[OSGeo-Conf] Re: [FOSS4G2007] Conference Topics
Michael P. Gerlek
mpg at lizardtech.com
Tue Jan 30 18:45:36 EST 2007
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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