The Wikimedia Technology Summit 2024, an event that brought together the brightest minds in technology and Wikimedia enthusiasts, concluded on a high note on 5 October at IIITH. The event was funded by Wikimedia

Foundation. With a focus on inclusivity and empowering diverse voices, the summit successfully gathered 130 attendees from across India, creating a vibrant and collaborative atmosphere.

Hosted by the International Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) Hyderabad, in collaboration with the Indic MediaWiki Developers User Group and the Wikimedia Foundation, the summit’s theme, Wiki Tech for All: Empowering Voices, Expanding Horizons, set the tone for an impactful and inspiring event. Prof. P J Narayanan welcomed the participants from all over the country and emphasized the need for open source and free knowledge.

The summit’s key highlight was its unwavering commitment to fostering inclusivity within Wikimedia projects, especially for smaller language communities. This focus on inclusivity aimed to break down language and cultural barriers, ensuring that Wikimedia’s vast repository of knowledge is accessible to all.

The event provided an ideal platform for attendees to network and collaborate, with developers, researchers, community leaders, and WikiClub students coming together to discuss and work on projects that enhance Wikimedia’s technical infrastructure and expand its reach. The collaborative environment fostered a unique opportunity for knowledge exchange and the advancement of technological innovations tailored to diverse user groups.

The event was managed by Krupal Kasyap, project manager of IndicWiki project. “Kasyap has been a Wikimedian for two decades. He coordinated the event very well. It was nice to see our students work hard from many days before the event started. The student volunteer coordinator was Kaveri Anuranjana, PhD student at LTRC. With a team of nearly 25 volunteers, they pulled off the event successfully. For our students it was the first major Wikimedia event, and I hope they will contribute to the Wikimedia free knowledge movement as well, “notes Dr Radhika Mamidi who chaired the summit.

Hands-on learning was a significant aspect of the summit, with workshops and training sessions offering participants practical experience with new tools and techniques. These sessions focused on mobile editing, voice-based user scripts, and other innovative methods to contribute to Wikimedia projects, ensuring that attendees left with a deeper understanding of the platform’s capabilities and potential.

A highlight of the summit was the Hackathon Showcase, where developers presented cutting-edge solutions and innovative ideas to address challenges within the Wikimedia ecosystem. These solutions aimed to upgrade existing tools and processes, showcasing the power of technology to drive positive change and improve accessibility.

The event also featured insightful panel discussions with experts from renowned institutions and organizations, including AI4Bharat, BITS Pilani, CIS, and Microsoft. From IIIT Hyderabad, Prof. K S Rajan, Prof. Vasudeva Varma, Prof. Ramesh Loganathan, Prof. Dipti Misra Sharma participated. These discussions explored the role of AI in knowledge ecosystems and its potential to revolutionize content creation and accessibility.

The 3rd Wikimedia Technology Summit was a resounding success, marking a significant milestone in Wikimedia’s journey towards an inclusive and accessible future. With its focus on empowering marginalized communities and integrating them into the Wikimedia ecosystem, the summit demonstrated the power of collaboration and technology to drive positive change.

As Dr. Radhika Mamidi states, “The Wikimedia Technology Summit 2024 is yet another step forward in enhancing technological support for Indic-language communities. It showcases the potential for technology to bridge language barriers and empower diverse voices.”

Prof. Vasudeva Varma adds, “This summit exemplifies the collective efforts of diverse stakeholders to further the Wikimedia mission of free knowledge for all. It is a testament to the power of collaboration and the potential of technology to create a more inclusive and accessible world.”

The Wikimedia Technology Summit 2024, held at IIIT Hyderabad and Hotel Hyatt Gachibowli, has left a lasting impact, inspiring and empowering attendees to continue their journey of contributing to open knowledge and technology. With its focus on inclusivity and collaboration, the summit has set a new benchmark for future events, solidifying its place as a catalyst for positive change within the Wikimedia movement.

Let’s continue to build on this momentum and work towards a future where knowledge is truly free and accessible to all! 

For more information and updates, please visit : https://wts2024.indicwiki.org/

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Wikimedia_Technology_Summit_2024

 

October 2024