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Hot Topics for Tech Talks?
HCIGuy asks: "A few of us are working within a local school of engineering and technology to set up a seminar series unique to the area. We envision a sequence of monthly seminars that focus on bleeding edge technology, presented by vendors' engineers, and attended by students, faculty, and industry folk. No marketing hype allowed; we want only the facts. We obviously want this to be of high interest to everyone, so we're asking for input on what topics would be of sky-high fascination right now. What would it be? We're leaning toward wireless for our first program, but all comments gratefully received. What topic would make you rush out and drive across town to hear it? We have only an hour and a half to commit to this, so the material has to be narrowly focused. We plan on holding up to six per school year, and we don't intend to hold over subjects from one time to the next."
I dont think people really understand how powerfull this scripting language is and how useful it is becoming in real world applications. Perhaps talking about a real world implementation and how ti can quickly change and scale would probably a lot of people's eyes.
Sigs are dangerous coy things
Really, it's a special circle of hell.
Really now, if the criteria is that I'd drive out to see it in person it has to be sex. I can read about any other topic by using the universal trampoline site (google). Perhaps a talk on genetic programs that adapt to spam? Genetic rules for detecting enlargement schemes? The possibility for puns is endless.
Some companies provide loaner equipment to universities. It would be interesting to find something that is of interest/use on your campus and then get some hardware to play with. Videoconferencing equipment (end point stations and MCUs) might be a good start.
SIP and VOIP. This is something that is cool, fun and fairly accessible to folks with a decent network connection. And, if you have the energy, the administration on your campus might be interested to hear that it could save them money.
Games. Games are an interesting and fun topic. With a bit of thought, a talk could be constructed that mixed fun with learning (grin).
Internet2 Days. Advanced Networking. If you are at a school that is involved in Internet2, there are resources that are available.
Microsoft Resrach Group. Evil blah blah yes, whatever. Say what you will, but they are still smart people. Your login indicates that you might be interested in HCI, so Dumais's site might be a good start. Other companies are also listed in various places.
GRID. buzz buzz buzz. You say that no marketing hype is allowed. Well, for all the buzz about GRIDs, the folks that can give you the skinny are prob to be found here. Depending on your location, asking one of them might just get a visit.
As you are at a university (and I am assuming you are in the U.S.), you might find that someone from the NSF would be able to give you some interesting insights into what they consider to be important, interesting and fundable. Again, not sure how successful you would be at getting anyone to visit, but it is a a starter for ideas.
Lastly, many of the folks that you might want to have present will be busy. It might be worth considering an interactive presentation over video. Sounds cheezy, but many folks are used to this type of presentation.
If you can only get a sales rep, don't bother. Most are trained towards talking with decision maker types and focus on business value. You'll want a sales engineer or someone techier.
One good way to approach this is to invite local CTO's to come speak. Start by contacting the marketing group at a company -- they have the power to arrange for speaking engagements that the strong techs can speak at. Frame it as a way to get local students/engineers familiar with the company and for a chance to have the CTO to get a look at what recent grads are doing. Companies, during any market climate, are always looking for extraordinary talent and welcome opportunities to peek inside the local university. Note that if you do get someone with hiring power to show up, make it clear that unless okayed in advance, don't drop a 100 resumes on the person.
Another source to look at is the school's graduate program. Talk to the faculty about researchers that are comfortable with presenting and have some interesting research going on. You're bound to have a grad student or PhD candidate that would love to talk about what they do and you're certain to get a truly technical talk from someone who can answer real questions.
I'd be partial to a covering of the latest and greatest developments in the electronic paper field and its various methods and applications. From organic LEDs that can be painted and baked onto carboard surfaces to the eventual replacement of every student's text book with the one book they'll ever need again, I find this topic infinitely fascinating.
If you are shooting for "material (that) has to be narrowly focused" then "leaning toward wireless for our first program" dose not sound like a good idea. There are dozens of sub topics that could easily fill an hour and a half time frame.
Don't get me wrong I think this is a great idea. I'd drive across town for some thing like this. As long as the speaker had a clue and with others attending that would be interested in various topics worth discussing. And to meet that really hot geek chick that I know is out that some place. That was for the post about driving across town for the sex (timdaly).
Anything futuristic/sci-fi. Sci-fi authors? Local professors/futurists talking about the future of X...
Segway - it's sortof becoming a joke, but they are fun to ride. Find someone local who has one. Talk about the control system, give people rides. A local electronics distributor who wanted our business conned us into letting them give a short seminar on their line card by bringing 2 segways for us all to ride.
Robots - Any cool robot researchers in the area? Have them talk & make sure they bring some hardware for show & tell.
NASA/Space - Any NASA centers near by? See if someone would be willing to give a talk on something cool.
Cheers,
-Bill
I'm not sure from the original article whether you're looking for mainly physical things, mainly software, or some combination of both, but here are a few ideas:
If you disagree, post your argument. (-1, Overrated) isn't your personal censorship tool for views you don't like.
The term "bleeding edge" meens that it's a forerunner in it's field. Picture an Axe - a wedge with a very sharp edge. When you swing it, the sharp edge goes first, slicing through whatever is in its path. It if hits your foot, there will be bleeding. Well, this "bleeding edge technology" is analagous to the edge of that wedge, the frontrunner, the first of it's type. Everything else follows in its wake - the wedge shaped path left behind by this first generation technology. Get it?
It's not really a buzz word, as it's describing anything that's cutting a path for future developments. Buzz words tend to be more focused, more directed, like "WiFi!" or "Voice Recognition" or "MegaPixels."
How are you going to keep them down on the farm once they've seen Karl Hungus?