DCTV Excerpts from "...Make Defcon 19 better!" t=11757

[Thorn]

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

Correct me if I'm wrong, but not every one gets a electronic badge, right? So those who have a cardboard (what ever the standard badge is) badge wont be able to get DCTV. Or at least maybe not for free. Or at least maybe not for free using the badge. ;) But as far as DCTV I think its a great idea for the talks. But I think movies would be a waste. Your at defcon for only a few days and theres so much to do, why would you want to waste time watching a movie?

Also I was thinking a neat addition for the badge would be to replace the LCD with an OLED. This way it could be in color, have better FX etc... Ya it would be more expensive then the LCD but if you keep it the same size it can't be much of a price difference.

You're wrong. Everyone gets an electronic badge, at least until they sell out. The printed badges tend to be the 'runner-up prize' for not getting in line early enough. Those who get the electronic badges do not pay extra for those badges.

In the past, movies have been a part of DCTV. If I recall correctly, there were extra channels beyond those needed strictly for talks, and the movies were generally well received. Besides, it was a good social activity for those people who are not so inclined to go to the various parties.

[okiwan]

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

Correct me if I'm wrong, but not every one gets a electronic badge, right? So those who have a cardboard (what ever the standard badge is) badge wont be able to get DCTV. Or at least maybe not for free. Or at least maybe not for free using the badge. ;) But as far as DCTV I think its a great idea for the talks. But I think movies would be a waste. Your at defcon for only a few days and theres so much to do, why would you want to waste time watching a movie?

Also I was thinking a neat addition for the badge would be to replace the LCD with an OLED. This way it could be in color, have better FX etc... Ya it would be more expensive then the LCD but if you keep it the same size it can't be much of a price difference.

[Chris]

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

Breakout rooms: By far the best part of Defcon. #1 item to keep for DC19

DCTV: Let's have the badge next year include a smart card capability to provide the descrambling keys for DCTV. If you hack it, great, you get DCTV for free. If not, you can pay $5 or whatever for DCTV. Just like the real world of satellite TV hacking.

There are so many ways to integrate the badge with DCTV. The mind reels.

I couldn't disagree with this idea more. DCTV needs to be free to all attendees. It's not a contest. it's the talks. Putting them on TV in the rooms reduces crowding, reduces hallway congestion and makes things better for EVERYONE. Not that there is any chance of your idea happening, but seriously...it's just a bad suggestion all the way around.

[liberator]

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

Breakout rooms: By far the best part of Defcon. #1 item to keep for DC19

DCTV: Let's have the badge next year include a smart card capability to provide the descrambling keys for DCTV. If you hack it, great, you get DCTV for free. If not, you can pay $5 or whatever for DCTV. Just like the real world of satellite TV hacking.

There are so many ways to integrate the badge with DCTV. The mind reels.

[VerminX]

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

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.

I understand that point and I would agree, everyone says “the con is what YOU make it”, and everyone know that it’s true. I just recall my first year how lost and confused I felt for the first 24 hours. If I had the ability to hide in a room and watch the talks, more than likely I would have. Personal I am really excited about DCTV and love the idea of chill out areas you can watch it on. It was just something I wanted to point out.

[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?

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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?