Defcon 18: What to save, what to toss? Make Defcon 19 better!

[TheCotMan]

Thinking back over Defcon 18, what new things did you think should return for Defcon 19? What new things do you think should be tossed away?

What would you look to contribute to make Defcon better? Would you teach classes? Host parties? Create a cult of pranks and mischief? Would you choose to sell something as a vendor? Perhaps your idea is something totally different. The Lockpicking village and Hardware Hacking village were both additions to Defcon because people saw opportunities for improvement and took action.

It is really easy for people to suggest ideas as work that other people should do, but I'm not interested in easy; I'm interested in ideas you feel so strongly about that you would take action on them and work with others to make Defcon better. This does not mean people will ignore pure ideas, but ideas that motivate people to action are much more likely to become part of a new reality in Defcon next year.

What did you find in Defcon 18 that you would prefer not see at Defcon 19, and what would you add to Defcon 19 to make it better?

Thanks!

[shrdlu]

Re: Defcon 18: What to save, what to toss? Make Defcon 19 better!

I'm already excited by the idea of DCTV returning. I'm hoping that it will be available to all the rooms. I often ask for a room AWAY from the normal Defcon madness, and am hoping to do so again. If I go, this would probably be my last Defcon anyway.

Please make at least *one* chill out room that doesn't have anyone playing music. Being able to have quiet conversations with people that I don't see any other time is one of my favorite things about Defcon. I think I may have some other ideas as well, but I'm interested to see what else pops up here, first.

Oh, and *obviously* the HHV and Lockping Village must be retained. Even though I don't visit them myself, I think they're an enormous and valuable contribution.

[Deviant Ollam]

Re: Defcon 18: What to save, what to toss? Make Defcon 19 better!

I'm already excited by the idea of DCTV returning. I'm hoping that it will be available to all the rooms.

i'll be sure to get the DC Filler archive ready and rocking when that happens. this year i kind of dropped the ball and didn't talk to the CTF organizers before the con. thankfully, they had their own archive of comical material which seemed quite adequate for their space.

still, i plan to update and rebuild the Filler archive post-con (and will surely be including this clip) and have a torrent up soon for anyone who is interested.

[bascule]

Re: Defcon 18: What to save, what to toss? Make Defcon 19 better!

DCTV is coming back? Fuck yeah!

[TheCotMan]

Re: Defcon 18: What to save, what to toss? Make Defcon 19 better!

We should probably define "DCTV" ... Is it just the "Movie/Filler" or just the "talks" or information channel or all of these or some subset?

At the AP, DCTV was originally movies and content related to Defcon, but not any of the presentations that were happening that year. Later we got more channels at the AP [previously typed Riv, but meant AP] and talks were pipes into rooms in addition to the original DCTV which expanded to include Holywood movies related to Defcon, hacking or of interest to geeks/nerds or people that attend Defcon.

I don't think anyone has come forward to say that the 2nd generation of "DCTV" as the channel with filler and Holywood movies would be coming back. Only thing that has been mentioned is that we should have access to channels, but not how many and not what will be covered. This year, I think there were 5 tracks. If they pipe all tracks to rooms and there are only 5 tracks at the Rio, that would be 5 channels. This would likely mean no fully dedicated "DCTV" channel (if you define DCTV as just the Movies/Filler channel we had at the AP.) It is possible that it may shift, however. If we have 5 channels, one for each track, then maybe after presentations end and before they begin the next day, movies could be played on one or more channels.

If we had 6 channels and 5 tracks covered, then there is opportunity for a DCTV/Movie/Filler channel.

All we have right now on the number of channels and content (which tracks will be piped to rooms) and if there will be a hotel fee for "pay-per-view" in addition to our Defcon costs as speculation. Now would be a good time to voice your interest in how you would like to see channels used and pose the questions you might have about them.

Biggest questions I've seen about this so far:
* How many Channels?
* Will all tracks/presentations rooms be covered by in-room channels?
* Will a DCTV/Movies/Filler return and in what capacity?
* Will any fees be required of us as guests for "pay-per-view" or some similar thing in addition to our payment for badges?
* Will there be an information channel like the final years at the AP with text/information/announcements provided?
* Will the same Defcon people that were in charge of DCTV/Movies/Filler and Presentation channels be in charge of it at the Rio?

Are there more questions about this?

[theprez98]

Re: Defcon 18: What to save, what to toss? Make Defcon 19 better!

updates.defcon.org (or whatever the page was with the schedule, updates and scrolling Twitter feed) seems like it be sufficient for an information channel (perhaps with a few changes), especially for those who don't bring their own computers.

[shrdlu]

Re: Defcon 18: What to save, what to toss? Make Defcon 19 better!

As much as I love all y'all, what I *want* to see are the presentations. If there's extra space, or it's later in the evening (after the presentations are over), then fine, put the other stuff on, but I want to see the talks without having to associate with other human beings (and I've SEEN some of you people, so the word human should be taken loosely).

Yes, I'd be perfectly happy to pay a fee over and above the price of the room to watch the talks, as long as it was a set fee, and not something where I got dinged per hour, or per show, or similar. I note here that it's very likely, if such a fee is charged, that event goers will probably find a way, or ways, around it. *I* will not be one of them; just making the point.

All the movies, all the filler content, and any other items, should be a secondary consideration (well, except for domopers, of course). I would love being able to sip coffee at a civilized hour, and listen to the keynote or other speakers.

[Thorn]

Re: Defcon 18: What to save, what to toss? Make Defcon 19 better!

Please make at least *one* chill out room that doesn't have anyone playing music. Being able to have quiet conversations with people that I don't see any other time is one of my favorite things about Defcon.

Hear, hear! The ability to sit and talk with people is one of the things that I love about Shmoocon over DC. The large lounge at the Wardman helped with this; whether a similar area will be at the new venue remains to be seen, but a quite area at DC would be a big plus in my mind.

As much as I love all y'all, what I *want* to see are the presentations. If there's extra space, or it's later in the evening (after the presentations are over), then fine, put the other stuff on, but I want to see the talks without having to associate with other human beings (and I've SEEN some of you people, so the word human should be taken loosely).

Yes, I'd be perfectly happy to pay a fee over and above the price of the room to watch the talks, as long as it was a set fee, and not something where I got dinged per hour, or per show, or similar. I note here that it's very likely, if such a fee is charged, that event goers will probably find a way, or ways, around it. *I* will not be one of them; just making the point.

All the movies, all the filler content, and any other items, should be a secondary consideration (well, except for domopers, of course). I would love being able to sip coffee at a civilized hour, and listen to the keynote or other speakers.

Again, I have to agree with you, shrdlu. There were four talks I really wanted to see this year. I was only able to see one due to the crowds. Had the talks been available on TV, I would have beat feet back to my room, and watched them that way. A small set fee would be acceptable if it was needed to support DCTV. As far as the filler and the like, it's amusing, but I could care less about whether it's available.

[Chris]

Re: Defcon 18: What to save, what to toss? Make Defcon 19 better!

Hear, hear! The ability to sit and talk with people is one of the things that I love about Shmoocon over DC. The large lounge at the Wardman helped with this; whether a similar area will be at the new venue remains to be seen, but a quite area at DC would be a big plus in my mind.



Again, I have to agree with you, shrdlu. There were four talks I really wanted to see this year. I was only able to see one due to the crowds. Had the talks been available on TV, I would have beat feet back to my room, and watched them that way. A small set fee would be acceptable if it was needed to support DCTV. As far as the filler and the like, it's amusing, but I could care less about whether it's available.

At closing DT said that we'd have DCTV with talks in the rooms at the Rio next year. Will it come to pass? We'll see, but his official word at closing was that it would be so.

[Deviant Ollam]

Re: Defcon 18: What to save, what to toss? Make Defcon 19 better!

At closing DT said that we'd have DCTV with talks in the rooms at the Rio next year. Will it come to pass? We'll see, but his official word at closing was that it would be so.

i'll keep my fingers crossed. this was one aspect of DEFCON was so useful to many, many people.

unlike the Riv, there's no guarantee that we'll have TV feeds in the Villages (or even what rooms or arrangement those will take this coming year) but i know it would be REALLY useful to occasionally pipe in some of the lock-specific talks to our space when they are going on. i'm willing to bet that the Hardware Hack Village would also benefit from projecting Joe Grand, Travis Goodspeed, and others on screens when they take the stage at times.

I would love being able to sip coffee at a civilized hour, and listen to the keynote or other speakers.

i would love to be able to sip a cocktail and listen to some speakers in a really plush lounge area. does anyone else see some serious potential for a group getting a really swanky suite somewhere and hosting attendees there privately at times?

It seems to me like something the 303 or the B-Sides crew could pull off rather well. Imagine a room (or series of adjoining rooms) capped at like 30 to 50 people with comfy sofas, a bartender, maybe hors d'œuvres... and perhaps a dedicated "question asker" down on the talk floor who might be able to speak at the mic during Q&A if the viewing suite staff texts him or her an attendee question or two.

just a thought... maybe someone will run with that. could be a really cool chill zone, i think.

[Thorn]

Re: Defcon 18: What to save, what to toss? Make Defcon 19 better!

At closing DT said that we'd have DCTV with talks in the rooms at the Rio next year. Will it come to pass? We'll see, but his official word at closing was that it would be so.

Cool. I intentionally avoided the closing, due to crowding, so I missed that. Now, if we'd had DCTV at the Riv, I would have been able to see it.

[Club81]

Re: Defcon 18: What to save, what to toss? Make Defcon 19 better!

...does anyone else see some serious potential for a group getting a really swanky suite somewhere and hosting attendees there privately at times?...

My thoughts exactly, D.O.! I won't be staying at the Rio (wife likes the Monte Carlo and I can't really argue with her when I'm gone 10+ hours of the day). I will surely be looking for a place to watch DCTV for some talks -- especially in a small group of civilized peeps.

A suite would be epic, a regular room would be great, and a lounge would be OK, too. I believe I'm a little too excited being we are 50+ weeks away!

[Sam Shazaam]

Re: Defcon 18: What to save, what to toss? Make Defcon 19 better!

From the days at the AP, getting an invite to some one's room when you cannot get access to the talk is relatively easy. Bringing a six-pack helps ease your way in. Even better might be a large screen TV in some sort of overflow room.

[dc0de]

Re: Defcon 18: What to save, what to toss? Make Defcon 19 better!

Had the talks been available on TV, I would have beat feet back to my room, and watched them that way. A small set fee would be acceptable if it was needed to support DCTV. .

I agree with this as well, as it could foster groups getting larger rooms, and having talk viewing parties, and other styles of interaction that we cannot think of at this time...

It would also allow attendees to sit in an area of their choosing to watch the talks, so that they could work on badge hacking, scavenger hunt or the myriad of other things that the Defcon experience provides.

That's my 2 cents... YMMV.

--
dc0de

[dc0de]

Re: Defcon 18: What to save, what to toss? Make Defcon 19 better!

I'm all about a Suite , sponsored by some local MicroBrewery, or a Vodka company, to entertain a select set of peeps..

That would be the AWESOME...