[OSGeo-Conf] Re: [FOSS4G2007] Conference Topics

[Allan Doyle]

On Jan 30, 2007, at 18:45, Michael P. Gerlek wrote:

> Who do *I* want to attract?  In an ideal world, I would like to  
> hang out
> for a few days with the movers and shakers of
> cool/new/novel/impactful/exciting/paradigm-breaking projects that  
> are...
>
FOSS4G2007 - not to be confused with Where 2.0

> * in the geo realm, in the open source realm, and looking to push
> further
>
> * in the geo realm, aware of open source, but not yet using OS
> components
>
> * in the open source realm, but not yet spatially enabled and  
> looking to
> learn how

Which brings us back to (a) developers and (b) the meeting of the  
tribes.

>
> I'm not sure I could sit through another presentation on why "open
> source is a good thing" and how "geo is the next big thing".  I'd love
> to have a crowd who already have bought into both of those memes, and
> are looking for the "next steps".

I could see some benefit to an "outreach" thread that educates people  
about open source geo.

But that's not why most of the tribes show up. FOSS4G should be about  
sharing, coordination, and establishing/renewing relationships. That  
will extend the open source geo realm in useful ways.

>
> Or something like that.
>
> -mpg
>
>
>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: conference_dev-bounces at lists.osgeo.org
>> [mailto:conference_dev-bounces at lists.osgeo.org] On Behalf Of
>> Paul Ramsey
>> Sent: Tuesday, January 30, 2007 3:19 PM
>> To: Organizing for FOSS4G2007; conference_dev at lists.osgeo.org
>> Subject: [OSGeo-Conf] Re: [FOSS4G2007] Conference Topics
>>
>> Well, "who are we trying to attract" is a question that gets you
>> different answers from different people. As a "vendor", my answer is
>> "people with money".
>>
>> Given our starting point as a very developer-oriented
>> conference though,
>> the "OSCON model" seems like the best fit -- provide a
>> welcoming venue
>> for opinion-leading geeks, and leading-edge decision makers
>> will follow.
>>   I don't think we can make an event that appeals to the classic "IT
>> conservative" without removing many of the things that makes
>> the event
>> appealing to our existing core demographic.
>>
>> Start with yourself -- who do *you* want to attract?
>>
>> Jason Birch wrote:
>>> "All your base"?
>>>
>>> I guess the question is:  who are we trying to attract?
>>>
>>> There are several key points around open source software:
>>>
>>> - Large parts of geospatial are no longer differentiating
>> software.  We
>>> need to convince companies that they can get the same
>> business advantage
>>> at lower cost by going with open source software.
>>>
>>> - Open source geospatial is all about interoperability.  We
>> _know_ that,
>>> but it's not something that is sold enough.  Using open
>> source software
>>> gives you a direct benefit in increasing the agility and
>> transparency of
>>> your operations.
>>>
>>> - You can make money with open source (can't you Paul?)
>> It's hard, just
>>> like running a proprietary company is, but there are
>> several models out
>>> there for doing so.
>>>
>>> I'm sure that there are others.  How do we shape these important
>>> business-attracting factors into our message/themes?
>>>
>>> BTW, I'd cut the following sentence from the main page as a
>> first step:
>>> "No other event brings together members of the open source
>> development,
>>> open data creation, and open standards promotion
>> communities like FOSS4G
>>> -- it is truly a "meeting of the tribes". "  The developers know the
>>> value of this conference.  We need to sell it to the "others".
>>>
>>> Jason
>>>
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: foss4g2007-bounces at lists.refractions.net
>>> [mailto:foss4g2007-bounces at lists.refractions.net] On Behalf Of Paul
>>> Ramsey
>>> Sent: Tuesday, January 30, 2007 14:08
>>> To: Organizing for FOSS4G2007
>>> Subject: [FOSS4G2007] Conference Topics
>>>
>>>
>>> I talked briefly with a representative from a large
>> corporation I would
>>> like to have sponsor, and she asked me what the topics or
>> themes for the
>>> conference this year were, to which I had to reply "errrrr" and
>>> "hrmmmm".  She further honed her question by noting that
>> last year had
>>> seemed very "developer focused", which I find hard to disagree with.
>>>
>>> What would your one-sentence conference theme be?
>>>
>>> Mine would be:  "Get real."
>>>
>>
>>
>> -- 
>>
>>    Paul Ramsey
>>    Refractions Research
>>    http://www.refractions.net
>>    pramsey at refractions.net
>>    Phone: 250-383-3022
>>    Cell: 250-885-0632
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>>
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-- 
Allan Doyle
+1.781.433.2695
adoyle at eogeo.org