BarCamp Canberra Blog » BarCampCanberra http://barcampcanberra.org/blog A BarCamp in the capital? Capital! Tue, 29 Apr 2008 11:29:59 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 en http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ Around the blogosphere http://barcampcanberra.org/blog/2008/04/21/around-the-blogosphere/ http://barcampcanberra.org/blog/2008/04/21/around-the-blogosphere/#comments Mon, 21 Apr 2008 11:47:59 +0000 Stephen Collins http://barcampcanberra.org/blog/2008/04/21/around-the-blogosphere/ There’s been a bit of blog activity by attendees. Here’s a summary that we’ll update as we see more:

If there’s something we’ve missed, let us know and we’ll be sure to add it.

]]> http://barcampcanberra.org/blog/2008/04/21/around-the-blogosphere/feed/ http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ BarCamp Canberra #1 wrap http://barcampcanberra.org/blog/2008/04/21/barcamp-canberra-1-wrap/ http://barcampcanberra.org/blog/2008/04/21/barcamp-canberra-1-wrap/#comments Mon, 21 Apr 2008 04:17:21 +0000 Stephen Collins http://barcampcanberra.org/blog/?p=19 Welcome to BarCamp Canberra!!!

I think I speak for all of the Unorganisers when I say that BarCamp Canberra #1 was an unqualified success! We couldn’t be happier with the turnout, the quality of the talks, the feedback we’ve received and the enthusiasm to hold another BarCamp here in 2009.

Here are a few stats from the day:

  • in excess of 60 attendees (that’s an amazing turnout for somewhere as small as Canberra)
  • over 30 presentations on topics including web typography, GTD, open source, design and language
  • 156 photos and counting
  • several enthusiastic blog posts already - Stephen Dann, Gavin Jackson, Ruth Ellison and Steven Hanley
  • 30+ t-shirts handed out (if you were in the first 40 registrations, you were entitled to a t-shirt on the day, and if you were in the 41-55 bracket, there’s a t-shirt coming for you - make sure you let me know if you missed out)
  • a bunch of people introduced to the power of Twitter
  • 16 pizzas eaten
  • many Chupa-Chups and Arnotts Shapes consumed
  • 72 600ml bottles of water drunk
  • 32 people for the dinner afterwards
  • just two pieces of lost property - an Asus Eee PC power brick and a Nokia N95 belt pouch (if you own either of these, email me)

Personally, it was an incredibly fulfilling experience and I’m looking forward to being involved next time. As Canberra’s a small town, we’re probably a one BarCamp a year place. In the meantime, I’ll definitely be at any Australian BarCamp I can get to.

]]> http://barcampcanberra.org/blog/2008/04/21/barcamp-canberra-1-wrap/feed/ http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ It’s on for 19 April 2008! http://barcampcanberra.org/blog/2008/03/20/its-on-for-19-april-2008/ http://barcampcanberra.org/blog/2008/03/20/its-on-for-19-april-2008/#comments Thu, 20 Mar 2008 01:18:37 +0000 AndrewBoyd http://barcampcanberra.org/blog/2008/03/20/its-on-for-19-april-2008/ BarCampCanberra is a gathering of creative tech brains for learning, sharing and collaboration.
For the Canberra BarCamp we’re totally open to topics beyond technology to include entertainment, art, marketing, other technologies and content such as podcasts and so on. Ideally, whatever you talk about will have some form of technical or geek-friendly angle.

Details

  • Who? Anyone who is interested in technology, the Internet and related topics. We have room for 60ish people, so bring your colleagues.
  • What? A good opportunity to share ideas and projects and to work with like-minded individuals.
  • When? 1000-1700 on Saturday 19 April 2008
  • Where? BarCampCanberra will be held at the CSIT Building, North Road, ANU.
  • Website? The blog is the place. We’ll be posting updated information about the event there.

Signup and RSVP

Attendance is free. Please register for our April 2008 event here so we can make sure there’s enough space. Everyone is encouraged to present, so when you RSVP, include what you might like to talk about.

Sponsors

If you would like to sponsor BarCampCanberra, please add your name and contact details, or email Stephen Collins. All we ask is $200-$1000 from each sponsor. Of course, you can put up a sign and get yourself mentioned on the day if you contribute.

The April BarCampCanberra is sponsored by:

Sponsor URL Sponsorship
acidlabs http://www.acidlabs.org/ Part-sponsorship of t-shirts, door prize
Web Directions http://webdirections.org/ Pizza lunch, door prize

Session Structure

Whatever structure the session needs to be in is the right structure. However, here are some ideas:

  • Panel
  • Presentation
  • Goldfish Bowl
  • Soap box - Just stand on a box and spout your wisdom.
  • Half-Geeked - Half-Baked, but tech focused.
  • Demo new stuff
  • Debates
  • Anything goes…

Watch this space for updates :)

]]> http://barcampcanberra.org/blog/2008/03/20/its-on-for-19-april-2008/feed/ http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ It’s getting closer http://barcampcanberra.org/blog/2007/05/27/its-getting-closer/ http://barcampcanberra.org/blog/2007/05/27/its-getting-closer/#comments Sun, 27 May 2007 05:27:30 +0000 facibus http://barcampcanberra.org/blog/2007/05/27/its-getting-closer/ At last, we may have a venue. Stay tuned.

]]> http://barcampcanberra.org/blog/2007/05/27/its-getting-closer/feed/ http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ Postponement http://barcampcanberra.org/blog/2007/02/27/postponement/ http://barcampcanberra.org/blog/2007/02/27/postponement/#comments Tue, 27 Feb 2007 06:52:27 +0000 facibus http://barcampcanberra.org/blog/2007/02/27/postponement/ Following is an email sent to the barcampaustralia mailing list a couple of minutes ago:

Folks,
It is with heavy heart (but with a sigh of relief) that I announce the postponement of BarCampCanberra. With no confirmed venue (long story) we’ve decided to postpone until April - most likely the week after Easter (which will make it 14-15 April), TBC, we are hoping to still coincide with some of the other BarCamps happening around the world - I note that there is at least one other Camp on that weekend (in Italy).
As time allows over the next little while we’ll update the blog, barcamp.org wiki, and other mailing lists. All going well we’ll have a venue confirmed within the next week or so.
The good news is… some of us will now be coming to Sydney :) If there are any other Canberrans on this list that are going to Sydney and are interested in carpooling, please get in touch with me.
Best regards, Andrew Boyd

So we’re postponing. It is not the end of the world, but it is disappointing. Stay tuned for more news.

]]> http://barcampcanberra.org/blog/2007/02/27/postponement/feed/ http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ Speaking of graphics… http://barcampcanberra.org/blog/2007/01/10/speaking-of-graphics/ http://barcampcanberra.org/blog/2007/01/10/speaking-of-graphics/#comments Tue, 09 Jan 2007 22:32:30 +0000 facibus http://barcampcanberra.org/blog/2007/01/10/speaking-of-graphics/ here is the digital swag set (zipped set of PSD files, 408kb) from Steve Collins.

Steve has agreed to re-use under the BarCampLicense.

I’ll put some PNG versions up here and on http://barcamp.org/BarCampAustralia shortly.

Cheers, Andrew

]]> http://barcampcanberra.org/blog/2007/01/10/speaking-of-graphics/feed/ http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ Artwork and t-shirts http://barcampcanberra.org/blog/2007/01/09/artwork-and-tshirts/ http://barcampcanberra.org/blog/2007/01/09/artwork-and-tshirts/#comments Tue, 09 Jan 2007 11:25:05 +0000 facibus http://barcampcanberra.org/blog/2007/01/09/artwork-and-tshirts/ Steve Collins, one of the unorganisers, has put some artwork together and modelled it on some t-shirts at CafePress.

The current plan is to get sponsorship for the first 30 t-shirts and order them soon, and latecomers/those that prefer hoodies/odd sizes can order their own.

We’re hoping to have the artwork and t-shirt order details available shortly. If you are organising a BarCampAustralia event and want to leverage off Steve’s graphics work, contact him at trib AT acidlabs DOT org.

]]> http://barcampcanberra.org/blog/2007/01/09/artwork-and-tshirts/feed/ http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ Unconferences and Organiser Lite (TM) http://barcampcanberra.org/blog/2007/01/08/unconferences-and-organiser-lite-tm/ http://barcampcanberra.org/blog/2007/01/08/unconferences-and-organiser-lite-tm/#comments Mon, 08 Jan 2007 04:23:09 +0000 facibus http://barcampcanberra.org/blog/2007/01/08/unconferences-and-organiser-lite-tm/ YMMV, but I interpret the unconference concept as Organiser Lite… that is, the organisers aren’t really organisers in a traditional sense, more that they organise the sandbox for the unconference to self-organise within. If I have this wrong, tell me :)

So what sort of sandbox does BarCampCanberra 07 need? My guess is, at a minimum:

  • a venue;
  • a mailing list; and
  • a site/blog.

After that, it is butcher’s paper timeslots in every corner of the room and devil take the hindmost :)

For the people that have emerged as Organisers Lite so far (Steve, Donna and myself), we also like the idea of tshirts.

The venue would ideally be:

  • central,
  • have secure-ish overnight parking,
  • be incredibly bandwidth friendly,
  • have a range of food nearby, and
  • ungeekily contain showers.

If anyone has venue suggestions email me at aboyd AT smsmt DOT com or comment here.

Cheers, Andrew

]]> http://barcampcanberra.org/blog/2007/01/08/unconferences-and-organiser-lite-tm/feed/ http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ So what is a BarCamp anyway? http://barcampcanberra.org/blog/2007/01/08/so-what-is-a-barcamp-anyway/ http://barcampcanberra.org/blog/2007/01/08/so-what-is-a-barcamp-anyway/#comments Mon, 08 Jan 2007 04:03:04 +0000 facibus http://barcampcanberra.org/blog/2007/01/08/so-what-is-a-barcamp-anyway/ Good question. I’ve never been to a BarCamp but I’ve read of them - and with all the buzz about, they must be cool! :)

According to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BarCamp:

BarCamp is an international network of unconferences — open, participatory workshop-events, whose content is provided by participants — focusing on early-stage web applications, and related open source technologies and social protocols. The name is a playful allusion to its origins, with reference to the hacker slang term, foobar: BarCamp arose as a spin-off and response to Foo Camp, an annual invitation-only unconference hosted by open source publishing luminary, Tim O’Reilly.

BarCamps are organized (and evangelized) largely through the web, harnessing what might be called a Web 2.0 communications toolkit. By “open-sourcing” the organizational process of a Foo Camp unconference, that is, codifying it in a wiki and making that publicly available, BarCamp seems to have struck a chord. It has since been implemented in 31 cities around the world and is serving as a reference for unconferences in other fields. The involvement of key figures in the web development community, such as Tantek Çelik and Ross Mayfield, no doubt has helped its adoption.

The procedural framework of BarCamp is similar to Open Space methodology for organizing meetings, but looser. It consists of sessions proposed and scheduled each day by attendees, mostly on-site, typically using white boards or paper taped to the wall. While loosely structured, there are rules. All attendees are encouraged to present or facilitate a session. Everyone is also asked to share information and experiences of the event, both live and after the fact, via public web channels including (but not limited to) blogging, photo sharing, social bookmarking, wiki-ing, and IRC.

Anyone can initiate a BarCamp, using the BarCamp wiki. Attendance is monetarily free and generally restricted only by space constraints. Participants are asked, though, to sign up in advance. Venues typically provide basic services. Free network access, usually WiFi, is crucial. Following the model of Foo Camp, the venue also makes space for the attendees, a.k.a. BarCampers, to literally camp out overnight.

Thus, BarCamps rely on securing sponsorship, ranging from the venue and network access to beverages and food.

The first BarCamp was held in Palo Alto, California, from August 19-21, 2005, in the offices of Socialtext. It was organized in less than a week’s time, from concept to event, with 200 attendees. Since then, BarCamps have been held across North America, South America, Europe and Asia — from Boston to Bangalore. To mark the one-year anniversary of BarCamp, BarCampEarth was held in multiple locations world wide on August 25-27, 2006.

]]> http://barcampcanberra.org/blog/2007/01/08/so-what-is-a-barcamp-anyway/feed/ http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ Invitation to co-organise http://barcampcanberra.org/blog/2006/12/22/invitation-to-co-organise/ http://barcampcanberra.org/blog/2006/12/22/invitation-to-co-organise/#comments Thu, 21 Dec 2006 22:18:52 +0000 facibus http://barcampcanberra.org/blog/2006/12/22/invitation-to-co-organise/ Invitations have been sent out to representatives of a few organisations to co-organise BarCampCanberra 2007.

They include:

  • Canberra Linux User Group
  • Web Standards Group
  • port80

We’ll keep pushing gently.

]]> http://barcampcanberra.org/blog/2006/12/22/invitation-to-co-organise/feed/ http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/