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

[arahel_jazz]

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

One of the greatest values IMO was the ability to have the speakers in the breakout rooms after the main talks. I actually learned more with the interactive discussions there than in the main talks.

Lets see if we can keep the breakout room concept going at the Rio.

[TheCotMan]

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

Everyone seems to be really excited about DCTV at the Rio. I can’t blame them it does sound like a really nice addition. I do have one concern about DVTV, I never had the ability to attend a Def con when it was at the AP. First hand I have never seen DCTV. Maybe I am completely wrong about this, but it seems like DVTV would make it a lot easier for someone who is shy, or new to just hide in hotel room all weekend long and not experience the con to its fullest. Is this something we should be concerned about?

People are responsible for their own actions and decisions. If people want to sit in their room during all of the talks, then that makes the talks less crowded for those that want to attend the talks. The most important advantages to me in actually being at certain talks is the opportunity to ask questions and meet people. The biggest value in watching specific talks from the room (at least at the AP) was not having to wait in long lines to talks and being forced to clear speaking rooms after every talk. This also means the opportunity to quickly change from one talk to another just by changing the channel. Also, at the AP, we had 2 TVs in our rooms. (One in the main room, and one in the bedroom) allowing people in our room to tune to different presentations and go to different rooms.

There are advantages and disadvantages to each choice. If people want to enjoy Defcon from their room, they can do that. If they want to see the events in person, then that is good too. People that are new to Defcon can attend the Defcon 101 (which appears to be coming back next year) and can learn about the costs of being shy or not socializing. Beyond offering information and services, I don't see what else should be done.

You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink.

[VerminX]

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

Everyone seems to be really excited about DCTV at the Rio. I can’t blame them it does sound like a really nice addition. I do have one concern about DVTV, I never had the ability to attend a Def con when it was at the AP. First hand I have never seen DCTV. Maybe I am completely wrong about this, but it seems like DVTV would make it a lot easier for someone who is shy, or new to just hide in hotel room all weekend long and not experience the con to its fullest. Is this something we should be concerned about?

[Quiet]

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

Can we have our own DJs at each pool like at the AP?

May be possible at one of the pools.
Rumor is one of the five swimming pools at the Rio will be assigned for Defcon use.
If so, it may have altered operating hours and rules of operation.

[theprez98]

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

FWIW - I just tried to reserve a room (any room) at the Rio for the DEFCON 19 weekend and they are totally sold out.

I doubt they are truly sold out. More likely, rooms are being put into blocks, and those blocks haven't been advertised yet.

[arahel_jazz]

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

FWIW - I just tried to reserve a room (any room) at the Rio for the DEFCON 19 weekend and they are totally sold out.

[astcell]

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

Can we have our own DJs at each pool like at the AP?

[TheCotMan]

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

i'm going to start a separate thread...

Cool. Starting new threads on ideas you like is a good idea. If you want to see that thread copied to the "Defcon 19 Planning" forum (when it is created) try including "Defcon 19:" as the start of the thread title -- it will make it easier for me to find all the threads to copy over to the new forum for DC19 when is is created. If I would have thought about this earlier, I would have mentioned this. Sorry about that.

If you forget, you can ask me, and I'll rename your thread to include "Defcon 19:" at the beginning or you can ask me to copy a thread over for planning to continue once the forums is created.

I've prepended "Defcon 19:" to that thread as a reminder to copy it when the DC19 planning forum comes about.

What other ideas do we have as review for Defcon 18 and how it could have been better?

[Deviant Ollam]

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

i'm going to start a separate thread just called "viewing suite planning" because i utterly love this idea and am thrilled at the fact that others do, too. i think it would have likely developed organically on its own by occasional sponsors (or, as i say, 303 or the B-Sides crew) but i feel that talking about ideas here would allow a lot of voices to suggest much, then organizers can trim the fat, and ultimately get some sponsors to pull it off.

have a cool notion for a viewing suite? chat about it here.

[greatscott]

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

The idea for a 24-hour chill-out spot has been logged/noted.

[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...

[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

[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.

[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!

[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.