Talk:Wikimania

This is the general purpose talk page for the Wikimania 2018 website. Please do not use sub-page talk pages unless really necessary as probably no-one will be watching them. Pbsouthwood (talk) 11:06, 31 August 2017 (UTC)

T-shirts

T-shirt sizes will be specified after the supplier/printer has been selected and we have samples of each size to take actual measurements. · · · Peter (Southwood) ^(talk): 12:52, 22 May 2017 (UTC)

Volunteers

Do we want a link for a page for volunteers like Wikimania 2017?

(Yes - needed for new layout)  Done

Sponsors

Do we want a sponsors page?

(yes done by David) Done

Scholarships

Where will this go? Register and attend or Participants? both are plausible. Or a separate page?

Goes on /Attend  Done

Intro video:

Link can go on home page

• Needs to be ready for Wikmania Montreal.
• Wesgrow can help with stock footage.
• Douglas can capture video footage, including with drone. Maybe some aerial shots from Jean Tresfon
• Can get help from Victor Grigas.

Liaison for non-binary issues

• We need someone to advise. Any suggestions?

Everything must be easy to find

• Some links will take you away from this set of pages, but everything must leave it easy to get back.
• Minimum path length vs uncluttered pages. I am trying to achieve this on a main page with 5 main branches by using collapsible boxes and transcluded subpages. It may work. · · · Peter (Southwood) ^(talk): 13:39, 26 May 2017 (UTC)

Contacts page

• Core team and theme team and WMF team contact links. (started)
• Explanation of who to contact for what.
• Put this on home page? - On home page until further notice.

Organogram for Wikimania?

• Point at WMSA: Douglas
  • Core team
    • Financial/books/records
    • Website
      • Consultation with past Wikimania organisers
    • P.R.
      • Press liaison
    • Volunteer committee
    • Scholarships?
    • Hackathon comittee?
    • Venue co-ordinator
      • Internet connectivity?
    • Sponsorship (SA)
  • Theme team

• Point at WMF: Ellie
  • Paid organiser in SA
    • Venue
    • Feeding
    • Internet connectivity?
  • Other WMF staff
  • Scholarships?

Who selects/approves submissions for events?

Collapsible boxes

Would be good if they can have a collapse (hide) button at the bottom as well as at the top · · · Peter (Southwood) ^(talk): 10:02, 24 May 2017 (UTC)

This has been requested at Template talk:Collapse-mobile, with a few other refinements. · · · Peter (Southwood) ^(talk): 13:36, 26 May 2017 (UTC)

Feedback

We want feedback from interested and affected parties about what went well and what could be improved, with suggestions. We are trying to set up a re-usable system, so fixing broken stuff is important.· · · Peter (Southwood) ^(talk): 10:26, 24 May 2017 (UTC)

Links

• http://wikimedia.org.za/wiki/Wikimania_2018_Cape_Town
• https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_South_Africa

• A blog post about the remote strategy deployed for Wikimania 2017, including links to where you can find session notes, presentations, videos, and more

Presentations/Submissions

• What topics are appropriate for Wikimania presentations? Is there a specific theme for 2018? · · · Peter (Southwood) ^(talk): 13:59, 26 May 2017 (UTC)

Press/media

• Press contact person contact details. Who will this be?
• Alternatives?

The Press point person is Isla Haddow-Flood, username:Islahaddow.--Discott (talk) 00:53, 4 June 2018 (UTC)

I applied to attend the San Francisco event and never got a response to the proper email. What's up with that? Please respond to this email as the other that was sent may have been to the wrong email. Thank you. DOWNTOWNJIzMBROWN26 (talk) 23:28, 15 August 2018 (UTC)

Guidebook

• Cape Town guidebook on Wikivoyage More general tourist information on Cape Town
• Other useful links about Cape Town:

Useful icons

Lecture Y

Under construction - hackathon Y

Contributors ?

Information Y

Research Y

Technical Y

Wikimedia Y

Some of these are not intuitive - we need better icons.

Learning patterns - Visas

• https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Learning_patterns/Timing,_Communication,_Preparation:_How_to_support_your_event_participants_in_the_best_way_to_get_a_Schengen_Visa

C5 power cables

https://www.pricecheck.co.za/search?search=clover+power+cable Prices from R35.00 as of 21-07-2017

Plug adaptors

• https://www.pricecheck.co.za/search?search=travel+adapter+plug+visitor
• https://www.pricecheck.co.za/offers/92896854/Wd-10l+Portable+Universal+Plug+To+Large+South+Africa+Plug+Adapter+Power+Socket+Travel+Converter?sst=travel+adapter+plug+visitor%2Cfkey&ssp=21&sso=1&rc=default
• https://clicks.co.za/go-travel_visitor-adaptor-south-africa/p/6543 R120

Prepaid sim cards

• Prices and places to buy. Airtime and data. Vendors near accommodation and near venue.
• Probably available at airport, Vodacom, Cell-C, others?

Good question, please check out the section on SIM cards at the Orientation page. Very important to note that you will need proof of South African address if you try to get a SIM card anywhere that is not the airport or the V&A Waterfront (a mall not too far away from the venue).--Discott (talk) 00:50, 4 June 2018 (UTC)

Social Media Communication

Is the Social Media Communication (Viber, Facebook Messenger, Whatsapp,...., others) allowed? or will it be available there using Wifi Connection or Mobail Data Connection? (Sarbast.T.Hameed (talk) 07:40, 5 March 2018 (UTC))

Wrong Banner link on en-wiki Main page

A banner appeared on the main page of English Wikipedia today, announcing that scholarships for Wikimania 2018 are now open, and linking to https://scholarships.wikimedia.org/apply. Unfortunately that page has not been updated, and contains information on the 2017 Montreal event. I don't know where best to report this, and hope someone is monitoring this page and can take action. Regards from the UK, Nick Moyes (talk) 19:38, 1 January 2018 (UTC)

What about the Water situation?

Presumably the orignaisers of Wikimania have taken into account the water situation in Cape Town? 88.97.96.89 16:47, 5 February 2018 (UTC)

See Water shortage, which is also listed in the sidebar. Wittylama (talk) 18:59, 5 February 2018 (UTC)

DAYS TO WIKIMANIA 2018

why there is a difference in the DAYS TO WIKIMANIA 2018 remaining in the deferent section of the Page as below?

• Home.=135
• Call for submissions.=154
• volunteer.=138
• Sponsors.=135
• Attend.=137

(Till Today Date) (Sarbast.T.Hameed (talk) 13:23, 5 March 2018 (UTC))

Hi Sarbast.T.Hameed, have you tried to clear your web cache? Then it should work and you should see the corrrect number. --Brackenheim (talk) 18:06, 5 March 2018 (UTC)

Hi Brackenheim ... it is the same, I cleared the cache of my web browser several times and now it is as below!! :

• Home.=135
• Call for submissions.=134
• volunteer.=135
• Sponsors.=135
• Attend.=137

(Sarbast.T.Hameed (talk) 20:00, 6 March 2018 (UTC))

OK Now it is Done and all the dates are equal to 134 Day... (Sarbast.T.Hameed (talk) 21:45, 6 March 2018 (UTC))

Really confusing ... Another idea for the next time: Click on "edit" and then save the page without changing anything. Then the current number should appear. --Brackenheim (talk) 08:58, 7 March 2018 (UTC)

I am now getting 133 for some and 134 for others It may be because the heading is transcluded along with the counter, so the counter is not updating when the page into which it is transcluded is updated, only when the heading page itself is updated. I have no idea how this could be fixed, unless there is an instruction available to update the header pages before tranclusion. Pbsouthwood (talk) 10:31, 7 March 2018 (UTC)

Attendees from Nepal and Bangladesh

Hello. A fellow Wikimedian from Nepal has reached out to me stating that visitors from there need to submit their visa applications from Colombo, Sri Lanka. I've did a bit of looking around, and it does seem like the case. Could someone familiar with the SA consular process confirm as well? I too will call the local High Commission on Monday to confirm this.

If that is the case, and depending on how many participants we have from countries that need to apply from Sri Lanka, I'd be happy to assist in consolidating the applications and submitting from Colombo, as I am currently living here. Kind regards, Rehman 12:41, 30 March 2018 (UTC)

Hi again. Just managed to reach the High Commission this afternoon. They confirmed that such applications (together with passports) can now be directly couriered to the High Commission in Colombo. For more information, you can also directly reach them via +94773633334. FYI, User:Biplab Anand. Cheers, Rehman 07:20, 3 April 2018 (UTC)

User:Rehman Thanks for your help and information. I will be in touch for more help. Thanks--Biplab Anand (talk) 07:28, 3 April 2018 (UTC)

Hello Biplab. How are things? Did you/others manage to get the visas? Do you need any assistance? I met Nahid here in Colombo. He's handling all the visa formalities for all Bangladeshis in-person here, so I guess there shouldn't be any issue for attendees from Bangladesh. Feel free to ping me if you need any help. Best regards, Rehman 15:24, 19 June 2018 (UTC)

Registration

please assign for translation

Esp Registration page. Will you please let translators help spread words in local languages? Very important to anybody looking for details. --Omotecho (talk) 10:34, 16 April 2018 (UTC)

Social events

Hi. I've noticed that there is a scuba diving charter planned as a post-conference social event. Just wondering if there are any other event(s) planned for the average Joe? I'm sure many of you also gets amazing safaris in mind when you hear South Africa :-) Do you think one could be arranged? A random google search did show up many options: 1 2. Cheers, 46.189.28.226 06:14, 21 April 2018 (UTC)

Maybe. The scuba charter was a specific request, and fits into what I do, so I took it on. I have no knowledge or interest in tour organisation, but maybe someone else does, so if a specific suggestion is made, maybe someone will volunteer to organise, or suggest an operator who could handle it. Otherwise anyone is free to make plans and bookings for themselves or a group. The minimum requirement is at least one conference attendee indicating that they would book for the event. A larger group would probably be necessary to get it to happen. This does not permit touting by tour operators, the request must come from a Wikimedian in good standing who will be attending the conference, and some evidence may be required. Cheers, Pbsouthwood (talk) 06:36, 21 April 2018 (UTC)

I heard from a friend who visited the Cape twice, that the current arount that point is very strong and you may want to advice inexperienced divers not to join. Ciell (talk) 08:42, 29 April 2018 (UTC)

Ciell,There are a large number of dive sites arount the Cape Peninsula (abour 250), and I have dived most of them, some of them several times. None of them have a very strong current. Occasionally some of them have a moderate current, usually there is a very slight current or none that you can notice, and in shallow water when the swell is high there can be strong surge and breaking waves, as is the case anywhere in the world when there are large waves. When the waves are large we dive somewhere else or we don't dive. I don't know where you get your information, but if you can be more specific as to exactly where you are taking about I can be more specific about the conditions likeley to be found there. The places I am considering for the dive charter may have a light surface current, but the currents are not known to have ever been a probem to divers who would generally be considered competent to dive there. in conditions we would normally consider suitable for diving. There is generally not enough current for drift diving. For details about the conditions at dive sites around Cape Town, please refer to Wikivoyage:Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay. If you have any specific questions, ask me there of here. Pbsouthwood (talk) 19:49, 29 April 2018 (UTC)

+1. A safari outside Cape Town sounds like a fantastic idea! Rehman 09:18, 21 April 2018 (UTC)

What do you consider a safari? Pbsouthwood (talk) 16:06, 21 April 2018 (UTC)

Here in Sri Lanka, a safari usually means a trip on a vehicle (usually an open-top truck/jeep) through a nature reserve/park. Basically a photo-op or sit-and-watch type event. Rehman 06:24, 23 April 2018 (UTC)

Cape Point nature reserve is nearby, but there is nowhere nearby for a big five style safari, and anyone can take a walk or the cableway up the mountain if the weather is good.Pbsouthwood (talk) 16:37, 23 April 2018 (UTC)

I'd love a decent game-drive in an NP, but that means staying in a lodge in/at an NP, getting up early and paying a bit more. It's a once in a lifetime experience though!

And the winter time is the perfect time for a whale-watching tour. Sometimes you can see them from the coast even, keep you eye out for them! Ciell (talk) 08:42, 29 April 2018 (UTC)

Agree. A drive through a South African national park is indeed a once-in-a-lifetime experience! If anyone's planning one, I'd love to join! :-) Rehman 11:03, 29 April 2018 (UTC)

Whale watching is possible, and we fairly often see whales from the boat on dive trips, usually a few hundres metres away, but sometimes closer.

National parks do not all have big game. Tha Table Mountain National Park is more a reserve for the fynbos biome, with a few moderate sizeds pecies of animals, of which the ones most likely to be seen are baboons. To see big game you would need to travel several hundred km from Cape Town. That is probably beyond the capacity of the Wikimania comittee, and should be done through a travel agent. Pbsouthwood (talk) 19:49, 29 April 2018 (UTC)

Hiking

Would anyone be interested in organising some group hiking around Table Mountain, or know of good trailheads or the like? There also seem to be some very interesting-looking cliffs and things... --Isarra (talk) 19:21, 27 April 2018 (UTC)

I mean, like, before or after the conference itself. More social things! Isarra (talk) 19:22, 27 April 2018 (UTC)

Table Mountain is considered a decent hike, that's why there is a cable-kart up and down as well, haha. Lion's head is nearby as well and recommended to me by a friend. Ciell (talk) 08:44, 29 April 2018 (UTC)

There are hiking trails on Table Mountain and Lions Head. An enthusiat could get to some of them on foot from the hotel. It is recommended to hike in groups for security, as there have been occasional robberies and assaults on lone hikers. I don't know them very well as I live about 50km away and if I want to walk on the mountanside I can go to the Helderberg nature reserve which is walking disatance from where I live. Pbsouthwood (talk) 19:58, 29 April 2018 (UTC)

I would be potentially interested in hiking in a group around Cape Town :-) Nonoxb (talk) 15:07, 30 April 2018 (UTC)

I am also interested. I am adding a few days to my stay on my own expense. --Papuass (talk) 18:50, 6 May 2018 (UTC)

I'm interested too. I'll be around till 25th on my own, so definitely looking out for things to do. Rehman 03:12, 9 May 2018 (UTC)

@Rehman: I will also be there till 25th, let's arrange something. --Papuass (talk) 12:54, 9 May 2018 (UTC)

@Papuass: Great! :-) Rehman 05:19, 15 May 2018 (UTC)

@Rehman: I would be interested in hiking Table Mountain (part of the Cape Floristic Region UNESCO World Heritage Site, so that's a plus for me). I wonder if a trip to Robben Island (also a WHS) could be worked out too? Daniel Case (talk) 01:58, 1 June 2018 (UTC)

Bear in mind that this will be the middle of winter, with rlatively short daylight hours and the possibility of stotmy weather. You would not want to get stuck on the mountain in a north=westerly gale. It is also historically the wettest part of the year for rainfall, and we have been getting more rain this year than last. The trend may continue.

A less exposed option could be a day trip to the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden (also on Wikivoyage). It is about half an hour from the city centre, has paths that go high up the mountain, and others that are low down on the slopes. There are even some enclosed greenhouses where the weather doesnt matter. For those interested in botany it is an interesting place to visit, and a pleasant ramble for those who just want to take in the environment, with the option to escape to a pretty decent restaurant in case of bad weather. You turn up at the gates, pay the entrance fee and do your thing. I thnik you can also hire a guide, and there are periodical guided tours if that fits your fancy. Our winter days can be beautiful, calm, mild and sunny, perfect for a brisk walk, or grimly cold and bleak with horizontal rain in blustery wind. Weather forecasts are usually quite reliable, and one can usually see the frontal systems approching from the south east. The gardens are also on the east side slopes of the mountain, so the sun dips below the peaks relatively early in the afternoon, and the temperature drops accordingly. Pbsouthwood (talk) 16:01, 1 June 2018 (UTC)

Trips to Robben Island are from the V and A waterfront, which is a couple of kilometers from the hotels. Walking distance for those who enjoy walking. Getting there depends mainly on whether the ferries are running, which depends both on the weather at sea and the state of the ferries. Book earl, limited numbers per day. Pbsouthwood (talk) 16:08, 1 June 2018 (UTC)

Template:Replyto Thanks for clarifying what our options could be in bad weather. I have done a lot of hiking in all weather conditions, from breaking trail on snowshoes in 60 cm deep powder and -15-20ºC temperatures to 25ºC or so on exposed ridgelines. However I of course defer to you about what the challenges could be (I am glad to hear you are getting rain, too).

Also thanks for the Robben Island advice. Daniel Case (talk) 06:11, 3 June 2018 (UTC)

Informed consent is my main concern. I have no knowledge or opinions of most people's competence and capabilities. You need not expect snow, although it has been known to happen. Cold, poor visibility, driving rain and blustery winds on slippery slopes is more likely the worst case scenario. The best case is crisp clean still air and a view that goes on forever and a well marked path through an interesting and diverse floral kingdom, in easy reach from your hotel. Unfortunately not the flowering season. Some luck is involved. Pbsouthwood (talk) 07:46, 4 June 2018 (UTC)

Should we create a new page to organize the hike in a more structured way? We could put hike options there and people who are interested could add themselves so that we have an idea of the number of people. I can create such a page if you guys think that it could be useful. Nonoxb (talk) 14:45, 13 June 2018 (UTC)

I would say be be bold, and go ahead :) @Daniel Case: Sorry I missed your ping earlier. It would be a pleasure to join you on a tour again. There is a Robben Island option too, mentioned below, in the Wikimania Takes section. Rehman 15:24, 19 June 2018 (UTC)

Alright, I created a poll with the 2 options (Table Mountain and KirstenBosch) here (password is: wikimania), if you're interested in hiking to one of these please add yourself to the poll and we'll see how big of a group we can create :-) Nonoxb (talk) 20:01, 24 June 2018 (UTC)

If there is one thing I would love to do is take people on a hike on Table Mountain. My favourite hike is the Pipe Track which is easily accessible from the City Centre where the conference is happening. One thing is for sure, at least one group hike will be organised. If we are really lucky, and the Wiki gods are good to us, we might be able to organise a local botanist to join us. On a related note, I would like to know if someone could please reach out to the Cape Mountain Club to possibly organise some one to join us. Both at Wikimania and for the hike(s)? They are very very knowledgeable about hiking in the area and have been around for ever.--Discott (talk) 00:48, 4 June 2018 (UTC)

Updates on registration

Hello,

The "Registration" page originally said that registration would be open in early april; then it said mid-april, and now it doesn't say anything anymore. I searched for the Eventbrite page on Google, but didn't find anything either. Does someone have any updates on this? Thanks :-) Nonoxb (talk) 15:11, 30 April 2018 (UTC)

@EYoung (WMF):, I think this is your turf. Cheers, Pbsouthwood (talk) 07:22, 1 May 2018 (UTC)

I am going to need an official letter from the Wikimedia foundation to support my visa application. When will this be handed out? Thanks Sidewinder (talk) 08:00, 2 May 2018 (UTC)

I will try to find out from @EYoung (WMF): where you and others should apply. Cheers, Pbsouthwood (talk) 15:56, 2 May 2018 (UTC)

Wikimania Takes...?

Ahoy there! Will there be any preconference tours organised this time, as with previous Wikimanias? 124.43.18.53 10:05, 4 May 2018 (UTC)

I'm also interested :-) Nonoxb (talk) 11:28, 10 May 2018 (UTC)

me too!! :D MassiveEartha (talk) 01:46, 14 May 2018 (UTC)

+1 Daniel Case (talk) 01:59, 1 June 2018 (UTC)

See Local Tour Options --EYoung (WMF) (talk) 21:12, 10 June 2018 (UTC)

For anyone else who were excited to see safari options; a word of advise (from someone who has no clue about anything in SA): research about the location: Aquila Private Game Reserve. Based on the negative reviews, it seems to be small fenced compound with the same animals. I don't know how small is small, but just saying. That being said, if anyone plans on joining it, please do ping me. I might just change my mind at the last minute. :) Rehman 15:24, 19 June 2018 (UTC)

"Purge" and UTCLiveClock buttons missing

Right now, I have to enter ?action=purge or &action=purge to refresh or clear cache of every page, such as the "Submissions" page. I don't know why "Purge" and "UTCLiveClock" gadgets do not apply to the website. However, auto-purge or auto-refresh seems to be not working or something. Moreover, I have to add more in the URL address every time I visit a page. --George Ho (talk) 03:09, 10 May 2018 (UTC)

WMF staff are doing things to the site. I have no idea what the intentions are or what the side effects may be. So it goes. Pbsouthwood (talk) 07:57, 10 May 2018 (UTC)

@George Ho: Those gadgets have never been added to this site. Navpopups and Hotcat are often the only 2 gadgets installed at new wikis.

Are you asking for one of the purging gadgets to be added? If so, I have now added the Purgetab gadget. Quiddity (talk) 02:11, 7 June 2018 (UTC)

Thanks, Quiddity. The Purgetab is what I need. --George Ho (talk) 06:31, 7 June 2018 (UTC)

Ooh... When I clicked the "Purge" button, the day count changed from "35" to "32" via my account. --George Ho (talk) 00:40, 16 June 2018 (UTC)

Favicon

Hello, I just wanted to note that this Wiki still has the Favicon of last year's Wikimania. This should be fixed ASAP. --Zenith4237 (talk) 11:03, 31 May 2018 (UTC)

It is the standard wikimania logo. — regards, Revi 12:43, 31 May 2018 (UTC)

Ah, okay. Saw it on last year's page and thought there was a different logo each year. Thanks --Zenith4237 (talk) 05:48, 1 June 2018 (UTC)

Wikimedia Store

Hello. Would the Wikimedia Store be present during the conference period? I remember they were there during the 2012 conference, and it was a great place to purchase Wikimedia goodies! :) Rehman 15:24, 19 June 2018 (UTC)

I second that. I even have users asking me to buy t-shirts at Wikimania as shipping cost makes it unattractive to order online. --Papuass (talk) 09:43, 22 June 2018 (UTC)

Robben Island tour

Hi all!

Together with some other (Dutch) Wikimania visitors, I've planned to go on a tour of Robben Island. We invite all other Wikimaniacs to come with us! The idea is to book individually, so buy your own pass, to the Robben Island tour of Monday the 23rd at 11am.

The sea can be rough this time of year, so the tour might be cancelled, but on the other hand we might see some dolphins, whales and off course the famous prison complex as well. You can get your ticket at the webtickets site.

Feel free to join! Ciell (talk) 13:25, 23 June 2018 (UTC)

So, how was it?

Where can we find "after action reports", copies of conference papers and presentations, speech transcripts, etc? Dodger67 (talk) 21:27, 26 July 2018 (UTC)