FLOSS Usability Sprint Seeking Great Usability Practitioners

Posted on Published by Eugene Eric Kim

FLOSS Usability Sprint V is happening November 2-4, 2007 at Google in Mountain View. This one is special for a number of reasons. First, it’s the fifth one. Second, our project list is once again superb, including Firefox, Chandler, Socialtext, and WiserEarth. Third, it’s the first sprint being primarily organized by members of this burgeoning community: Daniel Schwartz and Jon Slenk.    (MO7)

The goal of these sprints is simple: Make Open Source software more usable, focusing especially on software for social benefit. Our approach is to bring catalyze collaboration between the usability and open source communities. The sprint takes place over three full days (November 2-4). It’s fun, it’s intense, and it’s gratifying. It’s a fantastic way to meet and work with an amazing group of people.    (MO8)

This sprint is shaping up to be really outstanding. We’re still looking for a few great usability practitioners to participate, so if you’d like to help some socially-oriented Open Source projects in a concrete way, please sign up. And please spread the word!    (MO9)

She’s Geeky, October 22-23

Posted on Published by Eugene Eric Kim

The tireless and talented Kaliya Hamlin is organizing a new gathering: She’s Geeky, coming October 22-23, 2007 at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View:    (MLA)

The She’s Geeky (un)conference will provide an agenda-free and friendly environment for women who not only care about building technology that is useful for people, but who also want to encourage more women to get involved.    (MLB)

It is designed to provide women who self-identify as geeky and who are engaged in various technology-focused disciplines with a gathering space in which they can exchange skills and discuss ideas and form community across and within disciplines.    (MLC)

Blue Oxen Associates just signed on as a sponsor. But, I’m not allowed to register. Why? Registrations are for women only. Am I okay with that? Absolutely.    (MLD)

Intimacy Gradients are critical for effective collaboration. I spend a lot of time teaching groups how to be more open; no one needs a lesson on how to be more closed. But there are times when being closed has value.    (MLE)

I’ve expressed my admiration for BlogHer many times. Their conference has been open to both women and men from the beginning, and I think it’s worked in their favor. But their ad network is for women bloggers only. Is that a bad thing?    (MLF)

Similarly, whatever gets blogged or recorded on the Wiki at She’s Geeky will be open to all. It’s just that only women will be allowed to attend.    (MLG)

Women are a huge minority in technology. Regardless of why that is, there are many good reasons why women in technology should collaborate more with each other. Sometimes, the best way to kick start that is to create a safe space. That’s what She’s Geeky is all about.    (MLH)

Speaking of women in technology, Lloyd Budd recently blogged about Leslie Hawthorn, another person whose praises I’ve sung on many occasions. Leslie is a classic Yellow Thread, someone who deserves much celebration.    (MLI)

Wild Animals and a Memento Moment

Posted on Published by Eugene Eric Kim

I had a series of strange run-ins with animals over the past week. Last week, I was up late working, when I heard a rustling on my balcony. I peeked outside and was surprised to see a racoon bustling about. I live on the top floor of a five story building, and there is nothing in the way of food up here. Nevertheless, there he was. I turned on the light and stared at him, and he stared at me back, completely unconcerned. Then he continued on his way, apparently practicing an anaerobic version of parkour on the various roof tops in the Outer Richmond.    (M8D)

A few days later, I was driving up to San Francisco from Mountain View, and I hit a heavier-than-usual patch of traffic on the 101. I assumed there was an accident, and sure enough, a few miles later, I noticed what seemed to be stalls in the two left lanes. However, I was surprised to see that neither car had their emergency blinkers on. As I drove nearer, I saw the culprits: A duck and two small ducklings, casually meandering around the fast lane of the 101 during rush hour.    (M8E)

Yesterday, towards the end of the day, I decided to take a walk on the Land’s End trail, which is a few blocks from where I live. On the trail, I passed a guy holding a chicken. That’s right, a chicken. I looked at the chicken, looked at the guy, shook my head, and moved on.    (M8F)

As I was walking back to my apartment, I thought about each of these amusing animal moments, and decided to blog about them. Then I looked to my right and noticed something unusual on the sidewalk. It was a dead, featherless chick, which had apparently fallen out of its nest. I thought to myself, “I think I’ll leave that out of my blog entry.” My other run-ins had amused me. This one bothered me, and I preferred to forget about it.    (M8G)

Then I wondered whether I would remember the dead chick anyway when I reread this entry, whether I mentioned it or not. It reminded me of the final scene in the movie, Memento. I was essentially trying to rewrite history by changing the artifact. However, artifacts have a strange way of triggering complex memories, whether you want them to or not. I guess I’ll never know for sure.    (M8H)

April and May Gatherings

Posted on Published by Eugene Eric Kim

Normally, I love to travel, but last year tested that love. I was out of town almost twice a month for work. It was exhilarating, exhausting, and ultimately, too much. I resolved not to travel for the first four months of 2007. It’s now April 2007, and I’ve successfully fulfilled my resolution (depending on how you count), wonderfully refreshed and ready to travel again.    (M5D)

As I noted earlier, I’ll be in Baltimore next week for Creating Space VIII, the Leadership Learning Community‘s (LLC) annual gathering. The theme is Collective Leadership. They’ve already got record attendance, and I believe registrations are still open, so if you’re in the area and want to attend, I encourage you to register. I joined LLC’s board late last year, participated in some of their gatherings, and was blown away by what I saw. Can you tell I’m excited?    (M5E)

Next month, May 2-3, I’m co-chairing the Compendium Institute‘s 2007 workshop at the NASA Ames Conference Center in Mountain View, California. It’s going to be awesome — highly practitioner-oriented, with lots of close interaction with some of the most experienced folks in our community. If you’re already a Compendium user, or if you’re interested in learning more, I strongly encourage you to register and attend.    (M5F)

May 14-16 is Internet Identity Workshop 2007a, once again at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View. There will be some major Identity Commons announcements there, as well as cool demonstrations of the latest advancements in interoperable Digital Identity systems. If you’re at all interested in the identity space, I strongly urge you to register.    (M7H)

I get a day to recover, then it’s off to Montreal May 18-20 for RoCoCo (RecentChangesCamp Montreal), hanging out with my fellow Wiki compatriots and other community builders. I’ll be releasing a vision paper on Wiki interoperability that same week. I’ve had tremendous fun researching and writing it, and I can’t wait to hear my community’s reaction to it.    (M5G)

Finally, I just joined the advisory board of Tiffany Von Emmel‘s Dream Fish. They’ll be holding a workshop on Leadership for Sustainability on May 30 in San Francisco. It will feature four outstanding teachers, including Alexander Laszlo and Kathia Laszlo, two of the smartest and most decent people I’ve ever met. Register before the end of this month for a discount.    (M5H)

Notable December Events

Posted on Published by Eugene Eric Kim

There are several notable events this month. Next week is Internet Identity Workshop (IIW) 2006B at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View. I’ll be speaking on Monday afternoon about Identity Commons. There will also be an Untalent show on Tuesday night, which promises to be spectacular.    (LKV)

Starting Wednesday, December 6, Lisa Heft will be leading a three day Open Space Technology Workshop. Those of you interested in learning more about Open Space should really attend. Lisa’s a long-time practitioner and thinker, and she is very well-respected in the community.    (LKW)

Allen Gunn and company are throwing a San Francisco Nonprofit Technology Center Holiday Party on December 13 at their new space on 1370 Mission. Anyone who’s ever been to one of Gunner’s parties know that this is not to be missed.    (LKX)

Finally, Todd Davies and CPSR are sponsoring Technopolitics Camp in San Francisco on December 17.    (LKY)

Happy December!    (LKZ)