Ideas for Defcon 15

[dYn4mic]

Re: Ideas for Defcon 15

Maybe just leave the whole area open (except maybe vendor) and put contest, ctf, chill, break out, etc. there.

That would be a pretty cool sight. One huge room would have obvious advantages such as ease of movement, lots of things to look at, lots of people, lots of room.
But also its harder to keep things centralized, harder to do security, maybe noise issues... It would be cool though. Maybe try it out pre-con and see...

[renderman]

Re: Ideas for Defcon 15

Much discussion was had on Sunday/Monday about things to fill that space:

As mentioned, a specific breakout area for speakers to handle the questions that people have (each track would have a specific post-talk room) for questions, breakout, demo's, whatever. This also removes the glut of people from just outside the doors in the hallways.

The LP village needs more room! A couple skyboxes would rock. One for seminars and teaching, the other for general picking and contests.

Breakout and hands on sessions would be ideal for the smaller rooms. Not nessecarily hardware, but just small training seminars would be cool (i.e. have a stack of backtrack CD's and a wireless net setup and allow people to try cracking it in a lab like setup). Topics I can see being good seminars are software tool howto's and hands on (teach about using metasploit and have a box there to be activly attacked on a seperate (read: safe) lan).

[nous]

Re: Ideas for Defcon 15

A few problems with these ideas:
1) Nothing adhesive was allowed on the wallpapered walls (risks to peeling off wallpaper once removed.)

why not see if they'll try those 3M command adhesive thingies? they work exactly as advertised and would do the job.


nous.

[TheCotMan]

Re: Ideas for Defcon 15

how about using washable markers or crayons to write on the walls. and the losers of the contests have to do washing duty, or clean up. and/or just tape up card board signs to the walls, or get the poster cardboard which sells for like 1$ for abundle of like 5, and just tape up the thing with masking or even funner the gray tape. whatever its called. sorry insomnia is starting to set in, and i havent even gone a full night :(

A few problems with these ideas:
1) Nothing adhesive was allowed on the wallpapered walls (risks to peeling off wallpaper once removed.)
2) Once con attendees saw people writing on the walls with pens (knowing they are washable or not) out come the indellible sharpies people use to tag hapless victims that manage to fall asleep in public places at Defcon.

It is good that you are trying to come up with ideas to solve this problem, but these have costs that are too high.

Anyone have any ideas as I have to turn in my trip expenses today in order to get reimbursed.

Yep. See my suggestion here. You can also try photocopying the back of your badge with the printout of the page showing and highlighting the cost of the con.

1. I think a designated area for post-talk questions and answers would be fantastic. Of course after most talks the presenter gets mobbed with a few questions, but crowd control becomes an issue and having to stand around makes the answers of lower quality.

(Good idea)
Ahh, but a Q/A breakout session for post-talk discussion might help clear out the room for the next speaker. :-)

[sammo]

Re: Ideas for Defcon 15

How about having receipts printed for people to take back home with them like in previous years. When I picked up my badge I was told that a receipt would be put up on defcon.org immediately following the convention...

Well, if it's there I can't find it. I've looked through the faq, forums and Google searched the site and still no luck.

Anyone have any ideas as I have to turn in my trip expenses today in order to get reimbursed.

Thanks!

-Brand

Yeah, this would be really nice.

[TheCotMan]

Re: Ideas for Defcon 15

What about maybe having some kind of programming competition or some kinda programming "mystery protocol" or something. I think a lot of people have advanced programming skills, or I think should have minor skills in the area.. Seems like this idea could be expanded?

All this needs is an organizer with excitment, knowledge and drive to contribute to the community like Lost, the people from TOOOL, Deviant Ollam... heck, everyone who was running a contest, working as a Goon, speaking, or hosting parties for everyone else.

We do have contests where coding plays a role:
Defcon Robots, CTF, aCTF, Lost's MysteryBox (closer to hardware than software, but it was reported that 3 languages were included), and probably others that I am missing.

If you see a niche, fill it. Other "games" or contests from elsewhere:
CoreWars with "redcode", the Obfuscated "C" Contest (sometimes discussed at Usenix) more.

What about having more BoF style areas? (in the capri rooms maybe?) were there's some kind of minimal organization and people brainstorm on solving a problem, breaking some code, ideas and all that kinda thing. I think this is a great idea we can borrow from shmoocon/toorcon.

BoF existed in USENIX long before Smoocon or Toorcon, and probably elsewhere long before that. Many professional groups have had clubs or "societies" where members have met to discuss their trade.

The addition of the LP Villiage, and Losts "breakout session" for the robot builds are some really good, recent examples of this. What we do need are more of these, and that will happen if we get more people willing and able to host events or breakout sessions.

The small donation Lost was accepting for the Robot Breakout session, was InSaNe! (Alternating case used here to have this "sound" like it was screamed out by a crazy person with problems controlling the modulation and pitch of their voice.)

I really do think that even an "at-cost" breakout session would be well received at Defcon too. Even a small profit to cover risk for people signing up but not showing up or paying for their spot, and nobody being willing to take their place. Donations to the EFF of profits are even better. People could even be told what they would need to buy/bring to a breakout session, in case they could get a better deal.

For anyone suggesting a new contest, try joining your local DCG and see if you can build support to host a new contest.

[kallahar]

Re: Ideas for Defcon 15

When the air walls are removed those rooms are absolutely gigantic. Maybe just leave the whole area open (except maybe vendor) and put contest, ctf, chill, break out, etc. there. The biggest problem would probably be noise, but I know that in the contest area it never got too loud, probably due to the high ceilings.

[jur1st]

Re: Ideas for Defcon 15

1. I think a designated area for post-talk questions and answers would be fantastic. Of course after most talks the presenter gets mobbed with a few questions, but crowd control becomes an issue and having to stand around makes the answers of lower quality.

After the aggressive network defense talk, Maj. Clark was more than happy to answer everyone's questions but the room had to be cleared. Maybe another room similar to the green room or press room could be used for this.

2. I also really missed having the chill out area be next to CTF. There was always something to watch thanks to the filler and there was more room to move around. Maybe some of the skyboxes overlooking it could be used for chill areas in addition to the large room next to the vendor area.

3. There probably should be some large ash trays moved to the areas right outside the entrances to the tracks. This would aleviate the problem of ashing into a plastic cup with water in the bottom which even the smokers know is pretty gross.

4. One of the reasons I was excited to stay at the Riv was DCTV. I know there were some last minute issues with this, however I think that the potential problems with profanity, subliminal horse genetalia, etc. could be mitigated if DCTV was piped only into a single tower of rooms where the con-goers are staying. Maybe another possiblity would be to have DCTV go to rooms over PPV, but have there be no charge for it.

[PrinceBrand]

Re: Ideas for Defcon 15

How about having receipts printed for people to take back home with them like in previous years. When I picked up my badge I was told that a receipt would be put up on defcon.org immediately following the convention...

Well, if it's there I can't find it. I've looked through the faq, forums and Google searched the site and still no luck.

Anyone have any ideas as I have to turn in my trip expenses today in order to get reimbursed.

Thanks!

-Brand

[IrishMASMS]

Re: Ideas for Defcon 15

Also, at the AP the pool parties gave DJs an opportunity to spin something different than the B&W ball - some were locals, and some were out of towners. The diverse selection is was definitely lacking this year - perhaps something can be arranged for the chioll out area & the outside chill out area?

[IrishMASMS]

Re: Ideas for Defcon 15

how about using washable markers or crayons to write on the walls. and the losers of the contests have to do washing duty, or clean up. and/or just tape up card board signs to the walls, or get the poster cardboard which sells for like 1$ for abundle of like 5, and just tape up the thing with masking or even funner the gray tape. whatever its called. sorry insomnia is starting to set in, and i havent even gone a full night :(

too bad the Riv did not allow anything on the walls - having a mural contest between DCG's would be interesting IMHO.

[AcidicA]

Re: Ideas for Defcon 15

5, and just tape up the thing with masking or even funner the gray tape. whatever its called. sorry insomnia is starting to set in, and i havent even gone a full night :(

If you meant Duct tape and could not name it I must only assume you do not visit the south eastern states of U.S. much.

[White_Widow]

Re: Ideas for Defcon 15

how about using washable markers or crayons to write on the walls. and the losers of the contests have to do washing duty, or clean up. and/or just tape up card board signs to the walls, or get the poster cardboard which sells for like 1$ for abundle of like 5, and just tape up the thing with masking or even funner the gray tape. whatever its called. sorry insomnia is starting to set in, and i havent even gone a full night :(

[dYn4mic]

Re: Ideas for Defcon 15

I also think a bigger "village" area for hardware and/or lockpicking stuff would be great. This is an excellent example of people teaching other people.. which is what its all about..

What about maybe having some kind of programming competition or some kinda programming "mystery protocol" or something. I think a lot of people have advanced programming skills, or I think should have minor skills in the area.. Seems like this idea could be expanded?

What about having more BoF style areas? (in the capri rooms maybe?) were there's some kind of minimal organization and people brainstorm on solving a problem, breaking some code, ideas and all that kinda thing. I think this is a great idea we can borrow from shmoocon/toorcon.

(more ideas will come... this is what's on the top of my head)

[apg88]

Re: Ideas for Defcon 15

I really enjoyed all of the hardware stuff, the bigger breakout area sounds like a great idea too.