Hello all,
Here is a conversation and decision we need to have before launch:
*How should the contents of Abstract Wikipedia and Wikifunctions be
licensed?*
Since the discussion is expected to be potentially complicated, let us keep
a single place of record for discussing this question:
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Abstract_Wikipedia/Licensing_discussion
We would like the discussion to go on for four weeks and that we have some
form of consensus by December 20th. This is not planned to be a vote
(although it might have votes in it and it might even be closed by a vote
in case no other form of consensus finding works out).
I hope to see you all on wiki!
Denny
The on-wiki version of this newsletter can be found here:
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Abstract_Wikipedia/Updates/2021-11-18
--
This week we are very happy to welcome Julia Kieserman to the team. Julia
studied Computer Science at Georgetown University, and we were impressed by
how closely-aligned her experiences are with Wikifunction’s mission to
allow everyone to share in the ability to answer questions using functions.
You can find her on Github as juliakieserman
<https://github.com/juliakieserman>. Let’s have her introduce herself in
her own words.
*Hey everyone!*
*I'm incredibly excited to be joining WMF as a software engineer on the
Abstract Wikipedia team. I live in NYC (born and raised) but have lived in
London, Munich and other parts of the U.S. for periods, somehow always
ending up back in NYC :). After studying Computer Science in college, I've
worked as a software developer, data engineer and product manager.*
*I'm most passionate about lowering the barrier to entry for all things
tech related (i.e. coding shouldn't be scary) and continuing to make the
field an inclusive and well-represented world!*
*During my free time I like reading whatever I can get my hands on, bike
riding, and eating food cooked by others.*
*Cheers!*
Please join me in welcoming Julia on the team!
The on-wiki version of this newsletter can be found here:
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Abstract_Wikipedia/Updates/2021-11-04
--
This week we are very happy to welcome David Martin to the team. David has
worked at SRI International, Apple, Nuance Communications, Samsung Research
America, and UCSC, and he has extensive experience doing Research &
Development in Artificial Intelligence and the Semantic Web. David will
join us in developing Wikifunctions and Abstract Wikipedia.
*Hi everyone! I’m excited to join the Foundation, enjoy its wonderful
culture, contribute to the greater good, and help to realize the ambitious,
fascinating vision of the Abstract Wikipedia project!*
*In my career to date I’ve enjoyed software engineer, R&D scientist, and
engineering manager roles, and have been fortunate to work at several large
high-tech companies as well as a nonprofit research organization in Silicon
Valley, in jobs oriented around AI technologies and challenges. I've also
enjoyed teaching Computer Science courses on several occasions, at
University of California, Santa Cruz. My work and publications at times
have dealt with, and been enabled by, Wikipedia and Wikidata.*
*I look forward to embracing new challenges and new growth in the
supportive environment of WMF. Although I grew up in North Carolina
(Southeast US), I’ve spent most of my adult life in California, and most of
my career in the Bay Area. I live in the South Bay with my wife and our
three cats. Our wonderful son is studying nearby, in San Francisco, and we
are grateful for that. I love playing the piano (mostly classical), going
to concerts, hiking, bicycling, and traveling.*
Please join me in welcoming David on the team!
------------------------------
A note from Aishwarya, looking for help testing designs:
*Hi folks! For those who don’t know me, I’m Aishwarya Vardhana. I joined
the Abstract Wikipedia team in April
<https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Abstract_Wikipedia/Updates/2021-04-21> of
this year to lead product design.*
*I’ve been designing the function editor for Wikifunctions and am looking
for volunteers to test some potential changes!*
*I would love to know what you think of the interface, and if it’s
understandable, enjoyable, and inviting. I’ll need 20–30 minutes of your
time, to screen-share what you are looking at and ask you some questions. I
can meet with you in Zoom or Google Meet, at your schedule, anytime this or
next week.*
*Please email me at avardhana(a)wikimedia.org <aavardhana(a)wikimedia.org> if
you're able to help. Thank you!*
------------------------------
Last weekend saw WikidataCon 2021
<https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Wikidata:WikidataCon_2021>, celebrating
Wikidata’s ninth birthday. A lot of the material is available now for
online viewing. In particular:
- Houcemeddin Turki gave a talk introducing Wikifunctions and Abstract
Wikipedia <https://pretalx.com/wdcon21/talk/CLVZQE/> (slides
<https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:WikidataCon_2021_-_Wikifunctions_an…>
).
- Tochi Precious and Denny Vrandečić had a conversation about Abstract
Wikipedia and the Igbo community
<https://pretalx.com/wdcon21/talk/MP7QQ9/>, moderated by Silvia
Gutiérrez (Recording on YouTube: in English
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wn2BrQomvFU&t=21930s> and with
Brazilian Portuguese subtitles
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2-j_4YROmA>).
- Jan Ainali published an episode of the Wikipediapodden Podcast
<https://wikipediapodden.se/> on Abstract Wikipedia and Wikifunctions
<https://wikipediapodden.se/episode-154-abstract-wikipedia-and-wikifunctions/>
in
time for WikidataCon.