Audience
Originally uploaded by sfllaw.

It’s been a long time since I’ve written about our local unconferences, but a neat one coming up is DemoCamp CUSEC 2. It’s attached to the Canadian Undergraduate Software Engineering Conference, which is being held in Montréal again.

Last year, I did a demonstration on how to cook an omelette, with it being a metaphor for software engineering. This year, I’m going to do something more prosaic and run a round of Powerpoint karaoke, under the guise of getting people to practise their presentation skills.

Or it will be a convincing argument against its use.

Show up if you can! Present something you’ve been working on! (There are still some slots left.) It’ll be exciting.

DemoCamp CUSEC 2
Thursday, 17 January 2008
19:00 – 21:00
Centre Mont-Royal
2200 rue Mansfield
Free admission

( Sign up | Google Maps )

Here are some very belated photos from BarCamp Montréal 3.

If you weren't there, I'm sorry you missed it. We had a lot of fun!

Aleece Germano
Originally uploaded by sfllaw.
Two Julies
Originally uploaded by sfllaw.

Cupcakes
Originally uploaded by sfllaw.

Sylvain and Daniel
Originally uploaded by sfllaw.

DemoCamp Montréal 3 is happening tomorrow. We're going to be at the SAT from 18:30 to 20:30, holding demonstrations on a whole range of different topics.

Why DemoCamp? Well, Montrealers are some of the most creative people I know and they've got plenty of things to show and tell. DemoCamp is like a big gathering of creative minds who get to watch fifteen-minute presentations on anything. And since all you can do is demo: no slides, no gimmicks, then you actually get to see real stuff doing real things.

I'm going to be there to show you how to make a counterclock. You know, the opposite of a clock that goes clockwise. Along the way, I'll do a little explaining of electricity, timekeeping, and motors. I just have to remember to buy a clock today. :P

Come on, it'll be fun!

DmoCamp Montréal 3
Tuesday, 24 July 2007
18:30 – 20:30
Societé des arts technologiques
1195 boul. St-Laurent
Free admission

( Sign up | Facebook | Upcoming | Google Maps )

Happy camper
Originally uploaded by sfllaw.

BarCamp Montréal 2 is coming up soon. Yup, our second big full-day unconference is happening next Saturday at the SAT. We're bigger and better this time, and we'd love to have you show up.

What is BarCamp Montréal? It's an unconference. It's a gathering of active, interesting people who want to get together and share our experiences. It's for individuals and groups, artists and technologists, young and old. Nominally, there's an Internet-technology feel because that's what BarCamps around the world have traditionally done. But because Montréal has such a vibrant arts scene, we've also got talks that are about anything and everything.

So how do you participate? Well, you can't just be a spectator. Nope, unabashed consumption is not our way. Show up on Saturday and give a presentation on a project that you've been working on. Or show up a little early and help us set up. Or stay late and clean while chatting with the exciting people you've met. We want you to be part of our community.

We've got fifteen-minute presentations ranging on exciting topics like:

• Taking good photographs
• Building “Web 2.0” applications
• Online multi-player games
• Lasers
• East-asian culture
• Starting a company

Have you got something to say? Or something to show? I hope so.

Now that I have you convinced, you're going to want to know how you (and your interesting friends) can attend…

BarCamp Montréal 2
Saturday, 28 April 2007
9:30 – 18:00
Societé des arts technologiques
1195 boul. St-Laurent
Free admission

( Sign up | Upcoming | Google Maps )

Nametags
Originally uploaded by sfllaw.

I was one of the people who was supposed to help peaceful_dragon organize BarCamp Montreal. But this came up and that came up, and I was basically not useful. Still, I managed to borrow a digital SLR and got myself appointed Official Photographer. So I don't feel too bad about it.

The day started off slowly, with people arriving in ones and twos. gorbash_dragon, who had been doing tons of grunt work, had managed to lasso a few minions to do her bidding. They were managing the registration desk, where I signed up, and then claimed my nametag.

I entered the venue, which is actually a dance studio by night. Cat's Corner is a swing dancing school that Fred keeps trying to get me to attend, and I keep on meaning to. But the only times I ever show up have been to do lifting. I'm sort of weird that way. But they've got plenty of lighting, a good sound system, and fairly large space.

Hugh McGuire
Originally uploaded by sfllaw.

We had a bit of trouble getting the equipment set up, but then we were off to the races. The schedule was rather tight. We had a whirlwind of fifteen-minute talks, ranging across fields of art, technology, and business. Still, I like this format of talk, because there is no time for the talk to get painfully dull. Plus, because there was only one conference room, you have no choice but to attend the current talk, so it exposes you to lots of different ideas that you'd never think about.

We had a reasonably tasty lunch, provided by the various sponsors of BarCamp. Actually, I'm pretty amazed that people would just offer up money so that a bunch of people could socialize, but I suppose there is some value in meeting up to exchange ideas. I certainly learnt a lot from lots of people, and I spent most of my time obsessing about light.

After all the sessions were over, we all pitched in to clean up. Then, some of us took the leftover food to a shelter, donated it and met people at the bar for the after-party. Everyone seemed pretty tired, so there weren't a lot of people who remained.

I think I've volunteered to assist in running the next BarCamp. Which we'd better start planning, since it's only six months away. I'm sort of dreading this, because I saw how tired our fearless leader got. But then he was pretty pleased, so I suppose it balanced out.

Thanks Fred.