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

[Michael P. Gerlek]

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...

* 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

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".

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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