Barcamps, Unconferences and #A11y

2. Barcamps, Unconferences and #A11y @vdemson, @patricktimony - DC Public Library

3. Accessibility Unconferences • Venetia: • What, Why? • Patrick: • How?

4. What? • Unconference: • A facilitated, participant-driven conference centered on a theme or purpose, but without high fees or sponsored presentations • Example: AccessibilityCampDC1 – Oct 10th, 2009 • Barcamp: • Network of unconferences, focused on web applications, open source technologies, social protocols, and open data formats • Example: BarcampDC3 – Nov 14th, 2009 • #A11y • Twitter hashtag (subject identifier) for “Accessibility” • Discussion over #AxS vs. #A11y • Accessibility: • Ease of use of a system regardless of the ability of the user

5. Unconference • Earliest known use of the word: 1974 Nat’l. Council of Teachers of English Michigan Conference - lots of workshops - few speeches - cooperative work - informality - drinking, music and volleyball

6. Unconferences • Origins in the tech community • Harrison Owen: “Open Space Technology: A User’s Guide” • Foo Camps and Foo Bar • Bar Camps • Brain Jams, Mashup Camps • Government 2.0

7. Open Space Technology • Early 1980s: Harrison Owen – presents paper on “Organizational Transformation” at traditional management conference • Participants urge a conference to address issues and opportunities • 1983 & 1984: 1st & 2nd annual symposia in traditional conference format

8. Open Space Technology • 1985 : 3rd annual open technology symposium • Owen really didn’t want to organize all the details • Retreated to a bar • Claims he there discovered “Open Space” approach at the bottom of his 2nd martini

9. Open Space Conferences • Minimize gruntwork by leadership • Maximize productive learning & contribution by participants

10. Open Space Philosophy • Open space = the void at the edge of Chaos from which life erupts and order begins to manifest

11. Open Space Technology • 5 Basic mechanisms • 4 Conditions • 4 Principles • 1 Law • 2 Fundamentals

12. OST: 5 Basic Mechanisms 1.Invitation 2.Arrangement 3.Bulletin board 4. Marketplace 5. “Breathing” or “pulsation” flow pattern

13. 4 Conditions when OST works best • High complexity • High diversity • Real or potential conflict • High urgency

14. OST: 4 Flow Principles • Whoever comes are the right people • Whatever happens is the only thing that could have • Whenever it starts is the right time • When it’s over, it’s over

15. OST: One Law • “Law of Two Feet” “If at any time during our time together you find yourself in any situation where you are neither learning nor contributing, use your 2 feet to go somewhere else.” -Harrison Owen • Butterflies • Bumblebees

16. OST: 2 Fundamentals • Passion Without it, no one is interested • Responsibility Without it, nothing will get done

17. OST Outcomes • Action • Growth • Learning • Community building • Transformation

18. OST: Some Session Formats • Birds of a Feather • Fish Bowl • Lightning Talks • Pecha Kucha • 9 x 9 Long Lasting Greetings • Flash Debates

19. Birds of a Feather • Discuss any topic of mutual interest to participants • Allow group interaction • Informal, but with a discussion leader • Alternative to a panel discussion • Anyone can organize • Set space aside for this session type

20. Fish Bowl • Inner circle of 4 or 5 chairs • Volunteers act as discussion leaders • Chairs for other participants in concentric circles around the inner circle • Open fish bowl: 1 chair in inner circle left vacant: When participant moves into circle, one from inner circle moves out • Participants frequently enter & leave

21. Pecha Kucha • Japanese onomatopoeic word for “chitchat” • 20 slides for 20 seconds each (6:40 minutes total) • Meet • Show work • Exchange ideas • Network

22. Lightning Talks • Several speakers in one session • Short presentations last no more than 5 minutes • Like speed dating

23. 9 x 9 Long Lasting Greetings Exchange 9 business cards with 9 people you don’t know in 9 minutes.

24. Flash Debates • Topics determined by group • 2 teams, 3 folks each • Fixed topic • 2 minutes per speaker • 2 – 2 / 2 – 2 / 1 – 1 minute sessions • Have fun – cleverly rebut & insult your opposition • Show off your knowledge

25. Other Unconference Facilitation Techniques • Appreciative inquiry • Dotmocracy • Knowledge Café & World Café • Multi-voting • Nominal Group Technique • Speed Geeking • TeachMeet

26. Tim O’Reilly • Tim O’Reilly, founder O’Reilly Media Chronicler & catalyst of leading edge development • “We create products that we want to use.” Products must be useful, interesting and truthful.

27. O’Reilly Mission • Change the world by spreading knowledge of innovators • Identify technology trends that really matter • Galvanize their adaptation by amplifying “faint signals” from alpha geeks who are creating the future.

28. Friends of O’Reilly = FOO • FOO bar • FOO Camp - “Wiki of conferences” • By invitation only • Mechanism for finding innovators • Attendees nominate new, interesting people for invitation to future camps

29. Unconference Benefits • Serendipitous learning experiences • Ad hoc discussions – flexible, automatically optimized as you go • Spontaneous group activities • Opportunity to drill down into topic & discover nuances, not just generalities

30. Unconference Benefits • Participant driven – folks show up & talk about their passion • Create energy around a topic • No audience – only participants • All sessions – on the record • Spawns movements and useful applications that benefit society

31. Why? • Purpose:Bring together developers and users • Librarianship issues: Access Digital divide Library as community place • Systems Issues: Open source

32. Goal of AccessibilityCampDC Nothing about us without us

33. How to Run an Accessibility Camp • FIND a few good helpers and a good location • PLAN and delegate tasks • RUN the day of the event

34. Find a few good helpers • Presenters (Salespeople) • Organizers (Mavens) • Networkers (Connectors)

35. Jamal Mazrui Silver Spring, Maryland http://nonvisualdevelopment.org/ Bio Software developer and policy analyst; progressive and libertarian politics; husband and father 70 Following 437 Followers 11 Listed 1,172Tweets Name Sam J Location Arlington, VA Bio Accessibility professional. Jazz enthusiast. South Park junkie. 209 Following 188 Followers 4 Listed 1,528 Name Carolyn Klinger Location Maryland, http://www.linkedin.com/in/carolynklinger Bio Technical writer who cares about the people who read her stuff. Mom, wife, volunteer extraordinaire. Shawn Lawton Henry http://www.uiaccess.com/profile.html Bio accessibility evangelist; author, speaker, communicator; W3C Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) Teamer; youth group leader, mentor; cook, gardener; sea kayaker 62 Following 467 Followers 66 Listed 126Tweets PRESENTERS

36. John F Croston III Washington, DC http://www.jfciii.com/ Bio Web developer that uses XHTML, CSS, JavaScript, Microformats, and SQL to improve web accessibility for all, as the Web Content Accessibility Manager at ARMY.MIL William Lawrence Washington DC http://zaxbypass.com Bio vê, vé, ℣, vrijeđati, versus, višeobličje, vruć, vođa all stand for veeliam. And, he stands for accessibility. Name patrick timony Washington DC Web http://sttsdc.blo... Bio Adaptive Technology Librarian, DC Public Library Venetia Demson Washington DC http://www.dclibrary.org. Bio Chief Adaptive Services, DC Public Library ORGANIZERS and STAFF

37. Name Jennison Asuncion Location Toronto Web http://www.linkedin.com/in/jennison Bio He's a convener, practitioner, and researcher in the IT accessibility space, with interests in jazz, networking, live comedy, public radio, & xc skiing. Name Mika Pyyhkala Location Boston http://profile.to/mika Accessibility, new media internet tech, airline industry, Boston, other random musings/thoughts. President National Federation of Blind of Massachusetts Name Leslie Bobbitt Location Arlington VA Bio Live each day as if it were your last. Name Peter Corbett  Location Washington, DC http://www.istrategylabs.com/ Bio Interactive strategist and producer. Makin' it happen since 1980. CEO of iStrategyLabs NETWORKERS

38. FIND a Place • Public Library • University • Private Venue

39. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library BarCamp DC 3 Accessibility Camp DC

40. George Washington UniversityDigital Capital Week Tech Festival?

41. ADOBE – A11yBOS

42. PLAN ORGANIZERS: Web Presence • Registration and Sponsorship site • Event website • Google Spreadsheet for online schedule • Twitter, Facebook, email and telephone

43. Accessibility Camp DC Website

44. EventBrite Registration and Sponsorship site

45. Twitter: • public instant messaging • 140 characters per post. • You can “follow” anyone on Twitter. • Twitter encourages brevity. • Tips: • @ means twitter user • # is a subject tag • RT is retweet

46. Sponsorship Food and Entertainment • T-shirts with a list of sponsors • Food: breakfast, lunch, snacks, drinks and misc. • Open bar after-party at night

47. JX2 Professional

48. Use theseTools • Twitter, Facebook, Linked-In - Networking, Publicizing • EventBrite - Registration, Sponsorship • Google Docs Spreadsheet - Online Schedule • 20/20 Captioning - Remote CART service • Skype/OPAL/Ustream - Archiving, Remote participation • WordPress - Publishing

49. Staff Responsibilities Facilities and Audio Visual Support • Tables, Chairs, Lights • WIFI • Ethernet connections for speakers and CART • Microphones and Speakers (two input for questions) • Screens and projectors for presentations • Adaptive Technologies for demos (JAWS, MAGic) Accommodations • Accommodation statement • Remote CART captioning service ($95/hr) • Sign Language Interpreters (6-8 interpreters) • Braille and Large Print schedules

50. CART Real-Time Captioning