On Sat, Aug 16, 2008 at 9:45 PM, Michael Snow <wikipedia(a)verizon.net> wrote:
Milos Rancic wrote:
I think that it is more than possible to make one
central event and a
number of events all over the world at the same time. All of the
places would be connected via video links as better as it is possible.
With or without video, though of course it would help, I think the idea
of simultaneous events in multiple locations would be interesting to
pursue. A second location wouldn't easily leap up to the level of
Wikimania, though. And I hope we wouldn't simply reduce things to
broadcasting Wikimania proceedings to other venues (closer to having an
"audience" than including other parts of the "community").
It might be good to build this kind of capacity organically, the way we
have done other things. Perhaps two of the various meetups that happen
regularly around the world would like to coordinate with each other as a
first run. That could be a fun experience and an opportunity to get
involved at the very earliest stages of something.
--Michael Snow
Maybe a mix would be a happy medium: It's relatively easy to throw a
two-day unconference*, as long as you can find a venue, so the small
Wikimanias could be relatively low-key. They could feature live(ish)
streaming** of, say, the big Wikimania keynotes -- so the people at
the small wikimania could have a shared experience with the big
Wikimania, have something to discuss, be able to send in lots of live
IRC questions, etc. etc. -- but then the rest of the small conference
would be a more hands-on, on-site experience, unconnected to the
larger conference. Sort of like a large meetup, with sleepovers, and a
featured event for part of the day.
phoebe
* you really don't need much for this sort of event: a comfortable,
open venue, wireless, some chairs/couches/mats, coffee/tea, snacks,
and a big piece of paper on the wall for writing session ideas down
on. (see: how to organize a barcamp:
http://barcamp.pbwiki.com/OrganizeALocalBarCamp). Everything else is
just a bonus. Obviously, if there was going to be streaming, also a
monitor/projector/etc.
** this has had technical difficulties in the past but I have faith
we'll get it together.