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arbcamp08 tag
Arbcamp 2008 event
arbcamp
#a2geeks : irc.freenode.net
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Big thanks to SPARK And thanks to everyone who showed up, many of you unconference newbies, to connect in the dead of winter with a diverse crowd of your peers. And eat a ton of pizza. Here's a quick summary of ArbCamp 08 by the numbers:
Online coverage of the event continues on Twitter Some nice video coverage by David Buchanan from Coefficient Media And our final schedule:
Coworking A2 A2 Mech Shop $300 - $600/mo Brickyard Zattoo SPARK Central SPARK North (Wetlab) SPARK East (Ypsilanti)
Who are you and what do you do?Whitney R. I'm an epidemiologist Why are you attending ArbCamp?I'm kind of geek. Always good to meet like-minded others. And I just moved to Ann Arbor this fall and am looking to know the local community better. If you were to lead a session, what would it be about?One idea: people could give me a news report or journal article about a new study. Give me 10 minutes to read it, and I can give you a quick synopsis and tell you how good or bad the research is and what it means. Tell us one random fact about yourself.I'm still trying to figure out the best footwear for these snowy, sticky Ann Arbor winters. Where can we find you?Not much web presence. I'm working on it. Some tips to make the most of ArbCamp 08 tomorrow night:
Here are some other thoughts about preparing for a barcamp event Remember, ArbCamp is about participation. This event is BY you and FOR you. Think about what you'd hope to see, or what you can offer, and help make it happen by leading a session (e.g. starting a discussion, not necessarily presenting in any formal way). We'll have at least two projectors to hook up to laptops (with a standard VGA connector) though, if you've prepared something to kick off a discussion. We'll also have whiteboards, markers, paper, and tape, and other basic office supplies. Please share your thoughts on what you hope to see happen at ArbCamp in the comments below, and we'll see you soon!
Who are you and what do you do?Ryan Burns. I design and model digital electronics for a small Chicago based consulting company that is expanding with an Ann Arbor design center, currently staffed by myself. We do a lot of video hardware datapaths, as well as general control electronics for a variety of applications, which are primarily implemented in Field-Programmable-Gate-Arrays (FPGAs). An FPGA is basically a bunch of general digital logic cells and delay elements that can be reconfigured to implement your Hardware Design Language design, including processors, and direct hardware realization of algorithms. I'm interested in design-cycle automation and testing strategies for compressing design and integration time. Why are you attending ArbCamp?I watch Iron Chef because you can efficiently absorb a massive density of cooking techniques and strategies in a reasonable amount of time, and through serendipity you become aware of things you didn't know you could look up. I'm hoping ArbCamp will fill the same role for cooking up technology ideas and meeting interesting people. If you were to lead a session, what would it be about?Applying the principles of Edward Tufte regarding concise and informative graphics, or about using wikis as an internal corporate knowledge base, both of which I'm a big proponent of. Alternatively: Do you run a personal wiki? What platform do you use and how does it work for you? Tell us one random fact about yourself.Above my desk is a framed charcoal drawing of a former co-worker being pelted with elastic bands, drawn by said co-worker. Where can we find you?http://ryanburns.info/blog
Who are you and what do you do?Hello, I'm Zachary Campau. I'm an aspiring entrepreneur, and an MBA candidate at the University of Michigan Ross School of Business. Right now I'm the BOM Process Subject Matter Expert and BOM Systems Deployment Lead at Ford Motor Company. Currently working on an ongoing project to improve/iterate/implement a suite of BOM-related software to shorten the time of product development and facilitate more robust sharing of information. Why are you attending ArbCamp?I love Ann Arbor, and since starting the MBA program this past September, I feel like I've not done enough to get involved in the local community. At FuturTech 2008 Dug Song told me about ArbCamp, and then immediately told me it was full If you were to lead a session, what would it be about?Right now one of the interesting things I'm working on is the implementation of a Business Process Management System (BPMS) at Ford. I could talk about using BPMS to progress toward the IT Holy Grail of "Single Login", and all the other great benefits we're going to see from it. The interesting thing about my experience that I think makes it worth sharing is that I'm not in IT, but more a liaison between IT, Engineering, and the Business. Tell us one random fact about yourself.I can dunk a basketball. Where can we find you?My New Blog: http://www.thebugbyte.com
If you were previously waitlisted for the event, please show up! And invite your friends to register!
Who are you and what do you do?I am a recent engineering graduate of the University of Michigan, where I got both a BSE and MSE in computer science. I have worked previously for companies ranging from blogging start-ups (Xanga) to major software companies (Apple), and I definitely have to say that I Why are you attending ArbCamp?Ann Arbor is a great city, and there are great people coming through all the time. I think that events like ArbCamp and groups like a2geeks will help to keep that talent here in Ann Arbor. In my mind, with the University of Michigan plus the tech companies that already exist here, there is no reason that Ann Arbor can't be a major tech hub. If you were to lead a session, what would it be about?I'll probably talk about something on web services development in Python, and maybe about Google App Engine specifically. Also, you might find Zach and me giving a talk about doing puzzle/scavenger hunts around Ann Arbor... Tell us one random fact about yourself.I enjoy karaoke. If you also have a strange desire to sing songs you may or may not know, you should talk to me. We'll get you on the list for when we head out to Good Time Charley's or The Circus for karaoke nights. Seriously. Where can we find you?http://twitter.com/mjpizz The results of our a2geeks logo design challenge are finally in, and we have a winner!
We'll have stickers with the new logo to hand out at ArbCamp 08 next week, and we've also set up an a2geeks LinkedIn group If you aren't on LinkedIn
OverviewFast, no-nonsense working lunch. Ripped through past action items, covering topics below. No extraneous conversation or socializing, we'll have time for that at ArbCamp. Key DecisionsSetupShow up at 5 PM to help setup. 100 chairs, but some extra in the wings (conference room, etc.). 2 bathrooms. Need to check on trash cans. SPARK is pretty well outfitted - there are at least 4 rolling whiteboards to use, and the conference room across the kitchen has one as well. We also have another conference room by the incubator space that Lance has offered to open up, but we'll reserve that in case of overflow. We could also use the kitchen area in a pinch. SPARK has one projector and movable screen, and Dug and Marshall will each bring one. There is a screen mounted from the ceiling on the south side of the room, and a big white wall on the north that we could use to project onto. Devon will keep track of what's needed and who's bringing what using the tasklist on the webpage - please volunteer to help bring things! RegistrationWe'll allow all registrants in, and the first 10 from the waitlist up until 6:30 PM. If we have more space available after that, we'll let more folks in, first-come, first-served, until we reach our max. The SPARK space looks to hold 100 comfortably, but we could probably handle more. Jackie and Sunny to help with the registration table. We will set up a table next to registration for anyone to put out job postings, business cards, etc. We will also set up a board for sig dots We need signs with details of the wifi network, IRC channel, tags to use for Flickr, Twitter, etc. MerchSkipping ArbCamp stickers - Mark still doesn't have the Illustrator file from Ross, and some were made last year anyway (maybe some extra somewhere?). Dug sponsoring 500 a2geeks stickers, Mark Maynard picking them up from VGKids SponsorsSponsors will handle their own sponsorships directly - e.g. food orders and delivery, etc. The amorphous "group" of organizers we have shall handle no money themselves. We should list the sponsorships and actual amounts on the Sponsors page for full transparency, and to aid in future planning (by us, or anyone else who does an event like this). Drink sponsors will handle their own - see the After Party details below. CFE to handle pizza, SPARK to handle the rest (drink, plates, appetizers, etc.). Opening SessionWe will tag-team MC'ing the event.
With 5 tracks and a 6th possible (there's space for it), we should consider carving out a half-hour in the middle as a global intermission / networking session if we can. After PartyLet the crowd decide where they want to go afterward. We're going to do some work to list options for the group, but we're not going to secure a space. If anyone wants to sponsor drinks post-event somewhere, there will be opportunity to announce this during our final lightning talk round (perhaps during a "What to do after ArbCamp?" talk). Next Actions
Who are you and what do you do?I'm Adam Davis, I currently work at Lear as a contract software engineer on electronic modules that will appear in cars in a few years. I do consulting for electronic hardware and software design, but am proficient at a wide range of skills in the computer and IT area, to software development, to electronic design and microcontroller work (embedded systems). My greatest enjoyment comes from designing and building systems that involve many areas, such as building and programming an embedded tracking device that communicates with a web page and updates a database through a cellular connection. Examples:
Why are you attending ArbCamp?I want to get to know people who want to grow the technical community in Ann Arbor. I'd like to become involved in more adventures, and become a resource for others to launch their passions. If you were to lead a session, what would it be about?Napkin designs - how to take your idea apart into smaller manageable chunks and implement it quickly and iteratively. A big part of this is knowing what is possible, where shortcuts can be made, and weighing implementation risks to come to a manageable design. Tell us one random fact about yourself.I participated in the 2006 National Novel Writing Month and completed a 50k word novel, which you can read for free (free pdf) http://www.lulu.com/content/631354 Where can we find you?http://www.ubasics.com/
Who are you and what do you do?Jon Oberheide. I'm a PhD candidate at the University of Michigan where I also obtained my BS and MS. My interests lie in all aspects of security, whether code, network, or physical. If I'm not writing papers/grants for our research group, I'm usually hacking on a pet project or breaking things. My favorite pastime is attempting to find free time in my life to develop a favorite pastime. Why are you attending ArbCamp?I share a common vision with Dug and hope to rejuvenate the hacker culture that once thrived here in Ann Arbor. There's an enormous amount of technical talent between the University and various tech companies in AA, so I hope events such as ArbCamp will help bring these many disjoint groups together. If you were to lead a session, what would it be about?Likely something security-related, yet accessible to the average a2geek. A hands-on demonstration of various lockpicking tools and methods could make for an interesting session. Tell us one random fact about yourself.I'm not allergic to the saliva of mosquitos. Where can we find you?In 3 short weeks, we've hit our attendance limit for ArbCamp 08. We'll accept an additional 10 beyond SPARK's limit of 100 people for the event, but unfortunately we cannot accomodate everyone - the space simply isn't big enough. We promise to hold another event early next year, perhaps on campus to better accomodate all the students who couldn't make it. Please sign up on the ArbCamp 08 second-wave registration with your e-mail address, and we'll be sure to let you if someone cancels, or when our next event will be - and you're welcome to join us for the after-party, at least... For those of you that were able to join us, congratulations! We're going to have a great night. Here's what to expect: FoodThanks to SPARK Speed geeking5 parallel tracks of half-hour blocks (possibly combined to make longer sessions), so anywhere from 15 one hour sessions to 30 half-hour sessions possible. After a round of (extremely short) introductions, participants will propose discussion topics to be laid out on the schedule grid by the group - and then GO! We'll have at least two projector+screen setups for sessions requiring them. Lightning talksAs many short (1-5 minute) talks to close out the event as we can, before we retire to the... After-partyMore conversation over drinks at a to-be-determined bar, with a first round of drink tickets distributed by our other event sponsors (to be listed) at 11 PM. LivebloggingWe encourage folks to spread the ideas discussed at ArbCamp to the community through live blogging, video, Twitter, IRC, etc. We'll have an open wifi network available for you to be connected online, as you make connections IRL. Additional logistics and discussion will happen over the attendee e-mail list we'll set up shortly. See you on Dec 18!
After party logisticsSponsorshipsRegistrationsMerchandiseA lot of rambling discussion and tangents into CFE and hackerspaces, TechCocktail and the a2geeks conference, coworking possibilities at Zattoo, connections to the Paypal Mafia Decisions
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Who are you and what do you do?Anthony Oliver. I'm currently a vision system engineer. I setup, install, and support vision systems for automation that do error proofing, traceability, and identification. I obtained my software engineering degree from Michigan Technological University last December. I've been involved with computer programming since the age of 14. Was a Google Summer of Code Why are you attending ArbCamp?I am very interested in anything related to GRIN (Genetics, Robotics, Information Tech, and Nanotech). Always interested in meeting like minds and enjoying discussing technology. If you were to lead a session, what would it be about?Maybe talk about Drupal as a platform for communication. Maybe talk about the singularity. Not really sure, I'm not the best presenter. Tell us one random fact about yourself.I have my initials in binary code tattooed on my arm. Where can we find you?
What do I do?I am the sad little multi-media entity known as Mark Maynard. I have a blog that a small select group of unemployed and angry people seem to read. I'm active in progressive politics. Some friends and I started something call the Shadow Art Fair. I'm presently trying to get an outdoor, bike-powered film series started in Ypsilanti. I also paint, make comics, and publish a magazine called Crimewave USA. And, most importantly, I sell kick-ass Christmas cards Why am I going?I'm not a geek. I'm not a technologist by any stretch of the imagination. I am, however, interested in new business formation, and any number of other things that may sprout forth from an event such as this one... At the very least, I'll cover the event for the geekier readers of my site. I suspect, however, that I'll find a niche somewhere and contribute something. If I were to lead a session?I'd probably be most comfortable talking about community organizing via the web, blogging in general (from a non-technical, more content-side perspective), or this new outdoor, bike-powered film festival thing I'm trying to get off the ground. A random fact?I am much larger in life and closer to you than I appear on the screen. Where to find me?If someone wanted to find me in person, there best bet would be at the December 6 Shadow Art Fair
Who are you and what do you do?I'm Eli Neiburger, Associate Director for IT and Production at AADL. I'm responsible for the Library's Community Relations, Marketing, IT, and Production departments, including library events, aadl.org Why are you attending ArbCamp?I'm attending Arbcamp because we're a little disconnected from Ann Arbor's geek community here in our nonprofit world, and I'd like to get a better idea of what needs there are in the geek community that the Library could help meet. I'm also very interested in helping hacker culture hit critical mass in Ann Arbor and provide a foundation for truly geeky projects and events around the area. If you were to lead a session, what would it be about?I'd like to lead a session about geeks and the library if that's not too self-serving; also we've been doing a lot with Drupal here and I'm always interested in trading ideas with other Drupallers. I'm also interested in geekly informal education; I think that the whippersnappers of today don't have the same opportunities to get deep into hardware or programming the way that we children of the 70s and 80s did, and that there are some great opportunities to pull the geek community together and produce some awesome youth-oriented events that give kids a chance to see past the interface. Tell us one random fact about yourself.I aspire to form a Klezmer band that plays only covers of videogame music. Where can we find you?My personal blog is http://ulo.tricho.us
Who are you and what do you do?My name is Les Orchard, and I am a {web,mad,computer} Scientist working for the Mozilla Corporation Why are you attending ArbCamp?I'm attending ArbCamp because I lived out in the Bay Area for 2 years and really dug the handful of BarCamps If you were to lead a session, what would it be about?I'm not sure - I'd like to see what people are interested in. I can cover things such as social software sites like Twitter or Delicious (wrote a book Tell us one random fact about yourself.I really, really like Domokun. Where can we find you?I can be found on Twitter as http://twitter.com/lmorchard
Who are you and what do you do?My name is Patti Smith (TeacherPatti on the wide, wide world of web). I am a special education teacher of the visually impaired in Detroit Public Schools. I teach middle schoolers and I have the best job in the world. (I used to be an underpaid, unhappy legal aid lawyer...shudder). Why are you attending ArbCamp?2. I am attending ArbCamp because I am constantly trying to integrate technology into my classroom. Thanks to technology, my kiddos can do more than ever before. It's up to me to find it, learn to use it and then teach them how to be as successful as they possibly can be. If you were to lead a session, what would it be about?I'm too new at tech stuff to lead anything! I guess I could teach you all how to use JAWS (screen reader program). Tell us one random fact about yourself.I brew and drink copious amounts of beer. You can often find me at the Corner Brewery. Where can we find you?I am TeacherPatti
Who are you and what do you do?My name is Fred Posner and I am a VoIP/Network engineer. I have a small business (Team Forrest) that provides tech consulting work for a variety of companies. In the past, I've worked mostly for large VoIP carriers (such as VoIP.com), designing and implementing Internet phone service for more than 20,000 users. Lately, I'm trying to work more with small businesses where we can utilize open source software and provide effective communication while decreasing costs. Why are you attending ArbCamp?I moved to Ann Arbor from Florida just in time to catch the first snowfall. I'm excited to live in an area where geeks do not live in caves and only socialize virtually. I am attending to meet fellow geeks and learn, share, discuss. If you were to lead a session, what would it be about?VoIP isn't just telephony. It's presence — and designing VoIP systems to be an extension of your presence is my passion. With today's technology, integrating a voice or data device to sql, web, or any networkable item is key. VoIP can help bring the telephone into the digital age, whether through speech recognition, HD Voice, conferencing, call centers, or anything you can imagine. Tell us one random fact about yourself.I own my dream vehicle - a Harley Davidson Road King and ride it as much as possible. Where can we find you?http://www.voiptechchat.com
Who are you and what do you do?Hello fellow thinkers, tinkerers, and travelers. I am Brandon McNaughton and I am a Research Fellow and Translation Research Scholar at the University of Michigan. I research a new method for rapid medical diagnostics, using tiny spinning magnets. I have built and tested a lab prototype and am currently in the process of developing the next stage prototype device. Why are you attending ArbCamp?I am interested in meeting other people who want to do something creative and take their ideas to the next level. If you were to lead a session, what would it be about?I am always geeked out about "garage inventions" and crazy/new ideas. So, I would lead a session about anything related to these topics, such as interfacing gadgets to computers, rapid prototyping, or turning ideas into something physical that can be tested and/or thrown (if it does not work!). Tell us one random fact about yourself.I have been to 50 states, but feel like I need to go to more. Where can we find you?
Agenda
MinutesArbCamp will be what its participants make of it. Prior ArbCamp organizers had the intent of drawing a diverse crowd, which we should try to honor, but we're all geeks - Ed honestly has the best chance of doing this with 300+ a2b3 subscribers. Tangent: perhaps the original goal for ArbCamp would be better served as an a2b3 conference, timed with the Summer Fair, maybe with an application to AAACF for a community grant. Need to meet with previous organizers to explore. PR around the event needs to support this mission, but in an unconference, whoever shows up is what you have to work with. We will try to support this a bit by calling for attendee profiles to post that represent the diversity we're hoping for. We realize the partnership with SPARK may be as off-putting to some as the keynote speaker was for others last year, if this is to attract non-techies. Goals for the event:
Non-goals for the event:
Key OutcomesSpaceFour corners of the room, plus a small conference room, so 5 parallel tracks. Can make a field trip to SPARK to visit the space later and check on things. Schedule
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but now it's open again!
. My favorite area of software is social networking - anything that people can use to strengthen social connections and find things that interest them. In my spare time, I hang out around Ann Arbor and sometimes hack on one of my many side projects.
Dug Song
Zach Steindler
