DC18 Badge Design Competition

[big chopper]

Re: DC18 Badge Design Competition

Well, look at the replies on the DECFON 17 wrap. Most of the complaints were about the problems caused by the badge.

https://forum.defcon.org/showthread.php?t=10723
--bc,

[Thorn]

Re: DC18 Badge Design Competition

Well, look at the replies on the DECFON 17 wrap. Most of the complaints were about the problems caused by the badge.

https://forum.defcon.org/showthread.php?t=10723
--bc,

<shrug> Only thirty-seven posts in that thread out of a total one hundred twenty-two mention "badge". Even if a majority of the responses that do mention badges in that thread were against it, (I didn't go back and read them all) that isn't a majority out of over 7000+ attendees.

Anyway, all I'm just saying here is that some of us do like and prefer the hardware badges, and if I'm among the minority, I'd still be willing to pay a premium to get one.

[big chopper]

Re: DC18 Badge Design Competition

<shrug> Only thirty-seven posts in that thread out of a total one hundred twenty-two mention "badge". Even if a majority of the responses that do mention badges in that thread were against it, (I didn't go back and read them all) that isn't a majority out of over 7000+ attendees.

Anyway, all I'm just saying here is that some of us do like and prefer the hardware badges, and if I'm among the minority, I'd still be willing to pay a premium to get one.

So--according to your count, over a third of the comments mention the badge by name. How many other's commented on crazy-crowded hallways or actually missing talks because of congestion caused by people waiting for their badge (or replacement badge).

This isn't about cost, it's about people being able to attend talks. THE BADGE SHOULD FACILITATE ACCESS TO THE CON, NOT COMPLICATE ATTENDANCE!

[Thorn]

Re: DC18 Badge Design Competition

So--according to your count, over a third of the comments mention the badge by name. How many other's commented on crazy-crowded hallways or actually missing talks because of congestion caused by people waiting for their badge (or replacement badge).

Actually it's less than one third; 37x3=111. The thread count is 122. I don't know either of the other figures, as I didn't count. I was merely pointing out that does not constitute a clear "majority". Anyways, if people are seeking replacement badges, that would indicate some people clearly have interest that in the hardware badge, wouldn't it?

This isn't about cost, it's about people being able to attend talks. THE BADGE SHOULD FACILITATE ACCESS TO THE CON, NOT COMPLICATE ATTENDANCE!

Easy, there. I'm not trying to convert you. I'm just saying that some of us do like the badges and would and do prefer them. You have your opinion, and others of us disagree. Maybe I am in the minority, maybe not; in either case, I don't think they should be dismissed outright.

Besides, from what you're saying, it isn't about the badges per se, but rather about the supply line.

[TheCotMan]

Re: DC18 Badge Design Competition

Wasn't there something that was chanted from the audience at the closing ceremonies? Something about badges before next year? Hey! It is next year! Have the badges been designed, ordered and shipped?


]:-D


(Last year, they said there was an issue with the badges being held up at customs, and to avoid that, they were going to start even earlier for DC18.)

[charliex]

Re: DC18 Badge Design Competition

DT: Badges by xmas please

There was a problem last year with delivery, it wasn't the badge that was the problem, but the logistics. Since it looks like there are a lot of components already bought, it ought to be easier this year.

Life without pain has no meaning ;)

[Dark Tangent]

Re: DC18 Badge Design Competition

While not complete, the DC18 badge is underway.

We've taken some good ideas from the forums and are seeing how many can be incorporated with the hardware we already own (the cpu from last year, a bunch of red LEDs, etc)

[kallahar]

Re: DC18 Badge Design Competition

DT - any chance of releasing what the components will be? Software development takes a long time, and if we had an idea of what we were going to get (ie, microphone vs 16x16 LED array) then we could get started early on cool hacks. There's just not enough time at con to really hack the badge.

Thanks!

[heisenbug]

Re: DC18 Badge Design Competition

DT - any chance of releasing what the components will be? Software development takes a long time, and if we had an idea of what we were going to get (ie, microphone vs 16x16 LED array) then we could get started early on cool hacks. There's just not enough time at con to really hack the badge.

Thanks!

Personally I am hoping that alcohol idea will be used. Maybe I just want a programmable shot glass though. If not I may hack the badge onto one anyway. ha.

[Kingpin]

Re: DC18 Badge Design Competition

This isn't about cost, it's about people being able to attend talks. THE BADGE SHOULD FACILITATE ACCESS TO THE CON, NOT COMPLICATE ATTENDANCE!

Trust me, I agree completely. Out of all involved, I probably feel the worst when I see people standing in line. We're doing everything we can to avoid problems and still create a badge that kicks the crap out of any other conference out there.

Yes, there are lots of people that just want to attend talks and don't care about the badge - that's fine. But, there are lots of people that want something cool to hack on, to learn from, and to use after the con. As long as I'm involved in the badge design, I'm going to try to make something memorable.

It's a fine line to please both crowds, but I guess that's part of the challenge!

Joe

[sintax_error]

Re: DC18 Badge Design Competition

... As long as I'm involved in the badge design, I'm going to try to make something memorable...

So far you've done a hell of a job, KP. Though what I've done to past badges isn't much, it's still a blast during and well after con. And despite logistical crapola, I think a lot of people would agree with me when I say thanks for all the effort you put into this, and all the bullshit you have to go through to get the job done.

[edit]

Personally I am hoping that alcohol idea will be used. Maybe I just want a programmable shot glass though. If not I may hack the badge onto one anyway. ha.

I think, correct me if I'm off base, that kallahar was referring to items that can be used to facilitate badge hacking, not necessarily components of a badge. For example I know more than a few people that tend to code, solder (oddly enough), and come up with ideas faster and often better while slightly (sometimes excessively) inebriated. And I don't know how many people I speak for with this, but I tend to have enough crap dangling off my neck/waist/backpack during con to worry about a glass of some sort stuck on my badge.

[big chopper]

Re: DC18 Badge Design Competition

Trust me, I agree completely. Out of all involved, I probably feel the worst when I see people standing in line. We're doing everything we can to avoid problems and still create a badge that kicks the crap out of any other conference out there.

Yes, there are lots of people that just want to attend talks and don't care about the badge - that's fine. But, there are lots of people that want something cool to hack on, to learn from, and to use after the con. As long as I'm involved in the badge design, I'm going to try to make something memorable.

It's a fine line to please both crowds, but I guess that's part of the challenge!

Joe

No disrespect KINGPIN, the badge designs are cool, you're very creative and an excellent engineer. But I wonder if the whole process has become bigger than the CON. All I remember is that the action of the first day of DEFCON 17 was dictated by all the people clogging the halls either waiting for a badge or a replacement badge. I felt very badly for speakers who had talks on Friday--speaking to sparse crowds. Heck, there was even a shortage of speaker's badges. How does that happen? Last year was not an exception. It seems to get worse every year.

Those of us, who come to the CON for the talks would--I'm sure--be much happier with simple concert-style wrist bands and actually get to hear the great talks at DEFCON..
--BC,

[Kingpin]

Re: DC18 Badge Design Competition

No disrespect KINGPIN, the badge designs are cool, you're very creative and an excellent engineer. But I wonder if the whole process has become bigger than the CON.

Sometimes I wonder the same thing

Joe

[charliex]

Re: DC18 Badge Design Competition

For a lot of the people i know, including myself, Defcon is primarily about the badge and what we can do with it, and the people we meet doing the same. It'd be a shame to see it go away, waiting to see what it is going to be is better than being a kid at xmas.

It sucks for everyone that getting it all sorted out is a hassle, but hopefully it'll even out. Defcon seems to have its own very unusual set of logistics.

[LosT]

Re: DC18 Badge Design Competition

Defcon is quite a bit of work for many people. That has become the con to many of us. Yet we keep at it...

I see lots of people post giving Joe suggestions- then I see some people post telling him how this or that sucked, and what he should do to make it better-

I find that most people do not understand the DESIGN time that goes into something like the badges, and the thought process that Joe obviously goes through- Of course Joe considers logistics, etc, he's a smart guy-

I'm reminded of Weird Al once saying that he was sick of people telling him what he should do parodies of....

Helpful, well-thought out suggestions are great- but keep in mind there may be issues you haven't thought of when 'correcting' something like the badges....