[OSGeo-Conf] Two parallel conferences proposal: OSGeo-tech andOSGeo-Biz

Thu Oct 2 18:41:02 EDT 2008

My two cents,

We should also have a THIRD stream, called 'Education'. Arnulf mentioned
it this afternoon. We are missing it!

ESRI, Intergraph and such do have special prices for Universities and so
on, because they know that people will tend to use them in their jobs (the
tools they know). So, if people is educated with foss4g tools, they with
be the ‘open source’ guys in their companies (like the one in the last
panel).

We should also consider the starting levels of education. In every level
of Geography teaching, foss4g tools should be used. And we should collect,
enhance and distribute (i.é. make available) these materials for teachers.
OSGeo-Edu is still in its infancy, but it can be used as the
multiplication factor for OSGeo. If we can get 10 teachers, they will get
200 users for us. If we can get 100.000 teachers... World Wind is
wonderful to start learning Geography.

Who else has another stream to add to Sidney? ;-)

Regards,

Jorge Rocha

> We did run a split stream for more business related activities at the
> event we ran in Ottawa and the next mapserver user meeting in
> Minnesota -- and I think it was a really good format. I'd encourage
> you to give it a try in Australia.
>
> Dave
>
> On 2-Oct-08, at 4:17 PM, Cameron Shorter wrote:
>
>> Markus, thanks for raising this question, I've found it quite
>> thought provoking.
>>
>> Echoing Paul and Dave's comments, geeks and managers have a
>> symbiotic relationship, and benefit greatly by being at the same
>> conference together. However, I can see a strong argument for having
>> separate technical and management streams within the same
>> conference. (I'm making mental note for 2009).
>>
>> I also like the idea of having regional mini-FOSS4G conferences, 6
>> months apart from the main FOSS4G. These mini events will probably
>> be better marketed a workshop. Again, I'm basing this on Paul's idea
>> about OSGeo workshops from while back).
>>
>> Dave McIlhagga wrote:
>>> Having put one of these on as well -- I'd have to agree with Paul
>>> on this one.
>>>
>>> Dave
>>>
>>>
>>> On 2-Oct-08, at 11:44 AM, Paul Ramsey wrote:
>>>
>>>> I don't really agree, though I hope we have a proper attendee survey
>>>> this year so we can bear out my general feeling (if not, 2009, I
>>>> *beg*
>>>> of you, a survey that asks job titles, number of reports, budgetary
>>>> responsibility, etc, if you like, I'll even write one with cheeky
>>>> good
>>>> humor to make the medicine go down easy).
>>>>
>>>> The idea that there is a market for an "OSGeo-Biz" separate from the
>>>> technical conference I find hard to entertain. Certainly, the *look*
>>>> of FOSS4G attendees indicates we skew heavily technical, even if
>>>> many
>>>> of the technical people are new to FOSS and are there to learn. For
>>>> those of you present in 2007, remember the show of hands for
>>>> Damian's
>>>> "who where is a geek?" question.
>>>>
>>>> The energy that makes FOSS4G to appealing to folks (and it is
>>>> universally mentioned by folks I talk to who have been to other
>>>> industry conferences) derives heavily from the geek presence.
>>>>
>>>> I think our presentation *tracks* could be better marked, probably
>>>> 2008 did better than we did (?) at separating business from
>>>> technical
>>>> content, so people get what they want when they go to a
>>>> presentation.
>>>>
>>>> But I don't see the demand for a "no technical stuff please, we're
>>>> all
>>>> just managers" conference, I really don't.
>>>>
>>>> P.
>>>>
>>>> On Thu, Oct 2, 2008 at 8:23 AM, Markus Neteler <neteler at osgeo.org>
>>>> wrote:
>>>>> We just enjoyed a great conference in South Africa...!
>>>>> It was great to meet all those being present there and some
>>>>> virtually - thanks for the hard work!
>>>>>
>>>>> <idea>
>>>>> Thinking about future conferences, after speaking to a couple
>>>>> of people, I wondered it the following proposal makes sense:
>>>>>
>>>>> Have two conferences in parallel, in different continents with
>>>>> - one being low cost, hacker oriented, maybe at a university,
>>>>> - one being more costly, business oriented, in a conference
>>>>> center.
>>>>>
>>>>> This may accommodate probably better the needs of these
>>>>> two groups. While I like the mixture, it probably no longer
>>>>> scales with growing number of participants.
>>>>>
>>>>> I know that a number of people would like to do more coding.
>>>>> They will be happy with pizza and such.
>>>>> Business and sponsors would be probably happy to see more
>>>>> customers passing by to actually create more OSGeo business
>>>>> cases.
>>>>>
>>>>> Having two conferences in parallel and moving these around the
>>>>> globe brings each of them "close" to you every second year.
>>>>> Additionally, OSGeo-Biz could more easily generate money
>>>>> for the local team and OSGeo (think cross financing, too, fly
>>>>> in good speakers and so forth).
>>>>> </idea>
>>>>>
>>>>> Well, just my private idea for 2010+ conferences,
>>>>>
>>>>> Markus
>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>> Conference_dev mailing list
>>>>> Conference_dev at lists.osgeo.org
>>>>> http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/conference_dev
>>>>>
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>>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Cameron Shorter
>> Geospatial Systems Architect
>> Tel: +61 (0)2 8570 5050
>> Mob: +61 (0)419 142 254
>>
>> Think Globally, Fix Locally
>> Geospatial Solutions enhanced with Open Standards and Open Source
>> http://www.lisasoft.com
>>
>
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