Re: [Wikimedia-l] Wikipedia in an abstract language

[Ariel Glenn WMF]

I want to add a caution about the idea of translating one article for all
audiences. Even articles on some plants or animals will contain different
information depending on their role in the communities of the speakers of a
given language; how much more will articles about some politician or a
religious custom vary depending on the presumed cultural context of the
community of readers? Even sources vary according to the language of the
project, with sources in the project language preferred for ease of
verifiability. One of the strengths of multi-language Wikipedia is this
very concept of a topic being presented in a fashion that is suitable to
different communities of readers, and the language of the text is only one
part of that.

On Fri, Nov 16, 2018 at 8:40 AM Leila Zia  wrote:

> Denny, thanks for writing and rewriting this piece. I finally got a chance
> to go through it end-to-end. Challenge accepted! :)
>
> Here are a few early thoughts, and I look forward to discussing it with you
> and others further.
>
> * I tend to agree with you that the challenges of artificial intelligence
> are a superset of the challenges of bringing to life the abstract
> Wikipedia. Quite a few items you list in "Unique advantages" section make
> the abstract-Wikipedia space more easily approachable.
>
> * I agree with you that if we are to take the content of Wikipedia to many
> of the languages spoken in the world today, and engage their speakers to
> share in, the current model won't work/scale (at least soon enough).
>
> * You've raised a great point about "Graceful degradation". A very nice
> challenge.
>
> * In "Unique advantages" you talk about "a single genre of text,
> encyclopedias" and I wonder what it takes to expand our thinking to include
> images as well. Will we need to rethink your current construct? Including
> images is attractive for at least two reasons: Because in terms of learning
> people have different needs and we will likely need to (continue to)
> include images as we create the abstractions, but also because one can
> potentially think of images as representations that are already abstract.
>
> Best,
> Leila
>
> --
> Leila Zia
> Senior Research Scientist, Lead
> Wikimedia Foundation
>
>
> On Tue, Nov 13, 2018 at 10:13 AM Dariusz Jemielniak 
> wrote:
>
> > an interesting concept indeed!
> >
> > dj
> >
> > On Tue, Nov 13, 2018 at 5:36 PM Denny Vrandečić  > > wrote:
> > The extended whitepaper that was presented at the DL workshop is now
> > available here:
> >
> > http://simia.net/download/abstractwikipedia_whitepaper.pdf
> >
> > Still not a proper scientific paper (no references, notv situated in
> > related work), but going into a bit more detail on the ideas on the first
> > paper published previously.
> >
> > On Sat, Sep 29, 2018, 11:32 Denny Vrandečić  > vrande...@gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > > Semantic Web languages allow to express ontologies and knowledge bases
> in
> > > a way meant to be particularly amenable to the Web. Ontologies
> formalize
> > > the shared understanding of a domain. But the most expressive and
> > > widespread languages that we know of are human natural languages, and
> the
> > > largest knowledge base we have is the wealth of text written in human
> > > languages.
> > >
> > > We looks for a path to bridge the gap between knowledge representation
> > > languages such as OWL and human natural languages such as English. We
> > > propose a project to simultaneously expose that gap, allow to
> collaborate
> > > on closing it, make progress widely visible, and is highly attractive
> and
> > > valuable in its own right: a Wikipedia written in an abstract language
> to
> > > be rendered into any natural language on request. This would make
> current
> > > Wikipedia editors about 100x more productive, and increase the content
> of
> > > Wikipedia by 10x. For billions of users this will unlock knowledge they
> > > currently do not have access to.
> > >
> > > My first talk on this topic will be on October 10, 2018, 16:45-17:00,
> at
> > > the Asilomar in Monterey, CA during the Blue Sky track of ISWC. My
> > second,
> > > longer talk on the topic will be at the DL workshop in Tempe, AZ,
> October
> > > 27-29. Comments are very welcome as I prepare the slides and the talk.
> > >
> > > Link to the paper: http://simia.net/download/abstractwikipedia.pdf
> > >
> > > Cheers,
> > > Denny
> > >
> > ___
> > Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at:
> > https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and
> > https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia-l
> > New messages to: Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org > Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org>
> > Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l,
> >  wikimedia-l-requ...@lists.wikimedia.org>?subject=unsubscribe>
> >
> >
> > --
> > 
> > 

Re: [Wikimedia-l] Wikipedia in an abstract language

[Leila Zia]

Denny, thanks for writing and rewriting this piece. I finally got a chance
to go through it end-to-end. Challenge accepted! :)

Here are a few early thoughts, and I look forward to discussing it with you
and others further.

* I tend to agree with you that the challenges of artificial intelligence
are a superset of the challenges of bringing to life the abstract
Wikipedia. Quite a few items you list in "Unique advantages" section make
the abstract-Wikipedia space more easily approachable.

* I agree with you that if we are to take the content of Wikipedia to many
of the languages spoken in the world today, and engage their speakers to
share in, the current model won't work/scale (at least soon enough).

* You've raised a great point about "Graceful degradation". A very nice
challenge.

* In "Unique advantages" you talk about "a single genre of text,
encyclopedias" and I wonder what it takes to expand our thinking to include
images as well. Will we need to rethink your current construct? Including
images is attractive for at least two reasons: Because in terms of learning
people have different needs and we will likely need to (continue to)
include images as we create the abstractions, but also because one can
potentially think of images as representations that are already abstract.

Best,
Leila

--
Leila Zia
Senior Research Scientist, Lead
Wikimedia Foundation


On Tue, Nov 13, 2018 at 10:13 AM Dariusz Jemielniak 
wrote:

> an interesting concept indeed!
>
> dj
>
> On Tue, Nov 13, 2018 at 5:36 PM Denny Vrandečić  > wrote:
> The extended whitepaper that was presented at the DL workshop is now
> available here:
>
> http://simia.net/download/abstractwikipedia_whitepaper.pdf
>
> Still not a proper scientific paper (no references, notv situated in
> related work), but going into a bit more detail on the ideas on the first
> paper published previously.
>
> On Sat, Sep 29, 2018, 11:32 Denny Vrandečić  vrande...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > Semantic Web languages allow to express ontologies and knowledge bases in
> > a way meant to be particularly amenable to the Web. Ontologies formalize
> > the shared understanding of a domain. But the most expressive and
> > widespread languages that we know of are human natural languages, and the
> > largest knowledge base we have is the wealth of text written in human
> > languages.
> >
> > We looks for a path to bridge the gap between knowledge representation
> > languages such as OWL and human natural languages such as English. We
> > propose a project to simultaneously expose that gap, allow to collaborate
> > on closing it, make progress widely visible, and is highly attractive and
> > valuable in its own right: a Wikipedia written in an abstract language to
> > be rendered into any natural language on request. This would make current
> > Wikipedia editors about 100x more productive, and increase the content of
> > Wikipedia by 10x. For billions of users this will unlock knowledge they
> > currently do not have access to.
> >
> > My first talk on this topic will be on October 10, 2018, 16:45-17:00, at
> > the Asilomar in Monterey, CA during the Blue Sky track of ISWC. My
> second,
> > longer talk on the topic will be at the DL workshop in Tempe, AZ, October
> > 27-29. Comments are very welcome as I prepare the slides and the talk.
> >
> > Link to the paper: http://simia.net/download/abstractwikipedia.pdf
> >
> > Cheers,
> > Denny
> >
> ___
> Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at:
> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and
> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia-l
> New messages to: Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org>
> Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l,
> ?subject=unsubscribe>
>
>
> --
> 
> [http://crow.kozminski.edu.pl/minds.jpg]
>   prof. dr hab. Dariusz Jemielniak
> kierownik katedry MINDS (Management in Networked and Digital Societies)
> Akademia Leona Koźmińskiego
> http://NeRDS.kozminski.edu.pl 
>
>
>
>
> Ostatnie artykuły:
>
>   *   Dariusz Jemielniak, Maciej Wilamowski (2017)  Cultural Diversity of
> Quality of Information on Wikipedias<
> http://crow.kozminski.edu.pl/papers/cultures%20of%20wikipedias.pdf>
> Journal of the Association for Information Science and Technology 68:  10.
> 2460–2470.
>   *   Dariusz Jemielniak (2016)  Wikimedia Movement Governance: The Limits
> of A-Hierarchical Organization<
> http://www.crow.kozminski.edu.pl/papers/wikimedia_governance.pdf> Journal
> of Organizational Change Management 29:  3.  361-378.
>   *   Dariusz Jemielniak, Eduard Aibar (2016)  Bridging the Gap Between
> Wikipedia and Academia<
> http://www.crow.kozminski.edu.pl/papers/bridging.pdf> Journal of the

[Wikimedia-l] Affiliations Committee Call for Candidates

[Kirill Lokshin]

Hi everyone,

The Affiliations Committee – the committee responsible for guiding
volunteers in establishing Wikimedia chapters, thematic organizations, and
user groups – is looking for new members!

The main role of the Affiliations Committee is to guide groups of
volunteers that are interested in forming Wikimedia affiliates. We review
applications from new groups, answer questions and provide advice about the
different Wikimedia affiliation models and processes, review affiliate
bylaws for compliance with requirements and best practices, and advise the
Wikimedia Foundation Board of Trustees on issues connected to chapters,
thematic organizations and Wikimedia user groups.

The committee can include up to fifteen members, roughly half of whom are
selected every twelve months for staggered two-year terms. Those joining
the committee during the current process will serve a two-year term ending
in December 2020.

*Key skills*

Being a part of the Affiliations Committee requires communication with
volunteers all over the world, negotiating skills, cultural sensitivity,
and the ability to understand legal texts. We look for a healthy mix of
different skill sets in our members, including the following key skills and
experience:

- Willingness to process applications through a set, perhaps bureaucratic
process.
- Readiness to participate in political discussions on the role and future
of affiliates, models of affiliation, and similar topics.
- Availability of up to 5 hours per week, and the time to participate in a
monthly two-hour voice/video meeting.
- International orientation.
- Fluency in English.
- Ability to work and communicate with other languages and cultures.
- Strong understanding of the structure and work of affiliates and the
Wikimedia Foundation.
- Knowledge of different legal systems and experience in community building
and organizing are a plus.
- Skills in other languages are a major plus.
- Experience with or in an active affiliate is a major plus.
- Strong track record of effective collaboration (such as evidenced skills
at facilitation, mediation, negotiation, and so forth) are a major plus.
- Willingness to use one's real name in committee activities (including
contacts with current and potential affiliates) when appropriate.

We are looking for people who are excited by the challenge of empowering
volunteers to get organized and form communities that further our mission
around the world. In exchange, committee members selected will gain the
experience of supporting their world-wide colleagues to develop their
communities as well as personal development in guiding organizational
development, facilitating affiliate partnerships, and professional
communications.

*Selection process*

As a reflection of our commitment to openness, transparency, and bilateral
engagement with the Wikimedia community, the 2018 member selection process
will include a public review and comment period. All applications received
by the committee will be posted on Meta at
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Affiliations_Committee/Candidates/December_2018,
and the community will be invited to provide comments and feedback about
each candidate.

At the end of the public comment period, the applications will be voted on
by the members of the committee who are not seeking re-election, taking
into account comments put forward by the committee's members, advisors,
Wikimedia Foundation staff and board liaisons, and the community. A final
decision will be made by mid-January 2019, with new members expected to
join later that month.

*How to apply*

If you are interested in joining the committee, please post your
application on the nomination page and send an email announcing your
application to aff...@lists.wikimedia.org by 31 December 2018. Your
application must include the following information:

- Your full name and Wikimedia username
- A statement describing your relevant experience, skills, and motivation
for joining the committee.
- Answers to the following three questions:

(1) How do you think affiliates work best together to partner on effective
projects and initiatives?
(2) What do you see as the role of affiliates in the Wikimedia movement in
the next three years?
(3) What do you feel you will bring to the committee that makes you a
uniquely qualified candidate?


If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me and/or the
committee as a whole. We are happy to chat or have a phone call with anyone
about our work if this helps them decide to apply. Please distribute this
call among your networks, and do apply if you are interested!

Regards,
Kirill Lokshin
Chair, Affiliations Committee
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Re: [Wikimedia-l] Wikimedia Summit 2019 – Office Hours

[Cornelius Kibelka]

Hello, hello,

four people dialed in today and asked great questions regarding the
Wikimedia Summit. Thank you!

If you have missed this call, join us on Sunday, November 18, 18:00 [6 PM]
UTC – link to hangout: https://meet.google.com/xaw-zecx-fam.

In any case, you can reach us at any time via wmsum...@wikimedia.de

Best regards
Cornelius

On Fri, 9 Nov 2018 at 17:43, Cornelius Kibelka <
cornelius.kibe...@wikimedia.de> wrote:

> Dear Wikimedians,
>
> We have received feedback that it might be harder this year to select the
> one delegate of your affiliate to attend the Wikimedia Summit. Also beyond
> the selection, questions arose and arise regularly around the purpose and
> objectives of the Wikimedia Summit as well as the connection to the
> Movement strategy process.
>
> As an initiative to provide clarity and support from the the Organizing
> team and the Movement Strategy Core Team, I’m hosting two office hours via
> Google Hangout. To cover more time zones and availabilities, there will be
> two calls (but both with the same content, no need to attend both):
>
>
>-
>
>Thursday, November 15, 8:00 [8 AM] UTC – link to hangout:
>https://meet.google.com/uzh-chey-rsf
>-
>
>Sunday, November 18, 18:00 [6 PM] UTC – link to hangout:
>https://meet.google.com/xaw-zecx-fam
>
>
> If you are unavailable at these proposed time slots, we can either arrange
> a call separately or you can follow up via email.
>
> As always, please let us know your concerns and questions.
>
> Best regards
>
> Cornelius
> for the Wikimedia Summit organizing team
>
> --
> Cornelius Kibelka
> Internationale Beziehungen | International Relations
> Vorstandsteam | Office of the ED
>
> Wikimedia Deutschland e.V. | Tempelhofer Ufer 23-24 | 10963 Berlin
> Tel. (030) 219 158 26-0
> http://wikimedia.de
>
> Stellen Sie sich eine Welt vor, in der jeder Mensch an der Menge allen
> Wissens frei teilhaben kann. Helfen Sie uns dabei!
> http://spenden.wikimedia.de/
>
> Wikimedia Deutschland - Gesellschaft zur Förderung Freien Wissens e. V.
> Eingetragen im Vereinsregister des Amtsgerichts Berlin-Charlottenburg unter
> der Nummer 23855 B. Als gemeinnützig anerkannt durch das Finanzamt für
> Körperschaften I Berlin, Steuernummer 27/029/42207
>


-- 
Cornelius Kibelka
Internationale Beziehungen | International Relations
Vorstandsteam | Office of the ED

Wikimedia Deutschland e.V. | Tempelhofer Ufer 23-24 | 10963 Berlin
Tel. (030) 219 158 26-0
http://wikimedia.de

Stellen Sie sich eine Welt vor, in der jeder Mensch an der Menge allen
Wissens frei teilhaben kann. Helfen Sie uns dabei!
http://spenden.wikimedia.de/

Wikimedia Deutschland - Gesellschaft zur Förderung Freien Wissens e. V.
Eingetragen im Vereinsregister des Amtsgerichts Berlin-Charlottenburg unter
der Nummer 23855 B. Als gemeinnützig anerkannt durch das Finanzamt für
Körperschaften I Berlin, Steuernummer 27/029/42207
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