The Community Team started discussions around the WordCamp WordCamps are casual, locally-organized conferences covering everything related to WordPress. They're one of the places where the WordPress community comes together to teach one another what they’ve learned throughout the year and share the joy. Learn more. Camera Kit program in 2018. During these discussions, it was agreed that the Camera Kit program still has its place, but the equipment is hopelessly outdated.
In 2019 @angelasjin asked for recommendations for possible new equipment. Because of the pandemic, plans for new Camera Kits were halted. Early this year, I revived the refurbishment by proposing the composition of new equipment. The first batch of equipment was ordered in late July to run some tests.
Finally, it’s time to say hi to the new European Camera Kits! Please welcome Europa, Callisto, Triton, Dione, Mars, Sedna, Eris and Neptune to the community! These eight brand new WordCamp Camera Kits will be available for all European WordCamps starting in January 2023.
All new European Camera Kits are capable of live streaming and recording WordCamp sessions. Equipment is put together with ease of use, good audio quality and easier processing of raw footage in mind. These are significant improvements compared to old Camera Kits.
Camera Kits include a Zoom Q8n-4k camera, Zoom SSH Secure SHell - a protocol for securely connecting to a remote system in addition to or in place of a password.-6 microphone, Rode Wireless Go II microphones, camera stand and necessary cables* and accessories. Six of the kits include a device that transforms the camera output into a webcam so that any computer can be used for streaming.
Currently, two of the kits include capabilities for more advanced live streaming, allowing organisers to mix multiple video sources like camera and stage screen into the stream. Video stream mixed with ATEM Mini and transferred via USB-connection acts like a typical webcam when connected to any computer.
Camera Kits travel in pairs of two. That creates even more possibilities for events with a single track, as the camera of the second kit can be connected to a video mixer, making it possible to change the angle of view in the stream. If you wish to take advantage of the video mixer at your WordCamp, mention that in the Camera Kit request form.
I will update the handbook pages shortly to contain all documentation needed for using and making the most of the new Camera Kits. European WordCamps taking place in 2023 can already submit Camera Kit requests.
What about other continents? If the new European Camera Kits prove to be effective and wanted by organisers, WordCamp Central Website for all WordCamp activities globally. https://central.wordcamp.org includes a list of upcoming and past camp with links to each. will consider having similar equipment available in the Americas and Asia in future. Meanwhile, the original Camera Kits are still available in the U.S. and Canada.
What happens to old European Camera Kits? WordCamp Central and I plan to donate the equipment to communities in need, primarily for WordPress or other Open Source Open Source denotes software for which the original source code is made freely available and may be redistributed and modified. Open Source **must be** delivered via a licensing model, see GPL. communities. Details about this and the application process will be shared in 2023.
Timi, what’s up with the names? Kits have been given names of different astronomical objects. Moons, to be exact. This helps with tracking and handling the logistics of kits.
If you have questions about the new European Camera Kits, don’t hesitate to ask in the comments or connect with me in Slack Slack is a Collaborative Group Chat Platform https://slack.com/. The WordPress community has its own Slack Channel at https://make.wordpress.org/chat/.!
I want to thank everyone who shared their thoughts or in some other way helped during this process: @grapplerulrich, @tjnowell, @00sleepy, @drivingralle, @desafio, @fstaude, @sbddesign, @peterhebert, @otto42, @jerrysarcastic, @drbe4t, @ubernat, @stk_jj, @andreamiddleton, @weslinda, @pablo-moratinos, @roseapplemedia, @jtleathers, @angelasjin and @harmonyromo.
* Extra HDMI cables are needed for more complex setups.
#camera-kits, #europe, #wordcamps, #wptv
