Ideas and IPs: Unconference Proves Real Success

1/29/2008 11:09:00 AM

Email this article • Print this article

The "one laptop per child" initiative was one of the topics (un)examined

Jessica Leigh, Editor of Skirt! Magazine

Ideas and IPs: Unconference Proves Real Success

By Burton Sauls
Special to the TBR

The second annual blogsavannah unconference-08 proved that the base of knowledge-based businesses in the Creative Coast is solid, growing and professionally accomplished.

Over 140 Lowcountry tech leaders and interested newbies spent their Friday, Jan 25th at the Armstrong Center in order to trade advice, share experiences, and generally host their annual day-long technology mind-share session.

Not a traditional conference, the "unconference" organizers insist that the active participation of attendees creates the value in the event.

One organizer, Burton Sauls, said that the expert leaders in specific sessions are considered "conversation starters" rather than presenters. "No trade show sales pitches, no PowerPoint's allowed," said Sauls, of the 10 one-hour conversations. "We had two sessions created on the spot as a result of interest in drilling down further on "How to Start a Blog for Business" and "Social Media Tools. We were ready and had extra rooms available for the impromptu sessions."

Conversations were led by local experts on such diverse topics as "Podcasting and New Media" by Phil Sellers of http://www.citytrex.com, and "Legal Issues of being Online" by Attorney Joe Steffen.

Attendance was up from the 2007 event and it is certain to be held again next year. According to Sauls, "We're considering topics of interest for another unconference before January 2009, so if you are interested, contact me at info@bigbonton.org and we'll discuss."

Article Comment Submission Form

Please feel free to submit your comments.

Article comments are not posted immediately to the Web site. Each submission must be approved by the Web site editor, who may edit content for appropriateness. There may be a delay of 24-48 hours for any submission while the web site editor reviews and approves it.

Note: All information on this form is required. Your telephone number is for our use only, and will not be attached to your comment.

Name:

Telephone:

E-mail:

Passcode:

This form will not send your comment unless you copy exactly the passcode seen below into the text field. This is an anti-spam device to help reduce the automated email spam coming through this form.