Comments on: Hack Day 2006: The Future of Geek Conferences? http://hitherto.net/2006/10/01/the-future-of-geek-conferences/ A continuing work in progress Fri, 21 Nov 2008 05:55:46 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7-bleeding By: Chris Messina http://hitherto.net/2006/10/01/the-future-of-geek-conferences/#comment-657 Chris Messina Wed, 04 Oct 2006 11:00:43 +0000 http://hitherto.net/2006/10/01/the-future-of-geek-conferences/#comment-657 Great summary of an event I regrettably missed... Instead I was over in Europe, originally to attend a <a href="http://winecamp.pbwiki.com" rel="nofollow">WineCamp</a> (for bringing non-profits and geeks together to both discuss <i>offline</i> -- and then build -- <i>online</i>, solutions) but since it was cancelled, spent some time perusing the south of France. We then headed up to <a href="http://BarCampBerlin.pbwiki.com" rel="nofollow">BarCampBerlin</a>, which, like so many precedents, was a great event for the locals -- and one where folks spent time really listening but also being heard, as peers. In terms of the active participation that you refer to (which <a href="http://citizenagency.com" rel="nofollow">we've</a> redubbed "architecting for collaboration"), you should check out <a href="http://SuperHappyDevHouse.org" rel="nofollow">SuperHappyDevHouse</a>, <a href="http://mashpit.org" rel="nofollow">Mash Pit</a> and <a href="http://CocoaDevHouse.org" rel="nofollow">CocoaDevHouse</a>, though I'm sure there are more. What's important about these events is that 1) they're from the grassroots (and of course I applaud Yahoo for it's tremendously successful Hack Day) and 2) they're wide open and are eager to spread beyond the typical white-boy geek crowd. In fact, as was shown at Hack Day, a whole lot of interestingness goes underappreciated when it is only white-boys in attendance. Great summary of an event I regrettably missed… Instead I was over in Europe, originally to attend a WineCamp (for bringing non-profits and geeks together to both discuss offline — and then build — online, solutions) but since it was cancelled, spent some time perusing the south of France. We then headed up to BarCampBerlin, which, like so many precedents, was a great event for the locals — and one where folks spent time really listening but also being heard, as peers.

In terms of the active participation that you refer to (which we’ve redubbed “architecting for collaboration”), you should check out SuperHappyDevHouse, Mash Pit and CocoaDevHouse, though I’m sure there are more.

What’s important about these events is that 1) they’re from the grassroots (and of course I applaud Yahoo for it’s tremendously successful Hack Day) and 2) they’re wide open and are eager to spread beyond the typical white-boy geek crowd. In fact, as was shown at Hack Day, a whole lot of interestingness goes underappreciated when it is only white-boys in attendance.

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