WikiMuseum

From Meta, a Wikimedia project coordination wiki

[edit] WikiMuseum

I checked to see if this had been proposed before and couldn't see that it had anywhere. Our Museums are full of artifacts and models. If they were photographed, they could be placed on Wiki for easy access for everyone. It would be a mammoth project, but like all Wiki projects they start with someone who sees their potential. The site would replace the illustrated Dictionaries. Links could be made to Wikipedia for text about the artifacts. etc etc. 60.240.126.250 10:26, 2 June 2007 (UTC)

WikiSource is opened for any files (photos), categorization there can be used for identifying photos of museum objects. --Okino 13:26, 2 June 2007 (UTC)

You should use Wikimedia Commons for photos like this so that they can be used by all the other projects. Angela 08:42, 3 June 2007 (UTC)

it could make sense however to set up virtual exhibitions which use part of our wikicommons collection with a story and description added to it. not sure if this would neccessitate setting up a wikimedia project though. oscar 09:13, 3 June 2007 (UTC)

I agree, Wikimedia Commons is the place to go. I guess there is room for more subcategories and official pictures supplied by the Museum. Museum catelogue numbers would add to the authenticity of the object. 60.240.126.250 10:26, 6 June 2007 (UTC)

I ended up here after a google search for "WikiMuseum" after reading this WIRED article http://www.wired.com/geekdad/2009/07/100-things-your-kids-may-never-know-about.

I think the people referring to Wikimedia Commons are missing the point somewhat - or rather, not seeing the full depth of such a proposal. Yes of course the wikicommons is the place for media bits and pieces - but there is a difference between an encyclopedia (eg) as a store of knowledge, which has change and usable currency as it's essence, and a museum which is a store of stuff and has preservation as it's essence - not unlike the distinction between wiktionary and wikipedia in many ways.

That's not to say that plenty of 'WikiMuseum exhibits' couldn't feed heavily off Wikipedia - but a wiki 'museum exhibit' on say 'slide rules' would take a different emphasis, perhaps eventually many more photographic examples, 3D photos, audio of some old engineer talking about the old days, and a commentary that strongly ties in historical context.

Along with a much more explorative approach to exhibit interlinking and browsing - much more 'sideways context' if that makes sense - an ability to wander along exhibits by timeline, or geographically, or from smallest to largest (beetles). But don't think of these 'galleries' as necessarily being system generated from attribute data, (although that might work for some situations) but rather, wikicurated. --Jaymax 02:30, 23 July 2009 (UTC)