Hi All,
Today I had a blast photographing the Babbage Difference Engine
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Difference_engine> at Intellectual Ventures
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intellectual_Ventures> in Bellevue today.
I'll have the photos uploaded to Commons shortly.
I spoke with Paul C. Cabellon, who does public relations at Intellectual
Ventures about updating articles related to their research, and
contributing content, with consideration for COI issues. Paul wants to add
updated photos about the Mosquito laser
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mosquito_laser> to Commons, and have others
like me visit to photograph that project, and others. The company is
working to be as open as possible with their lab research and would like to
work with the Cascadia editors to improve coverage on these topics. There's
a rocket engine there next to the Difference Engine, and they have an
enormous Tesla coil set up. Lowell Wood
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lowell_Wood> was wandering around while I
was there.
I suggested that Mako might want to involve some of his students in trips
to the lab to gather information about these projects like the mosquito
laser and others (vaccine storage, nuclear power etc).
So the issue is working out how to take advantage of this opportunity to
photograph the equipment and exhibits there, and update the related
articles with more recent published information, without promoting
Intellectual Ventures or creating other neutrality problems. I suggested
that Paul Cabellon join Wikimedia Cascadia and subscribe to this list to
discuss further with us both sending editors there, and attending editor
recruiting and training events.
Dennis Bratland