What is an unconference?
BarCamp is an international network of user generated conferences — open, participatory workshop-events, whose content is provided by participants.
The concept started in Silicon Valley and has since gone global with an estimated 350 barcamps being held worldwide.
BarCampBelfast was held on Saturday 25th April at the University of Ulster Belfast Campus, or the Art College, as it's better known. For those who couldn't make it along the event was streamed live over the web.
Who was there?
36 speakers and 350 participants from far and wide signed up on the BarCampBelfast web site beforehand. In fact, the event had to be moved from the original smaller venue due to the numbers wishing to attend.
Presentations & talks were provided by designers, developers and startups with the aim to share and learn in an open environment.
How does it work?
It couldn't be simpler...
| Sign In Upon arrival register by writing your real name and twitter name (more on that later) on a sticky label provided by the cheerful desk staff. |  |
| Timetable Next you browse the planning grid, which is generated by the speakers posting their subject matter and name using low tech post-it notes. |  |
| The Presentations You just turn up to the rooms/talks that most interest you over the day. |  |
| Network Finally you have the chance to network over coffee and lunch in the corridors. |  |
What was discussed?
A wide range of both technical and business topics were discussed from Wordpress to Web Startups and many things in between.
Davy Sims was podcasting from the event and his report gives a great overview:
MP3
http://www.simsdigitalmedia.com/podcasts/digitalcircle/audio/barcampbelfast.mp3
iTunes
http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=287940123
Featured:
What was the atmosphere like?
In a word - buzzing!
Normally at conferences I find networking can be limited to a few bods sitting beside me in the talks and casual chats over coffee or lunch.
However BarCampBelfast really excelled in this area. Having
@twitternames on the badges meant frequently stopping (or being stopped) by people that I had never met before in real life. It was a great means to break the ice and I'm pleased to say everyone I spoke with turned out to be just as nice in the real world!
Who pulled it all together?
The event was organised by Andy McMillan (pictured right) with a little help from a few friends on the day. They should be highly commended for putting many hours of their own blood/sweat/tears/blisters and free time into organising and running the event.
A special mention should also go to Bean and Gone Artisan Coffee who kindly provided free coffee to keep everyone going through the day http://www.beanandgone.com
Other Sponsors included: 4IP, Digital Circle, Creative Online Media, Auto Register, PropertyPal.com and the University of Ulster. |  |
For more information on BarCamp checkout:
http://www.barcampbelfast.com
http://barcamp.org
Thanks to Colin Parte for supplying pictures for this post.
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