TechnologyEmergencyRoom
Companies sometimes want to gain value for themselves by sending attendees. Although there are lots of experts at OOPSLA, shy attendees or less expert ones might not be able to talk to them about their particular issues. So, how about having a Technology Emergency Room (and Management Emergency Room) in which the experts as identified by the conference committee have sign-up sheets for a particular time of day (at the end of the conference day but before supper) once or twice during the conference where people can sign up for 6 minutes of interaction with a specific expert, preferrably on a small, concrete problem? Think of it as 6 minutes of free consulting. -rpg
At "Using Patterns", we had a session called "What is your problem?" People who wanted to participate talked to me in advance and I had them practice their problem with me. During the session, they described their problem in 2-5 minutes. Then
the experts started to say how their problem should be solved.The experts said "look at this paper" and "it seems to me that
you ought to use the Rolling Averages pattern" and things likethat. The experts were not at a table up front, they were
the audience, and I was very impressed at how good they were.There were maybe 60 people at UP, and if there were 200 people
in the audience then it would probably be good to get a panel of experts to take a first crack at things. But I think this couldwork at OOPSLA, too.
My idea isn't an emergency room as much as it is a TV show
about emergency rooms. -RalphJohnson
This notion reminds me of OpenSpace. --RonJeffries
At the System Dynamics Conferences I attended, we had a session similar to what Ron describes. Experienced modelers helping newcomers (like me) -- Senge was among them, Forrester, so an opportunity to learn and a chance to meet with the incrowd. I loved the sessions. MartineDevos
OpenSpace focuses on people interested in a topic getting engaged in a discussion. What Ralph described is a more structured way of getting pattern advice from experts. I like the dynamics of open spaces combined with speed-dating like interaction with experts...but I'm not sure people need to come in with a "rehearsed" problem. RebeccaWirfsBrock