Apparently, another characteristic of weekend unconferences is that I’m unable to get to them on time. I also forgot my camera (brought the accessories, though) and had a hard time finding parking, so I was a little frazzled — I missed the agenda-setting and first session, so it took me a while to get settled in.

The event was held at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library (aka the DC Public Library), spread between the basement meeting rooms and some of the upstairs lobby rooms. I don’t think I’d ever actually been inside the library before. Access to power and wifi was good (except for one room); outside of some early temperature shifts and the occasional random passerby wandering through the upstairs lobby rooms, the space was fine.

The first session I attended (second of the day) was about developing gadgets for Google Wave, though also covered the essential question, “What the heck is Google Wave and what’s it good for?” (I got my invite and have used it, but admit I still have no good answer to the question.) A lot of attention has been focused on the real-time chat aspect (where you can others’ typing as it happens), though we were encouraged to not get distracted by that and look at Wave more as interconnected, embeddable, commentable document collaboration (with gadgets), without having to worry about servers and protocols, and that it will iterate and evolve according to how users actually use it.

The lunch session I sat in on sought to form organizing committee for a TEDx event in DC; TEDx essentially licenses the TED concept, bringing thought leaders across disciplines to speak (there had been a TEDx Mid Atlantic just this month that’d I’d managed to miss completely). TEDx is the kind of prestige event that I most likely wouldn’t be able to attend unless I was helping to organize it, and there’s no shortage of star power in DC, so it’ll be interesting to see what happens.

Post-lunch was a neat session looking at free, location-based mashup technologies (that broadened to look at other mashup technologies); I’ll just throw out a bunch of links mentioned including GeoNames, MaxMind, ip2location, GeoHash, OpenCalais, ProgrammableWeb, and my favorite, StupidFilter.

The next session I split between a discussion of computer-generated audio and video (I would characterize it as trying to build Anthem, the everything-to-music converter from Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency), and a wide-ranging discussion of generalist vs. specialist (which covered everything from the elevation of manual labor, work-life balance, networking and personal growth).

The final session was a pretty useful discussion on how to be a good freelancer; there was a lot of good, though sometimes contradictory info about how to talk to your employer about side gigs, corporate structure, the role of lawyers, accounting tips, managing clients, managing projects and scope creep, and billing.

Because of scheduling, the last session was abandoned (or rather, continued at the bar) — the happy hour included BarCamp participants, as well as the woman-oriented DC She’s Geeky (scheduled at the same time as BarCamp, it may account for the particularly male-heavy attendance there).

For more information, check out posts, photos, and tweets tagged “barcampdc3″ and “barcamp.”

For those of you not familiar with this type of event, BarCamp is an international network of user generated conferences — open, participatory workshop-events, whose content is provided by participants — often focusing on early-stage web applications, and related open source technologies, social protocols, and open data formats.

Here are some highlights from the day’s sessions:

Hackerspace

Hackerspace is a word that might conjour up thoughts of “The Matrix” but it is far from it. A new Hackerspace recently launched here in Baltimore and the founders were there to talk about the launch, decribe the concept and promote its growth. A Hackerspace is:

“A hackerspace or hackspace (from Hacker and Space) is a real (as opposed to virtual) place where people with common interests, usually in science, technology, or digital or electronic art can meet, socialize and collaborate.”

Source: Wikipedia

It seems like hanging out in the basement and talking about all this stuff with your closest friends has gone completely social. Very Cool. You can find more information on their wiki here and their web site here.

Future of Journalism

This was a great session lead by Dave Troy and discussed the current implosion of traditional newspapers and the movement to being completely online. Bottom Line? Even though everyone in the room thinks print is dead it won’t be dead for another 20-30 years because generationally many people are used to getting their news in a paper format and the online stuff is nice but they like getting their morning paper. My interjection had to do with two words – legacy and sentimentality, this will cause the newspapers to stay in hard copy format for some time to come. We will have this session at Barcamp probably at Barcamp Baltimore 2019.

Laser Focus on Business

Jared Goralnik, AKA Technotheory gave a great session on “Having a Laser Focus on Business”. His session was about

Lead Startups

Dave Troy gave this session which is based on the Eric Ries presentation on “Lean Startups” seen below on Slideshare:

Bottom Line of building a lean startup – Lean Startups can go faster using Rapid Development, Continuous Deployment, Split Testing and Root Cause Analysis. Click through the presentation and if you have speakers, the presentation has an audio track embeded.

Wrapping Up – Beer and Networking

The day wrapped up at the Brewer’s Art on Charles Street for some beer and some networking.

Interestingly enough, it was at the end of the Gay Pride Parade that day so it made for an interesting cap to the event. People continued their conversation and the networking went on well into the evening.

Thanks to Dave Troy and his team for putting on a great event which we were happy to sponsor. We are looking forward to the next Barcamp Baltimore as this is a region thriving with great ideas and innovators.

Photos Credit (billmill_events on Flickr)

BarCamp is an international network of user generated conferences — open, participatory workshop-events, whose content is provided by participants — often focusing on early-stage web applications, and related open source technologies, social protocols, and open data formats.

On Saturday, June 20, BarCamp is coming back to Baltimore.

The craziest one I have been to has to be the one going on during SXSW. That one is hardcore and AWESOME. Almost every Barcamp is cool and neat in its own way and Baltimore, my home town, should be no different. David Troy, a savvy entrepreneur, tech evangelist and great guy and is heading things up and it is being hosted at University of Baltimore, my alma mater, which seems to be the place to go for tech events in Baltimore.

It is a great venue with lots of space and rooms to collaborate, free wifi and above all easy to flow in and out of sessions making it a most enjoyable Barcamp event.

I want to interview you:

If you are going to Barcamp and have a great business/startup and want to get some coverage, please find me, Steve Fisher, over at the event. I will have the Flip Camera ready to go and my interviewing hat on.

To find out more

BarCamp Baltimore is free and open to the public, but RSVP is requested. In true Barcamp fashion, Dave has avoided the organized event signup sites and has a very simple Facebook events page. For more information, visit: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=81892091319

You can also follow the event on Twitter @barcampbmore

We love BarCamp events. BarCamp is an international network of user generated conferences — open, participatory workshop-events, whose content is provided by participants — often focusing on early-stage web applications, and related open source technologies, social protocols, and open data formats.

In December, BarCamp is coming to St. Louis.

BarCamp St. Louis will be held on Saturday, December 13 from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. at the City Museum, located at 701 North 15th St. in Downtown St. Louis, Mo.  The December event will mark the first BarCamp to be held in the St. Louis area. St. Louisians interested in the ever-evolving world of technology and social media will have the opportunity to soon learn and share knowledge locally.

We know Ryan Keeter who is helping to bring this to St. Louis. He says “The advantage of BarCamp setting is that anyone can present; participants are not only encouraged, but expected to share their knowledge through social interaction and group communication rather than formal, individual presentations”.  He goes on say, “While topics typically cover the technology and social media spectrum, the ‘un-conference’ format allows attendees to move the conversation.”

To find out more:

BarCamp St. Louis is free and open to the public, bur registration is requested. For more information, visit: http://www.barcamp.org/BarCampSTL. Interested sponsors are encouraged to contact BarCamp St. Louis Organizer Ryan Keeter at barcampstl@gmail.com.

What is a “BarCamp”?

BarCamp DC is an ad-hoc unconference and is part of the larger BarCamp movement. While there are topics suggested for discussion, there is no set agenda until everyone gathers. Attendees are required to participate to some degree: either by giving a presentation, demo, etc. or by facilitating a group discussion. Topics are flexible, as well.
BarCamp has a few rules, as outlined on the Rules of BarCamp page. In summary:

1st Rule: You do talk about Bar Camp.
2nd Rule: You do blog about Bar Camp.
3rd Rule: If you want to present, you must write your topic and name in a presentation slot.
4th Rule: Only three word intros.
5th Rule: As many presentations at a time as facilities allow for.
6th Rule: No pre-scheduled presentations, no tourists.
7th Rule: Presentations will go on as long as they have to or until they run into another presentation slot.
8th Rule: If this is your first time at BarCamp, you have to present. (Ok, you don’t really have to, but try to find someone to present with, or at least ask questions and be an interactive participant.)

Where is it going on?

Center for Digital Imaging Arts at Boston University 1055 Thomas Jefferson Street NW Washington, DC 20007 38.903762, -77.059765

What are they going to be discussing?

- Amazon Web Services & Google App Engine
- Application Scaling
- Backup+Restore
- Data Portability
- Getting Started
- Kids & Computers
- Marketing
- Mapping, Neogeography, Neocartography, GeoWeb
- Mobile Web – Android/iPhone/Web
- OpenID/OAuth
- Privacy
- Productivity
- Rails vs Django
- Semantic Web
- Social Media
- Typography
- Venture Capital/Investment
- Web Accessibility
- Web App Security
- Widgets

In the DC area this weekend and interested in Attending?

Simply register at http://barcampdc2.eventbrite.com/

Oh wait, it is sold out. Sorry about that. They do have a waiting list.

Can’t make it? Then follow along…

SocialDevCamp East is the Unconference for Thought Leaders of the Future Social Web.

Following up on the successful premiere of SocialDevCampEastSpring2008, held in Baltimore in May, SocialDevCamp East Fall 2008 once again invites east coast developers and technology business leaders to come together for a thoughtful discussion of the ideas and technologies that will drive the future of the social web.

Because of the central location, the event draws from Washington, Baltimore, Wilmington, Philadelphia, New York, and Boston — the emerging “Amtrak Corridor” technology scene.

Where is the social web going? It’s going mobile, to geocentric services, and to open platforms. Join a community of like minded developers, social media gurus and thought leaders for an unconference to discuss the future of the social web.

We’re looking for thought leaders from DC to Boston to meet, forge relationships, and envision the future.

SocialDevCamp East is convenient to the entire east coast corridor via Amtrak. Just travel to Baltimore’s Penn Station — University of Baltimore is two blocks south.

On Facebook

Feel free to use the Facebook event page to learn more and invite others!

On Twitter

Follow socialdevcamp to stay abreast of developments

On LinkedIn

Join SocialDevCamp East on LinkedIn if you’re a developer or business professional who wants to be part of the East Coast social media ecosystem.

Event details

When
November 1, 2008
8:30AM – 6PM
6PM-10PM party

We recommend you get there as early as possible to maximize your input into the session selection process; similarly, stay as late as you like, there will be an afterparty gathering a short walk down the street. If you are going to have trouble getting there by 8:30 (because of train schedules or whatever), show up when you can.

Where
University of Baltimore
Thumel Business Center Building (site #4)
Mt. Royal and Charles Streets
Baltimore, MD

Cost
Free.

Event details

For more information including the ever evolving agenda and attendee list check out the site here. Hope to see you there next month. Everyone tells me that it was a great event last year. I am sorry I missed it. I won’t this year.