Would anyone be interested in a retro-tech conference?
conference NaBloPoMo retro · 900 words
The best ideas occur while drunk, don't you agree? Having just attended the blisteringly brilliant Hackference Brum, a bunch of us were drinking in a pub and chatting about how focused on the future most conference are. There's rarely any time to reflect on the past.
That got me thinking...
This... this idea seems to have some legs!
Interesting talks!
No PowerPoint!
Controversy!
Please RSVP via telex. x.com/edent/status/7…
Demonstrations
These social media posts were deleted by their authors.
What about catering? These social media posts were deleted by their authors.
And other cool things?
Circuit board nails for the @ghc conference! I have all the nail polish if you want to do your own!! 💅🏽 #GHC16 pic.x.com/8G8r9WMsQw
What about people who can't get there?
These social media posts were deleted by their authors.
Remember the dress code!
Naturally smoking pipes will be encouraged during Retro-Conf.
And mandatory corduroy. x.com/edent/status/7…
Anyone who wishes to grow a beard (or strap on a falsie) will be most welcome.
Refreshments will be Watney's Party Seven & cheese hedgehogs. x.com/jaggeree/statu…
Wait a moment!
Now, there are some inherent problems with revisiting the past.
That reminds me of the American company who held a corporate party in a plantation house and asked attendees to dress in period costume. Their lone black employee decided to attend while dressed as a slave.
A salient reminder past isn't always a great place to visit.
I rather drunkenly made light of the situation.
Women will be allowed if they cosplay
A) Grace Hopper
B) Ada Lovelace
C) Margaret Hamilton
D) Any other woman they choose
#RewriteHerstory x.com/rachelclarke/s…
Which, on sober reflection, wasn't the right response.
This is a serious point which I trivialised last night.
Any historic reenactment has to face down issues of representation. x.com/rachelclarke/s…
We can celebrate the past without glorifying it.
So, you want to attend?
Please RSVP via telex. x.com/edent/status/7…
Is this a good idea?
I've never organised a conference myself. The ones I've been involved in have been fiendishly complicated - corralling venues, sponsors, ticket sales, speakers, and catering is tough.
And yet... people seem to like this idea. Perhaps it would be worth holding it as a track at an existing conference to see if people really want to spend 45 minutes learning about COBOL.
If you've been to a similar event - or know of an upcoming one - please do let me know.
Finally, here's what I'd like you to do. Find a conference and pitch them a retro-tech session. Do a talk on "classic" computing. Bring along old equipment to demonstrate. If there's enough interest, let me know and perhaps we can run a full-day event.
