If you don’t know already, Ward Cunningham is the computer programmer who developed the first Wiki. He’s one of the most interesting and brilliant people I’ve ever met. He’s currently living in Oregon and is the chief technology officer for AboutUs.org (a wiki-based guide to all websites.
Last night, I asked Ward if he’d like to give as speech at CyborgCamp and the answer was yes. Ward’s presentation will be 30 minutes long, and he’ll be participating in the unconference sessions as well. An update on what he’ll be speaking on will be posted here shortly. Needless to say, it’s going to be great to hear from him. Perhaps he’ll bring some cool inventions and programs with him too.
About Ward
Ward co-founded the consultancy, Cunningham & Cunningham, Inc., has served as a Director of the Eclipse Foundation, an Architect in Microsoft’s Patterns & Practices Group, the Director of R&D at Wyatt Software and as Principle Engineer in the Tektronix Computer Research Laboratory. Ward is well known for his contributions to the developing practice of object-oriented programming, the variation called Extreme Programming, and the communities supported by his WikiWikiWeb. Ward hosts the AgileManifesto.org. He is a founder of the Hillside Group and there created the Pattern Languages of Programs conferences which continue to be held all over the word.
Ward also created Cybords, the biologically inspired computer methodology for natural kinetic sculputure shown at DorkBotPDX and MakerFair. He and his son collaborated with the Graffiti Research Lab to make the Throwie Talkie exhibited at Ars Electronica in Linz, Austria.
What Next?
We’ll keep you posted on developments as they happen. Of course, you can get really quick updates (and sweet news on Cyborgs from all over the web) by following @cyborgcamp on Twitter.
We’re honored to have Bill DeRouchey, a Sr. Interaction Designer in the Interaction Design group at Ziba Design present at CyborgCamp ‘08. He is a witty, brilliant person, and a fun guy to be around. We’re all looking forward to his speech.
Is Machine Language expanding Human Language?
“As technology creeps more and more into our everyday lives,” DeRouchey explains, “the language of technology also permeates our culture. It’s expanding our language, giving us new metaphors for thinking and communicating. The play symbol, the mouse pointer, the @ sign are all examples of symbols with deepening layers of meaning and becoming true icons within our language. This session will spot trends of how humans and technology are forming a symbiotic language, hopefully leading to a fun and esoteric discussion”.
About
Bill is a frequent speaker at industry events such as the Interaction 08, Webvisions and Adaptive Path’s User Experience Week. He is also on the board of directors of IxDA, the Interaction Design Association.On the side, he’s working on his electric ukulele.
He’s the author of Push. Click. Touch, a blog tracing the past, present and future of how people and technology interact. (Formerly known as History of the Button.)
How being a Cyborg Keeps Me Alive, by Lia Hollander / @missburrows
Lia will talk about the electronics that help keep her healthy and alive, the difficult decision to be attached 24/7 to an insulin pump and that “cyborgs” do in fact have sex.
There will be time for Q&A, open discussion on defining the role in medicine and actual insulin pumps and glucose meters for you to play with.
About
A graduate of Simmons College, Lia has worked in diverse work environments including the Psych. ward at Children’s Hospital Boston and the Human Resources department at Sharp Labs of America. She co-created Treasurelicious (a free widget that you add to your website to show your treasures off to your friends).
An avid believer in comprehensive sex education and female empowerment, Lia volunteered with Planned Parenthood of the Columbia Willamette for four years, during which she led community outreach events, met with Washington State Senators and Representatives, and had numerous letters to the editor published in newspapers and magazines.
The blogger behind A.R. and Proud, Lia is also co-creator of Camp Naughty and a regular on the Strange Love Live podcast.
Interested in Speaking?
Simply add yourself and your topic to the speakers page of the CyborgCamp Planning Wiki on CyborgCamp.org.
And you can always come up with a topic to put on the grid when you get to CyborgCamp. It’s a unconference with a few scheduled speakers to lead the discussion and excite the neurons.
Questions?
E-mail Amber Case caseorganic@gmail.com if you have any questions, or follow her on Twitter@caseorganic.
