafts of banner exhibits started with American University students
  • March 31, 2015 - Digital drafts printed out and assembled and viewed full-size at National Museum of the American Indian
  • September 15, 2015 - Final drafts of posters sent around for feedback
  • October 8, 2015 - Vinyl banners installed at National Archives
  • October 9, 2015 - Exhibit shown to public at National Archives, McGowan Theater lobby area during Wikiconference USA 2015 (version 1)
  • Other uses

Posters[edit]

There have been three versions of the banner:

  • Version 1 - Designed as a pull-up banner for aluminum frame
  • Version 2 - Designed for a bamboo X-frame, for more portable use and for easier shippping. Same graphics as version 1. Because X-frames are taller, the text sat a bit higher than eye-level for a 5 foot, 7 inch average height person.
  • Version 3 - Same use as version 2, but redesigned so that text sits lower on the X-frame, and headlines written to be bigger.

Each of the posters can be described by a six word summary:

  1. Introducing - Wikipedia, part of larger Wikimedia movement
  2. Editing - Anyone can edit, with simple markup
  3. Commons - Only "free" content can be uploaded
  4. Trust - Signals to interpret trustworthiness of Wikipedia
  5. Collaboration - Wikipedia working with world class partners

New ideas[edit]

Ideas for more posters

Feedback and discussion[edit]

Please feel free to use the Talk page to leave feedback or note corrections

Photos[edit]

See also[edit]

  • GLAMwiki
  • Computer History Museum
  • Wikimania 2013 - Edit this Museum exhibit

External links[edit]