heathervescent

The Problem with Paradigm Shifts

Back in 1999, I worked for a small San Francisco start-up. They were primarily a tech group building productivity applications using a new combination of technologies: JavaScript and HTML, which we called DHTML. (Most people know this technology combination as AJAX today.) To this day, I have never worked with software engineers as good as this crew. They are hands down my favorite dev team.

But back in 1999, DHTML was new. No one was using it. 

I had the opportunity to usability test our first product and prototypes: a web-based presentation and a word processing application. Basically PowerPoint and Word for the web. I'm talking about creating, editing ppts and word docs in a browser. Netscape 4 browser. A whole new paradigm. My testers understood the concepts quickly and loved the ease of use. Many got how paradigm shifting this was and loved the idea. The company planned to build an entire suite of productivity applications using this technology.

But then, we got acquired. (Well, it wasn't so simple as that.) And next thing I knew, I was down in Mountain View presenting the technology to large internal groups. My role shifted and in the next year, I must have presented this technology (thanks to the amazing dev team) to over 30 groups inside AOL. Many groups immediately saw the user benefits - stuff that you and I take for granted today. Pop-ups, mouse-over dynamic windows, i-frames, divs. 

Inevitable, the question would be asked about metrics. Back then, all metrics were page refresh based. Ads were displayed based on each page refresh. So if there was no page refresh (because we no longer had to refresh the page each time a user did something) that decreased the number of page views, which decreased the number of ads that could be served. Sure, we'd show that people stayed for minutes on a page, instead of leaving immediately, but even this metric was too new a concept.

Our new technology could not be "successful" in the terms of the old paradigm. Sure, we'd make the application more interactive, user friendly, basically have the user stay in the property using the application a LOT longer and increase usage, but.... it didn't show an increase in metrics that defined success at the time.

And that's because, the new paradigm was not "successful" by the metrics of the old paradigm. The mental mindset had to shift. The definition of success had to shift. And it took 4+ year before that happened.

The success metrics of the current paradigm stifled the adoption of the new paradigm. 

And that's just one challenge when you're working with/creating paradigm shifts.

Hands and Eyes, My Critical Interface

People talk a lot about user interfaces, designing good interfaces, testing interfaces. I've had my own share of user interface discussions during my career (having done usability testing, product management and reading Jakob Nielson since 1996). Despite the focus on software interfaces, the most important interface is not on a screen, it's the keyboard.

As a creator with words, the keyboard is my one-way input device. It is the human-computer interface where the electrical signals in my head turn into the electrical signals in the computer. The software of language is used in my brain - as well as mimicked in the computer.

Touchpads are on almost every devices today. My laptop has had them for, I don't know, 10+ years, and I've always ignored or disabled them. I tried to switch to a Mac 5 years ago, but the crummy keyboard and forced touchpad sent me running back to my ThinkPad. And here I will state my opinion: the ThinkPad has the best keyboard/human interface hands down.

Before I switched to ThinkPads exclusively, I the keyboards and mouse interfaces physically debilitated my body. I ended up with a problem in my right shoulder, arm and fingers. I went to 10 or 15 different doctors, physical therapists, massage therapists, acupuncturists, chiropractor, etc. Finally, someone was able to make it go away. My point is that the keyboard interface was really bad. The tool maimed the user. I wasn't about to stop typing, so I went on a mission to find a good interface. 

This is when I found the ThinkPad. From the moment I put my fingers on the keyboard, I felt like they were sliding into a moist, slick, organic interface. It's something about the shape of the keys, the response of the them. IBM (the original owners of ThinkPad) were known for making excellent keyboards - and it shows.  The red button (which is my mouse) is navigated by by right pointer finger - as an extension of my finger on the screen. When I put my finger on that red button, it becomes the mouse on the screen. My (finger) self becomes the cursor on the screen.

Recently the boyf surprised me with a new ThinkPad. I was ready to upgrade from my T61 and had been watching the new ThinkPad models. The T420s showed up one morning with a major improvement: a nubby touchpad. 

From the moment I saw this improvement, I knew why I hated touchpads of the past, and why this one was very different. The problem with touchpads (and smooth as glass interfaces) is there is no feedback. Smooth as glass is a one way input device. It can not respond to you like a key popping back to an unpressed state. 

But the feedback from nubby touchpad? As your finger moves around, you know where you are on the flat space. On a smooth surface, there is no context. The nubby touchpad reminded me of a research report I read several (10?) years ago, that reported that men prefer a smooth surface to touch perhaps because women's skin is smooth; while women preferred a rougher surface, maybe because men's skin is rougher. 

I always watched the user interface for gadget device manufacturers with this in mind. I certainly prefer a rougher surface, in my mind to recieve feedback of my input. I recently switched to an android touchscreen phone from my Blackberry. I must admit the smooth touch screen is very disconcerting. I don't like my finger slipping and sliding all over the glass. And I hate typing hunt and peck with my pointer finger. I learned to touch type 20 years ago.

Perhaps I'm showing my age with my preference to well made keyboards and interface mechanisms that give you feedback. I do know, that a well made keyboard interface can be a pleasure to interact with - and for me, there's no more important interface that quickly allows me to transmit the electronic signals in my brain, to the electric signals in the machine - for easy replication so that you can receive these same electrical signals in your brain, via computer-human interfaces.

Tracking Vectors

An astute observation about launching innovative technology from last month's NYTimes article on the ipad. When launching a product, innovative technology or novel concept, timing isn't everything; but it can be the difference between you personally having success with that technology - and someone else with different (later) timing. Its one of the things that feels so unfair in new technology: that the earliest adopters, the earliest users, evangelists and sometimes even the original creators & inventors do not get the monetary or fame that goes along with the breaking innovation.

Timing is essential to make such big steps ahead. Carver Mead, a leading computer scientist at the California Institute of Technology, once said, “Listen to the technology; find out what it’s telling you.”

Mr. Jobs is undeniably a gifted marketer and showman, but he is also a skilled listener to the technology. He calls this “tracking vectors in technology over time,” to judge when an intriguing innovation is ready for the marketplace. Technical progress, affordable pricing and consumer demand all must jell to produce a blockbuster product.

This is something I have watched happen many times, and it is a well known phenomenon in some VC funding and technology circles. It's the difference between financial success (and the ability to fund later innovative ventures) and (for me) feelings of failing the technology. (In the end though, the technology will make it to the mainstream, through a meandering and strange path, possibly obscure.)

As I work on my Masters in Technology/Future Forecasting, these trends are something I am watching like a hawk. I want to understand and predict/forecast when society is primed and the time is right for launching these technologies. I know these answers in my gut, but gut is not empirical evidence.

Suicide Girls Radio

I'm spending a little studio time with the Suicide Girls Radio team tonight and joining them on their show about Social Media and the Internet Premier of We Live In Public (you might remember this as one of the films I was obsessed with last year).

I'm bringing some of my favorite mash-ups to play along with my radio wit and social media delight.

Be sure to tune in on Indie 103 Internet Radio! And if you missed it, grab the podcast here!

ROFLConing

Carmen and I are busting it up at ROFLcon in Cambridge. Tomorrow we'll be shooting some video for a high profile video blog. If you're around come by and say hi!

Purple Tornado Sponsors ROFLcon

I like to put my money where my mouth is and support things I think need to happen - ROFLcon is one of those things, so threw down some of my cold hard earned cash (from PT, my company) to help make it happen.

Anyway, here’s another triumphant and relevant coup for ROFLCon - Purple Tornado, a great marketing company in LA, is helping us out for realz! They focus haaardcore on internet marketing and have a real solid understanding of the potential for new media advertising and PR. They’re also just cool people, and will be coming to the ‘Bridge to schmooze and mingle with all y’all in April. Just six weeks to go. Yeah seriously. We’re so stoked, and you should be too. Link.

Maybe see some of you there.

Why I will never switch to a mac

First - I think the whole "think different" marketing campaign is just that - marketing and I can't stomach the hype. I'm a contrarian at heart, and so I think differently and use a Thinkpad.

Second - It's all about the keyboard.

In interface to my computer through the keyboard. There is no keyboard I love more than the Thinkpad keypad with red mouse button. (I also HATE touchpads!) My index finger on the red button and I am at home.

Third - no right click.

A could years ago I decide to get over my anti-mac attitude and try on. So I went out and bought the black macbook. I got some software and started getting to it. Within an hour I was *YEOUCH* - what is with this horrible keyboard? Square keys with horrible pop-up ness. Required to use the hated touch pad when I wanted to mouse. And where the f*ck is the right click button. WTF? So you have a shortcut menu but you require me to figure out the ctrl, alt, apple, ???? button plus that hated touchpad button? What is the point of optimizing.

And then I realized - macs are slow. S-L-O-W. Sure they boot up fast, but it takes me forever to do something on it. I could only get about 30% of the stuff I do done if I only used the Mac. Mostly because they hide the right click and they require that I used the hated touchpad which is slow slow slow! And I can't type as fast on the Mac because the keyboard is not ergonomic. Square keys? And what's up with this square outchiness totally horribly designed unless I want to slit my wrists slowly back edge?

I thought that I just needed to use it and get used to it - optimize myself and be more open minded. But screw that. I've had it for a year and half and my opinion has not changed. I use the mac as a glorified CD player - and I don't even like iTunes. Even the built in video camera sucks.

What was this hype about Macs never crashing? I have managed to freeze/crash the mac more times each month than my Thinkpad in 4 years!

Sorry apple - you do not have my eye. Maybe if you were named grapefruit I would like you better.

Thoughts and Harrison Owen

Good Monday Morning Blog! Well, that was quite an awesome weekend. Roadtripping with friends and playing in my old hood - Oaktown Bootieville and Berzerkely. Lots of good conversations and connections with friends.

This morning however, I want to point you to an interview with Harrison Owen - the creator of Open Space Technology. I'm actually heading back to San Francisco on Wednesday to get official training in Open Space Technology Facilitation. I first heard about OST from Mary Hodder. I was telling her about my barcamp organization experiences and she told me to check out Open Space. When she first described it, I couldn't tell the difference between what I used for Barcamp and what she described as Open Space. It was only until I experienced it, could I see the sublime difference.

I first experienced OST at the Internet Identity Workshop earlier this year and I was blown away. It was at the same time more structured and more open than "barcamp". I'm not sure how to describe the difference, perhaps by the end of the week, I will.

Friendship Bracelets are so the next wave

This is just too freaking good. Thanks Rosie for the lots of fun.

Vote for my SXSW Panel

OK, so it's not really my panel. Ian Muir put it together, but he asked me to be on it and talk about the kicking ass geek dinners and what's worked to create the LA tech community. I think we have an awesome community here and I'd love to share what's worked for us to help others create vibrate tech communities outside of "the valley."

Description:
BarCamps, Geek Dinners and other events are changing the face of the web community. Rather than relying on blogs and forums, these events provide communities with an opportunity to share and learn in person. The panel will be provided by several BarCamp organizers and will focus on the organization process and the effect on the community afterwards.

If you like the idea show the love with your vote.

Truth in Usability Results

This weeks UseIt post is interesting. It's filled with interesting usability insights as always, but there's a moral component.

I've [Jakob Nielson] been reluctant to discuss one of the findings from our eyetracking research because the conclusion is that unethical design pays off.

....

A specific ad may or may not be ethical, depending on how closely it masquerades as content. I caution against going too far, because it can backfire and mislead users. Unethical ads will get you more fixations, but ethical business practices will attract more loyal customers in the long run.

Now the truth is out. As far as I'm concerned, speaking the truth is my highest ethical calling, and it's better that the facts be known to everyone than that they remain a secret abused by a few.

Ultimately, the fact that online ads get viewed more when they match surrounding content is a strike against the tendency to build advertising networks. If advertising spots are simply auctioned off, then you can't design an optimized ad for each placement.

Very interesting. Going after ad networks while supporting contextual ad placement. Sounds a lot like Google to me... Read the article.

Aug Geek Dinner 2morrow

Whoo-hoo. It looks like another awesome geek dinner is gonna happen tomorrow night. 69 people have RSVPed. Check it out - geek dinner is one of the top events on upcoming in LA for tomorrow. geeks <3 LA!

I'm gonna bring a box or two of swag and we have an anonymous sponsor for the Tiramisu! See you there!

ps. Barcamp LA 4 is also rocking it. Go Barcamp LA!

Updated: A pickle, a camera crew, an orange wig and Bono

It might not seem that a pickle, a camera crew, an orange wig and Bono have much in common, but if you think that, then you weren't at Twiistup 2 in Venice last week. As host of the evening I swapped my purple locks with a bright orange bob straight off Hollywood Blvd!

I've always been a bit camera shy. Sure I'll mug for the lens, but I prefer to be behind the scenes, making things work. Well, that got twiisted up Twiistup night when I roamed around the club with a camera crew in tow. Then I was pulled off for my "interviews". I tried hard to keep a straight face when I heard "we're ready for your interview, heather" and sat down and did my thing.

All in all it was a great evening. I saw tons of friends, learned about awesome companies, even came up with a new tag line for Elephant Drive "back those assets up!" Because of my visibility I was able to pimp my vision of organizing the LA Tech community that plays on a local, industry, national and global level. We've got a long way to go, but we're making fast progress and we have some awesome organizers here in our city of Angels.

Later in the evening Bono 2.0 appeared with a drink for me. He then proceeded to teach me how to head butt the camera. I must admit, I was not a very good student. For one thing, I'm not used to using my head as a weapon. The photos are being uploaded to flickr and it's just a matter of time before the videos surface on YouTube.

If you missed out on the fun, I've got some insane ideas for Twiistup3 in LA - happening in blustery LA wintertime. ;) See you there, or at the geek dinner or at barcamp or at . . .

Updated: See NoodleScar's Video Review of Twiistup and learn about my new stealth start-up making pockets for towels! Sponsored by the awesome Ruby on Rails Development Company ELC Tech in Santa Barbara!

LA Geek Dinner close to being sold out - 3 more spots

Wow - the geek dinner is almost sold out. RSVP on Upcoming if you haven't already.

See you at Twiistup

It's time again for some craziness. Take technology peeps and mix them in LA and what do you get? Twiistup. Put a "tornado" in the special code box to knock off $5. See you there.

Wiijing! A Music+Game Mashup = Mashups!

This is totally HOT!!!! It's a Wii being used to live mash up a mashup! And it's at Bootie LA this Saturday night! Check out the video and if you are not impressed, well then, I don't know what to say.

and here a clip of them live in SF:

It's taking interactive music mixing to a whole new level. I might just have to come back from Stunt Car School  to shake mah bootie. More info on Wiijing here and Bootie LA here.

CommunityBuildrs Recap

I missed this meeting (there are tech meetings happening ALL the time now!!!) but Kirk wrote up a great recap and they're meeting again soon.

First and foremost I want to thank everyone who attended for participating in the conversation and sharing your thoughts and perspectives on community building.  As this topic continues to grow in importance and transitions from "what the kids are up to" to "vital business channel" and "vital grass-roots channel" it is nice to know we can share the journey.

Go to the full details and get involved yourself!

Build a Startup in 3 days

Announcing another LA Tech event! Build a Startup in 3 days over labor day weekend.
(I would so be there but I will be burning unicorns at Burning Man... bummer)

Concept:

The concept is to create an internet startup in a long weekend. Gather a group of enthusiastic people who are all founders of the startup that will work to launch the startup prototype over the Labor day long weekend. You may ask why this is being done. It is to get a bunch of super enthusiastic people together and try to transform an idea into a product and eventually a business.

Who can participate?

Enthusiastic, no-nonsense people that think they have what it takes to last a long 72 hour drill. Hey - there will be no time for office politics for sure.

Anyone that meets the need described in the "Register Now" section above and lives and works around Los Angeles, California. Sorry, you need to be local to carry this forward.

More information and to register (it's free) go here.

Announcing August G33k Dinner

The next LA Geek Dinner is on August 14th at C & O Cucina in Marina del Rey.

Cost is $20 per person for food (not including drinks). Please bring cash. More details and rspvlist are on the geek dinner wiki. Please RSVP on upcoming for the final headcount - we are limited to 45 attendees.

• Date: August 14th, 8pm dinner, C & O Cucina
• C & O Cucina, 3016 Washington Boulevard, Marina del Rey, CA. One block West of Lincoln Boulevard at 3016 Washington Boulevard at Washington and Thatcher in Marina Del Rey.
• Reservation under "Heather"

Sponsorship for desert or drinks is still available for a very cheap $150!

* Photo by Adam of Travis getting applause for sponsoring the beer (we love our sponsors!)

Thewebisus

This video reminds me of a conversation I had using a mirror as a whiteboard in a loft in Portero Hill in 1999. It also reminds me of Hyperion. I also like the music.

She's Geeky - No boys allowed

Announcing, Announcing, Announcing - She's Geeky - and girl geek unconference in Mountain View in October.

Shesgeeky invites a diverse range of women working in information technology (broadly defined,) those aspiring to work in the industry AND those who have retired from the industry.

This is an ‘agenda free’ conference about women in technology. This is a women’s only event. Why? Because there is a certain quality of conversational space that is created in a women only environment.

DATE: Monday and Tuesday October 22-23, 2007
LOCATION: Computer History Museum in Mountain View.

Who Should Attend?

Sheesgeeky is for women of all ages who self identify as geeks. You don’t have to code. You can like and use the tools…or maybe you just care about the issues facing women as they work in or around technology development….

Women who are passionate about building technology that’s useful for people and believe that passionate, geeky women’s presence in our industry leads to more opportunity, a more supportive and civilized environment and better technology goals for all.

Sheesgeeky will include women working in:

• Open Source
• Web 2.0
• Biotech
• Hardware companies
• Enterprise IT
• The Nonprofit Technology Sector
• Portals
• Search Engines
• Social Networking Sites
• Research for and about technology/people
• Startups generally
• Product building/management in large organizations
• Your definition of geekiness (if you don't see it here add it)

Sheesgeeky will explore a range of topics designed for our mutual learning.

Sorry, no boys. Register here! $25 bucks. I know a cheap hotel in MV too.  I think us LA Geek Girls should rent a limo and show up in style. hehe.

Oh and this will probably be an ass-kicking time - especially since Kaliya is a fan of openspace - and I think open space kicks ass.

Oh, in other girl geekiness - Blogher is going on right now. Unfortunately, I am not there, except in spirit. Although I might try to attend in Second Life!

g33k d1nn3r recap

I had dinner @ Galanga last night and was a little worried if they would let me back in. You see, Galanga is where we had the geek dinner last week! I knew the patio was going to be a little tight if all 30 people showed up. Well, that ended up being a moot point because we had over 40 people show up!

It was an awesome time. Over 40 geeks - lots of new faces and old ones. Travis from Verse brought plentiful beer and we took turns at table space. I actually enjoyed standing up and had great conversations with so many people: Michelle, Kirk, Devin, Jeff and Adam, DJ Drue, Nathan and more. And by the end of the night I convinced Sponge to create an algorithmic version of me. (That's what happens if you forget to pay your bill.)

So, when's the next one? And where? Well, it's west side August. Twiistup is happening on August 8th and Aug geek dinner is on the 14th.  I don't have a location yet, but it's going to be in Santa Monica area. And it needs to seat like 40 people. And project ppt karaoke too. And I'm looking for a kick ass sponsor! Ping me if you're game!

ps. Galanga did indeed let me back in, and they were thrilled that I had so many people show up. Whew.

pps. here are some photos.

Pink Goth Powerpoints and Brenda Laurel

I'm working on a pink goth powerpoint business plan. Who would have thought this was possible and that I would do it, but yeah, it kicks ass and sometimes I love my job. Part of this love is running across Brenda Laurel again. Man, she just totally rocks. I'm adding her to my list of inspiring kick ass women I want to be like.

ps. geek dinner recap is coming. It was a blast!

adobe is a strange loop

I bet he didn't know I was watching and I'm fast with my screenshot fingers... ha ha.

Reminder: g33k d1nner 2morrow

Just a quick reminder that the geek dinner is tomorrow night in West Hollywood. RSVP.

Technology and Taxidermy

Insanity? or creativity? It's the text-o-possom!

It's official - Kasey kicks ass. But we all knew that already!

Pimping: Adobe Air Bus in LA

Adobe is bringing their AIR bus to LA. They are currently in the hot hot desert on their way to Vegas. I'd tell them to stop @ the Mad Greek, if I could figure out how to text them... Anyway, they will be in LA in a few days. Check it out.

The event is a free one day mini conference where you can learn how to leverage the Adobe Integrated Runtime (AIR) to bring your web applications to the desktop.

On Upcoming. For more info.

Photo by Mike Chambers stolen from airbus Flickr site.

Updated: g33k d1nner July 17 - Galanga in WeHo!

Mah geek homies! It's that time of the month. The reminder for the monthly geek dinner. I know, you have many choices when it comes to geeking out - with Mixergy's web feedback hour, the ruby on rails meetup, the demo hour, the drupal meetup, the podcasters at the brewery, bloggers read, etc, etc. That's all good, but let's just get our geek on and eat what I think is the best Thai in LA - Galanga.

When:

• July 17th, 8pm

Where:

• Galanga in West Hollywood. 7440 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90046
• Free easy parking
• We'll be in the back patio

If you're new to the concept:

The Geek Dinners are a monthly gathers of Internet technology lovers in Los Angeles. We are loosely affiliated with BarCamp - because many of us met there. Anyone who has an interest and passion for technology, the internet, internet technologies, software or you just know you're a geek is welcome. Come play with us.

Last month, uWink was nice enough to host us (and Twiistup bought us dessert) and everyone had a great time. I think we had some of the best pptKaraoke. So come on out to West Hollywood and let's do it again. Word has it, we may just have a drink sponsor Verse Studios is buying drinks, so be sure to RSVP! This especially wonderful because Galanga does not usually serve alcohol.

RSVP to the wiki and/or upcoming. We'll have the usual crew, name tags, announcements, etc. It should be fun. Did I mention free easy parking and the best thai in LA? We've got the entire back patio to ourselves.

ps. I still have swag, so I'll be bringing stfuff!

Pownce anyone?

So pownce is the next web 2.0 application. Blah. I looked at it over this weekend and am like, blah. I can't exactly figure out why I should care. Maybe if I had some friends I would figure out. I've got 6 invites. So the first 6 people who comment on this thread - or if you are witty and charming - can have an invite. But really, so far it just looks like a threadless t-shirt online...

Taking it Higher

*Note: This post is staying at the top for a while. For more recent posts, scroll down a bit! :)

For the past year plus I've been busy trying to bring together the Los Angeles technology community. I've been very successful at doing this - although this is not because of my efforts alone. A community is built by the people in it. The people who show up, who collaborate, who contribute. Two years ago, there was no LA technology community. I heard rumors of VIC and Coco's events, but these were phantom dreams. Today we have a very different environment. Before the end of this year there will be monthly g33k dinners, twiistup2, barcampLA4, startupcamp, web 2.0 mixers, drupal meetups, lunch 2.0, demo feedback sessions, ppt karaoke nights and more.

The community has created the demand for these events. (Please note, I do not produce, coordinate or organize all or even some of them.)I want to take it higher. To do this, I am calling the Los Angeles and greater technology community to participate. To be active in creating this community of individuals and companies.

Here's how you can help:

1. Join the list
2. Show up in person (to the geek dinner, barcamps, twiistup, meetups)
3. Support - I hate asking for money (well who likes it).  Most of these events are done dirt cheap. I'd like to see more technology companies financially involved. As sponsors in addition to participants. It's cheap to financially support these events and the companies that do gain amazing goodwill in the community.

Here are some ways you get involved now.

Twiistup2
There are still sponsorship opportunities for interested companies. Come to Venice August 8th. It's gonna be a great time.

Startup Camp LA
I'm helping kick off StartupCamp in LA - a 2 day event in the fall that will focus on best practices, dos and don'ts, VC pitch review and practical how to advice to start a tech company. Including a competition with a cash prize! We're looking for sponsors, speakers, biz plan reviews and general help. Attend, learn what it takes to start a company, build a product or pitch an idea. Come to scope out brand new idea and maybe find the next big Socal Startup.

Lunch 2.0 in LA
Some of us are kicking around starting up Lunch 2.0 - where a different tech company hosts lunch, a tour, a technology conversation at their company. Want to host?

Geek Dinners
I've started offering geek dinner sponsorship. About $200 sponsors drinks or desert at the geek dinner and gets goodwill in the geek community. Totally cheap and gets your insane goodwill in the community.

BarcampLA4
BarcampLA4 is happening this fall. Want to help make it happen? Want to find out when it's happening? Then get on the List!

I leave you with a quote recently arrived in my mailbox

As I let my own light shine, I unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. My playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people will not feel insecure around me. I was meant to shine. I was born to make manifest the glory of God that is within me."
- Adaptation of Nelson Mandela's Inauguration Speech

The community has been created. How will you participate?

Community Next

Hey Blogreaders,

Is anyone going to Community Next?

I'm thinking about going, but pricey! Anyone want to gang up and do the $150 pricing. You gotta get 3 people to sign up all at once...

If you're into it, lemme know by leaving a comment.

Experiment

For some reason, my right-click menu (I use a thinkpad) added a funny top line. Check out the screen shot below.

I like it. I only wish there was really an option to "experiment" in the right click menu. ;)
ps. if you want to find more about naughty pilates, you'll have to read my review over here. (link coming soon) I loved it!

Internet Radio Silence Day

Today is the Internet Radio Day of Silence (PDF). Beloved Theory Radio is going silent today. But don't tune out. SomaFM suggests

All of us at SomaFM ask that you excuse the interruption of our normal broadcasts, and ask that you take action to help ensure this silence is not permanent. Please call your Congressional Representatives today. We make it easy, and it will only take a few minutes. If you've already called your representative, please call them again and ask them why they're not supporting independent internet radio.

Even if you don't regularly listen to Internet Radio, please call and support online broadcasting. For more info and to see a list of participating stations, go here.

geek d1nner takes over uWink

That was fun. First off - the announcements:
- Did anyone notice LAists coverage of the geek dinner? Here's a little ego-rub (no I did not pay her to write that. I am not that clever.

Thank Heathervescent for bringing LA's true geeks together in a social setting and for two years straight. Heather brings together some of the most interesting, talented and fun geeks in town to eat, swap demos and sometimes even grab some swag.

- Twiistup 2 announced for August 8th in Venice! Your's Truly is gonna host! (Twiistup also sponsored dessert for the geek dinner! Woo!)

- BarcampLA4 is October 6 & 7 @ Little Radio (that the weekend after PodCast Expo in Ontario, California)
- geek dinners are now available for sponsorship. I'm offering very affordable sponsorship options to help
build the LA Technology community. Contact me for details.

- Next geek dinner is July 17th @ Galanga. More details coming up.

And now, onto the fun. We had a great turn out and seven brave souls took to the stage (ahem chair) and did PPT Karaoke which was projected on the wall. I passed out swag and had great conversations with lots of familiar faces. Rizwan was awesome liasioning between us and uWink. The system was a lot more stable from our previous visit, even getting a networked game of trivia going. We also had the flickr stream projecting photos of past barcamps and geek dinners. Riz even took us back into the cooler, ahem, server room and showed off the servers. I heard that Nolan stopped by for a bit, but I missed him. Brent was off in China, and missed the fun. Beyond that, the restaurant was packed. uWink is doing a good business and there are plans to open up additional locations - some closer to the usual geek dinner locations. So we are definitely staying in the loop.

Thanks to everyone who came out! That was a lot of fun.

PPTs for tonight's g33k d1nner meeting

I am about to jump in the car and drive to Woodland Hills for tonight's geek dinner, but first, here are the ppts that I've queued up for tonight's fun.

Reporting Web Analysis
An Introduction to Second Life
Why we wait for the babel fish
Venture Capital post web 2.0
Logo digitage web 2.0
Using and Enabling the emerging GeoStack
Disruptive tech lifestyle
GeoBlinki!
KFC
Que es la web 2.0?
Social Software for Robots
Web 2.0 and mashups

Ok, that's probably enough. But wow, we're gonna have to do this more often. And it's a great way to get caught up on those conferences you missed. Now, that gives me an idea...

Even if you can't make it tonight, these are some good presos to check out. Thanks to slideshare.net!

LOLCode Recap

LOLCATS_2
Originally uploaded by heathervescent.

Well, that was fun.

• Lol Code
• Lol Code Spec
• Lol Web Compiler
• Lolcats Buildr

My notes after the jump.

 

lolcode

Yo, taking a break from the lolcats programming class@Machine.

cat macros create a .gif economy and reinforce social bonds. Ok, then here's my first .gif received.

 

A New Look

I thought it was about time to refresh the look of the old heathervescent blog. If you read this in a feedreader, why don't you pop on over and take a look. (And if you're looking and thinking WTF, why don't you do a hard refresh on your browser right now.)

Oh, and why you are here, why don't you subscribe. And add me to your technorati favorites too. *mwoh*

Kicking it Old School Social Networking Style

Last Friday, C (aka Patient Zero) and I were taking a little internet walkabout and I ended up at Ryze. I was wondering if it was still around and it IS!!!! I was saying how Ryze was the first online social network - and she was saying that Friendster was the first social one because Ryze was "business networking". Well anyone who was on Ryze in the early days knows that it had a different ... ahem, reputation. I consider it was the first social network for all practical purposes.

So when I came across my old (le original heathervescent) social network identity it was a trip down memory lane. I wondered what happened to Ryze. Why is it not being used? I created one of the first (beta) "tribes" (before tribe). Then I started skipping through my friends profiles. Ryze is where I met C. Imagine my delight in reading the friends of my friends and finding people I didn't know then, but do know now. Two stand out - Scout and danah (don't kill me for linking to your profiles). When I met Scout in person at New Years and we shared a few words, we found out we had circulated in the same circles when I lived in the Bay Area, but never actually met. What a delight to meet someone new from a common circle. danah has gone on to be one of the de-facto voices on social networks and teens. I didn't meet her until we were in the same session at Blogher last year. Two people I could have met 5 years ago.

But isn't it interesting? where we started and ended up? Like ourselves, the social networks are evolving and changing. And that is the most interesting part of the internet. The easy creation of an personality snippet in time. And the ability to go back to that snippet and remember.

Reminder: LA G33k D1nn3r June 19th

Here's your monthly reminder for the geek dinner. We had a great time last month in Chinatown - Jellyfish - Yum!

We didn't break uWink last time, so we're back, and we are able to do ppt karaoke. So bring your powerpoints on a flash drive in PDF or HTML format.

Details are at the usual location:http://barcamp.org/BarCampLA-Geek14
Upcoming: http://upcoming.yahoo.com/event/196450/

# Date: June 19th, 8pm dinner, uWink, Map
# 6100 Topanga Canyon Boulevard, Woodland Hills, California 91367 at the Westfield Promenade
# Reservation under "Heather"

Thanks to the Riz for coordinating. I think I have a sponsor covering desert and I'll bring more swag so be sure to RSVP if you be the LA geek.

May LA g33k d1nner 2nite in Chinatown

Just a reminder that tonight is May's geek dinner in Chinatown.

• Plum Tree Inn
• 913 N Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90012, (213) 613-1819 

We'll be back in the party room. I've got a bunch of swag from Twiistup, so come on by! We've got the usual crew of regulars and newbies. Don't be shy, come out from your terminal. :)

Two more items

Ok, I am sufficiently overdosed on the IIW, are you? I've got to finish up a couple briefs and I am supposed to be at a camping trip right now. :( But, before I forget, here are two items I think are cool:

1. Opening Space - the method used at iiW. It was both more structured and more open than any other ad-hoc method I have used or seen used. I am going to steal it and impliment it in all my future events. (To my own credit, I have used some of the main values in Open Space, in my barcamp and geek dinner events... but it's like finding GTD once you have been a master to-do lister.

2. Discarted. I found this site after someone emailed me about a b.la post. The photos are gorgeous. Check this out:

Speed Geeking: A Different How To

Quick and Dirty: 15 companies get to demo in 5 minutes

1. Everyone numbered off into 15 groups
2. There were 15 tables, each with a number
3. There was a sign up sheet with 15 slots. Companies who were interested in demoing, signed up in a slot
4. Each person announced their company or technology as they signed up.
5. Each group started at their numbered table. e.g. if you were in group 10, you started at table 10.
6. The bell goes off, and the first demo begins
7. After 5 minutes the bell goes off again, and each group rotates clockwise. (e.g. my group, #10, would go to table 11)
8. Repeat 13 times... or until you run out of time. We ended up having an hour slotted, so we go through about 12.

I really liked this method of speed geeking. It allowed you to see a lot of companies very quickly in an ad-hoc manner. I'm going to add it to my list of geek event methods, for sure!

iiW: Uses of Identity on and offline recap

I ran a session Wed afternoon that discussed how people use identity on and offline. Here are my copious notes. Please feel free to make comments. Especially if you attended and remembered additional info.

The Agenda

• How someone uses identity offline
• How someone uses identity online

Observations about Online Behavior around Identity

• I can ask questions that I might not ask in person
• A new layer of human expression
• I get to create my online identity.
• You’re not as easily recognized.
• People are programmed to be social, to have feelings for real creatures – the computer is not one of these.
• It changes when you see someone on video.
• Online is less emotionally bound
• Other people are not as strongly bound to your online identity. (Think after you have met someone, which identity super cedes the other?)
• A greater ease of changing the thing that is an identity on line.
• Online, you can create a new identity and throw the old one away.
• Identification online is fractured. It’s what I say it is. It’s who I display myself to be

Offline Behavior

• Most identities in the real world are created by other people.
• When you are online – you can make yourself.
• It’s not possible to have real friends that help you online.
• “I only need to meet you once”
• Context – once I met him, everything changed. I knew his context
• ComicCon vs Second Life: what is the difference?
• In real-life – it’s hard to change your identity - you have to get plastic surgery
• Loyalty is not revealed in real life

Internet Identity Workshop: Day 3

Here's my recap from day 3 of the internet identity workshop. The sessions I attended were:

• Identity Marketing
• Phil's Pythia Reputation Systems
• I wanted to hit EUCLID session, but I had a great discussion instead
• Then I held a session on how users use identity on and offline
• And then we had the closing session (which I participated in)

I took notes and photos of the whiteboard in the Identity Marketing sessions and an identity marketing mailing list/working group is going to be started. (I know that kind of sounds scary, but it was actually a great session). I'm collecting my thoughts and transcribing my notes. I'm coming away with lots of ideas both personally and professionally. After a week of goal setting, jumping back into the Silicon Valley scene and technology uber alles. I'm coming away with focused ideas on what I want to focus my energy.

Want to read more recaps? Check out the technorati tag: iiw2007

Internet Identity Workshop - Day 2

I just got back to my hotel after day 2 of the Internet Identity Workshop wrapped up. This has really been one of the best events that I have been to in a long time. I continue to be blown away by the open space methodology. Then there's the at home feeling I get being in Silicon Valley, in a room filled with almost all techie guys mapping out technology and companies and how things work together. It's really an amazing kind of mindset that can only be found here (because the people are here).

Today was busy. I hit up sessions on:

• The Me Contract
• Mapping Projects & Technologies
• Tag Commons
• Privacy and Anon
• Best Practices for implementing Open-ID
• The T word (Trust)
• Reputation and Gossip

and then I had to run to a meeting. All in all today was fabulous. Here's my growing set on Flickr of the overall event.

My biggest take away is that it's a sargasso sea to try to figure out everything associated with online identity. Reputation. Opinion vs fact. The tools, the protocols, the tokens and the systems. There's been a lot of work done on the technology, but very little on user experience, user expectation and use cases. Tomorrow I am running a discussion session on User Identity (on and off line).

I have several more detailed posts to write on my thoughts about reputation, identity, who owns what data, identity agents, control, verification along with a lot of companies I can't wait to explore in depth.

Tomorrow is the final day. I'll head home to LAnd after everything wraps up. Apologies to my friends in the Bay Area, whom I haven't been able to connect face to face with. I have been busy non-stop. I promise to visit Silicon Valley soon and throw one of my famous happy hours.

On a final note. PPT Karaoke tonight went pretty well. Bob, Time and Phi, Brad, Doc and a final un named guy stepped up to the plate. It was met with mixed reviews. (I didn't have any of Danny O'Brien's funny presentations with me, so we used the ones from BarcampLA). I did however do a karaoke version of Total Eclipse of the Heart. That is such an awesome song.

Jello Shots are popular

My YouTube videos haven't reached insane numbers of people, (and I'm ok with that) but my how to on making jello shots seems to get comments fairly regularly. I know several people have used the recipe with good results.

That makes me feel really good. I always love it when I can be helpful!

Day 1: Internet Identity Conference

The Internet Identity Conference kicked off today at 1pm at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View.  The workshop started pretty much on time with intros by the organizers: Kaylia and Phil and then an intro to identity commons by Eugene Kim. Then Kaylia put us into groups to talk about and ask the questions we came with. She numbered us off in sets of 15 and then we all played musical chairs. I ended up in 10 - which included Eve Maler (Sun), Mike Jones (MS Cardspace), Phil Windley (!), Mark Lentczer (2nd Life), Joe Steel (Adobe), Matthew Sploin (Resilient - a trust network for moving medical records) and Jim Fenton from Cisco. They were a great group of people and we had a very interesting discussion. We went around the group talking about our reasons for attending:

• Learn the technology
• Do right by the consumer
• Building Bridges
• Enabling Convergence
• Curious about e-commerce
• Understanding which is the right system I should impliment
• How to make money? How and who makes money? Who pays?
• Personas identity: separation or integrated
• Technology: separated or integrated (solution vs how to)
• PKI trust

Then we distilled out a couple questions to share with the larger group (money, personas, technology) and Kaylia went around the room each group sharing their distilled questions. She created a kind of mind map of the answers and that, I supposed, will drive the sessions the next two days.

A couple of interesting thoughts and questions:

• Optional opt-in age verification
• Who is the Identify provider?
• Who is in charge of the data? user? at the beginning? later?
• The driver's license is the gold standard of identity in the US
• Widely accepted ID vs cost
• (on another note: privacy/information being asked for more often because it's easier to get/verify the data)
• protecting identity in the world
• role
• multiple identities
• What makes people pick and use these systems? How do they choose which system they are using?
• Verify trust, reputation
• When do you not want to be verified? identified
• Custodial identity (for a child, minor) delegating identity verification

After the break we went straight into the technology presentations. In less than an hour, I had an overview of OSIS, the Liberty Alliance, SAML, Cardspace, Higgins, OpenID and Shibboleth. Awesome! Then came speed geeking. It was really interesting to see how Kaylia did speed geeking [more info]. It was very different from the method I used at the last geek dinner.

Then it was informally over until dinner. I got caught up on email (no wifi all through the weekend!) and had a roiling conversation over yummy thai.

I'm hosting Powerpoint Karaoke tomorrow night at the unTalent Show after dinner. 8pm @ the Monte Carlo in Mountain View.

So far, I have been really impressed with the ease of open space organizing. I am definitely going to pay attention to this method/process and take it back to LA with me.

I'm also planning on hosting/running/whatever a session on multiple personalities: how people (don't) see themselves in real-life and how they expect identity (and verification) systems to work (with web sites/applications, complimentary software and applications and beyond). I'm probably going to do this on Wed.

Note: Yes, I know this post needs lots of link love. I am tired and it is late, and I will add them later. If you want to add your link in the comments, please do.

Heather is Busy

First off - Hello to anyone stopping by because we met at Twiistup last night. I had a great time and have to write my shout out post. If you're looking to download ooVoo - go here to download the client. If you want info on the geek dinners and barcampLA - go here. And be sure to join the mailing list.

I have been really busy and it doesn't look like it's going to stop. I was at Twiistup last night - which was awesome.

Tomorrow I head north to attend an intense weekend called Fusion with a bunch of futurists in beautiful Mendocino. I'm very excited to participate.

Then, since I will be in the Bay Area, I'm going to attend the Internet Identity Workshop on Monday, Tues & Wed.

Oh - did I mention I'm back on Theory Radio and my show is tonight. In fact, I have an awesome show lined up. Matt is joining me and we are spinning music to trip out too. This music is absolutely insanely amazingly awesomely strange and unique and it blew my mind when I heard it. The show starts at 7, but Matt will be joining me at 8.

Oh yeah, and I still have to pack. So much for sleep these days.

Speed Geeking: A How To

Last Tuesday was the monthly g33k d1nner and I planned to do Speed Geeking. What is speed geeking you might ask: well the concept is stolen from speed dating.

The idea is speed geeking is a fast way to get to know other technologically inclined people. As anyone who is a geek knows, starting a conversation with someone you don't know is one of the reasons we prefer computers. I probably would rarely make it to a geek dinner if I was not actually coordinating them. One of the "problems" of the geek dinners is that there are so many interesting people and you can't meet everyone. Speed geeking was invented to help that.

How I did it

1. I wanted to pick a quiet place to have dinner, with tables that would be easily navigated. (I envisioned people getting up and moving around every 5 or 10 minutes.) I choose Shakey's Pizza because cheap pizza, pitchers of beer and last time we were there on a Tuesday night it was DEAD. We practically had the whole place to ourselves.
2. I made up question cards. Each card had one "starter" question on it. For example: "What is the strangest place you have wified from?" and "Social network sites: useful or not?" and "What is the first computer you owned?"
3. As people arrived, I handed each person a question card and asked them to get into groups of 3 to 5 people per table. Each person would ask someone at the table the question on their card. Everyone would ask one question and would answer one question.
4. After 15 minutes tables would mix and there would be a new group of 3 to 5 people to ask/answer questions.

I think the concept worked better in theory than in practice. This was for several things that were outside my control.

1. When I got to Shakey's the place was pretty full and the tables I had requested were occupied. The tables that had been set aside for us were right in front of TVs that were blaring some sporting event. (This was a totally different situation from the last time we were at Shakey's.) Our group ended up moving into an alcove area that was really too small for us.
2. Food was a bit of a problem. Or rather, trying to speed geek and eat at the same time.
3. I came prepared with 4 different questions. I think having more variety in the questions would have improved things.
4. The loudness level. Once we crammed into the alcove we were the ones causing the noise.
5. Timing. I'm not sure this happened.

All in it was a successful first run, with lots of things to improve upon. I'm definitely trying this again, but with the following tweaks.

1. Better to have it part of something - like Barcamp or a BOF or before/after dinner - where you can move around with people quickly without food, plates, etc.
2. More diverse questions
3. A better way to organize/communicate the timing.

I'm definitely going to have a session at the next Barcamp (or a BOF at a geek conference) where I try this again. Less distractions (food, noise), more questions and maybe a megaphone.

If you try speed geeking, let me know how it goes and what works for you.