Session Topics

[Burt]

We can use this discussion thread for ideas on session topics. One idea I had was to have a session on Second Life. I am interested in who is doing what with SL and who is creating environments.

[Joe Philipson]

I can do one on photography or aperture.

[L.P. "NEENZ" FALEAFINE]

You know I have Alltop covered!

I'd also liked to suggest Live Streaming :)

[judi clark]

Would a session on collaborative cloud computing be of interest? (using online services like Google Docs or Zoho, this topic also covers MU blogs)

[Burt]

judi clark said:

Would a session on collaborative cloud computing be of interest? (using online services like Google Docs or Zoho, this topic also covers MU blogs)

I would be interested in cloud computing but just wonder if the focus would be on "how to" or examples of cloud computing? For the most part people will use those services like Google Doc but do they care whether it is cloud computing or not? What are your thoughts on how the conversation would go?

[judi clark]

Good question Burt.

If the session were really about cloud computing, then it might best be something like a survey of the many services in this space. This might include collaborative office suites like Google Docs and Zoho, multi-user blogging software and wikis, but also server and shared computational space like peer-to-peer (BitTorrent), Amazon and Microsoft services and storage space, and others. This subject really doesn't lend itself to a "how to" approach as well as something like a show-n-tell (examples of popular sites running on each service). There's really a lot in this space. See, for example, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloud_computing. The downside: we'd probably need to be extremely selective about which things to include. It can get overwhelming and irrelevant. The upside: people may have heard of some of these terms but not have an understanding or context for what they're about. This kind of session would help explain.

However, it might be more helpful (as you point out) to have the session more focused on how to do something more specific, like working on office docs collaboratively. This session could be limited to comparing/contrasting Google Docs and Zoho, or using GDocs/Zoho compared to a wiki or blog. Much more strategic and practical. This session would need to include a brief discussion on why use network-based resources (as opposed to, say, turning on track changes in MSWord then send a document to all team members -- who has the latest version? What if two or three people make changes at the same time?)

Another alternative: just show off Zoho and all the crazy stuff it does?

I guess this begs the question: who comes to Unconferenz and what might they like to learn?

[Burt]

To answer your question about who comes to this Unconferenz, it is geared toward people who want to learn something, bounce around ideas or collaborate. It is less about the person new to Twitter, as an example, and more about the person who wants to know how to use twitter in a business environment.

For the subject about cloud computing, it is less about cloud computing and more about using these tools on the web for collaboration. What benefits do these shared applications have to foster group projects? Its use is new to corporate users since they are so used to working on their own docs or spreadsheets. But they are becoming more aware of it. A session on best use of collaborative software would be interesting.

judi clark said:

Good question Burt.

If the session were really about cloud computing, then it might best be something like a survey of the many services in this space. This might include collaborative office suites like Google Docs and Zoho, multi-user blogging software and wikis, but also server and shared computational space like peer-to-peer (BitTorrent), Amazon and Microsoft services and storage space, and others. This subject really doesn't lend itself to a "how to" approach as well as something like a show-n-tell (examples of popular sites running on each service). There's really a lot in this space. See, for example, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloud_computing. The downside: we'd probably need to be extremely selective about which things to include. It can get overwhelming and irrelevant. The upside: people may have heard of some of these terms but not have an understanding or context for what they're about. This kind of session would help explain.

However, it might be more helpful (as you point out) to have the session more focused on how to do something more specific, like working on office docs collaboratively. This session could be limited to comparing/contrasting Google Docs and Zoho, or using GDocs/Zoho compared to a wiki or blog. Much more strategic and practical. This session would need to include a brief discussion on why use network-based resources (as opposed to, say, turning on track changes in MSWord then send a document to all team members -- who has the latest version? What if two or three people make changes at the same time?)

Another alternative: just show off Zoho and all the crazy stuff it does?

I guess this begs the question: who comes to Unconferenz and what might they like to learn?

[Burt]

Yes, I like the live streaming "how to" session. I love the way you have two camera feeds going.

L.P. "NEENZ" FALEAFINE said:

You know I have Alltop covered!

I'd also liked to suggest Live Streaming :)

[Burt]

Here's an interesting article in GigaOm about cloud computing: http://gigaom.com/2008/11/04/salesforcecoms-clouded-dreams/

Burt said:

To answer your question about who comes to this Unconferenz, it is geared toward people who want to learn something, bounce around ideas or collaborate. It is less about the person new to Twitter, as an example, and more about the person who wants to know how to use twitter in a business environment.

For the subject about cloud computing, it is less about cloud computing and more about using these tools on the web for collaboration. What benefits do these shared applications have to foster group projects? Its use is new to corporate users since they are so used to working on their own docs or spreadsheets. But they are becoming more aware of it. A session on best use of collaborative software would be interesting.

judi clark said:

Good question Burt.

If the session were really about cloud computing, then it might best be something like a survey of the many services in this space. This might include collaborative office suites like Google Docs and Zoho, multi-user blogging software and wikis, but also server and shared computational space like peer-to-peer (BitTorrent), Amazon and Microsoft services and storage space, and others. This subject really doesn't lend itself to a "how to" approach as well as something like a show-n-tell (examples of popular sites running on each service). There's really a lot in this space. See, for example, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloud_computing. The downside: we'd probably need to be extremely selective about which things to include. It can get overwhelming and irrelevant. The upside: people may have heard of some of these terms but not have an understanding or context for what they're about. This kind of session would help explain.

However, it might be more helpful (as you point out) to have the session more focused on how to do something more specific, like working on office docs collaboratively. This session could be limited to comparing/contrasting Google Docs and Zoho, or using GDocs/Zoho compared to a wiki or blog. Much more strategic and practical. This session would need to include a brief discussion on why use network-based resources (as opposed to, say, turning on track changes in MSWord then send a document to all team members -- who has the latest version? What if two or three people make changes at the same time?)

Another alternative: just show off Zoho and all the crazy stuff it does?

I guess this begs the question: who comes to Unconferenz and what might they like to learn?

[Mary Therese Perez Hattori]

Would the SL session focus on specific uses, e.g., how private sector companies are using it, how schools are using it, or general intro to it, or all of the above? I wonder if a session with folks actively working in SL might be good - to discuss possible partnerships or resource-sharing among local users. Lots of possibilities, but since I'm an unconferenz virgin, I'm not sure what the audience would benefit from most.

[Mary Therese Perez Hattori]

How about a session on The Pulse SmartPen? It has many applications in business and in education and is among Popular Science's Best of What's New 2008. We could round up a handful to bring so participants can experience them and show off some pencasts which are online.

[Burt]

Mary Therese Perez Hattori said:

Would the SL session focus on specific uses, e.g., how private sector companies are using it, how schools are using it, or general intro to it, or all of the above? I wonder if a session with folks actively working in SL might be good - to discuss possible partnerships or resource-sharing among local users. Lots of possibilities, but since I'm an unconferenz virgin, I'm not sure what the audience would benefit from most.

Yes, that is exactly would I would like to see in a SL session at the Unconferenz. It would be great to have people find out what others are doing and for partnerships or collaborate as a result. I think this would be a popular session.

[Mary Therese Perez Hattori]

What about project management tools like MS Project and Mindjet.com's MindManager? The latter is an alternative to MS Project, affordable, and there are lots of templates for business professionals. Much easier to use than the former, but not as entrenched in the private sector.