2012/2/8 Steven Walling <steven.walling(a)gmail.com>om>: for run See also https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Beyondencyclopediawiki… _______________________________________________ foundation-l mailing list foundation-l(a)lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/foundation-l

> I have contacts to the European Fablab folks and we probably could start with them a project on an Incubator.

Fabbing isn't the primary thing I'm interested in. I think far more interesting for Wikipedia is now that WebGL exists, we could tie 3D models into Wikipedia articles. It'd have ridiculous educational value: just imagine, you want to see how big a dinosaur is?

I'm wondering whether 3D Wikipedia would be possible: some kind of WebGL-based JavaScript 'player' that has a few pluggable physics presets. Then the ability to load models from Commons.

I don't know enough about file formats and licensing and so on, but, this could be really exciting if it is possible.

The largest problem I see with this is offering a 3D modelling software that is free and (somewhat) easy to use. I know some exist, but they are not nearly as friendly as Solidworks or Pro e. secondly, we would need to offer a free viewer, so that they could be accessed from Wikipedia articles or other projects. These are huge development barriers, as we barely have resources for comparatively much less demanding softwares. Creating a 3D model of a screw is one thing that could be beneficial for someone creating some type of assembly for school or work, but to create a 3D model of a sculpture; how could we verify its proportions? I like the concept, but it is very far from the plain text, html, js that runs virtually everything we work on in Wikimedia.

On 8.2.2012, at 22.03, Tom Morris wrote: start with them a project on an Incubator. Just noticed that the Incubator is now only for new languages. Is it so that the Wikimedia is not looking for new projects? I agree. This is another good reason for Wikimedia to consider starting to support and coordinate creation of free 3D models. All the articles on Wikipedia about different kind of common utensils, tools, instruments, home appliances, furnitures, engineering pieces etc. could come with a 3D model of them. The models could then be used 1) to view and 2) to make them. I ma sure many mechanical engineering pieces, such as propellers, grinding mills etc. would be useful in the Global South. Having scale model of the David by Michelangelo, Parthenon in Athens, arrowheads from stone age etc. would also have a huge educational value. I also, at first thought, that the 3D models should be in the Commons, but I think it could also be a new Wikimedia project. I think the 3D models are not media, similar way as pictures, videos and audio. 3D models are different - one can "make them". It is hard to say if there is a critical mass of people interested in to work with the project, but at least the FabLab folks around the world could join this. Neither do I. - Teemu ---------------------------------------------- Teemu Leinonen http://www.uiah.fi/~tleinone/ _______________________________________________ foundation-l mailing list foundation-l(a)lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/foundation-l

I do not know enough about file formats, but we naturally would been both: free format for viewing 3D objects and free format that can be used for making out of them physical objects.