From Sfvlug

This page is a discussion on the SCALE events and our participation.

Preparation For SCALE-7x

Hi all, it's that time again, we are getting ready for this year's SCALE http://scale7x.socallinuxexpo.org/

This year in addition to our usual Psyche demo we are also going to spotlight some smaller projects too. Our overall theme is about using GNU/Linux/FLOSS in the home and small business, basically SOHO + personal use. The current working title is "Using Linux In The Home And Small Business Environment" but we still have a couple of days to come up with something better. If you have a favorite application, or more broadly any set of tools or applications, that you think might make a cool presentation please contact Brian or Kurt. You don't need to have an elaborate polished demo, just something you think visitors to SCALE might find interesting. You don't need to even attend the event as long as it is a presentation that fits in the theme, and our theme is quite broad and could include just about anything that could be useful to a small business or for personal use.

Please check back, we will be adding more content here as things progress. Please feel free to post suggestions, comments or questions here, in IRC or in the sfvlug mailing list.

Scale 2009

A Bit Of Reflection On SCALE 5x

I consider our presence at SCALE 5x a success despite the fact that we were unable to present our Psyche demo this year after failing to achieve a satisfactory recognition rate with Sphinx2, the speech recognition engine we had been using in the past. I had a chance to spend more time soaking in the event by concentrating more on the interaction with visitors to our booth than in putting on a presentation. I got a chance to meet a lot of nice folks and while it would be nice to have an attraction to draw in more folks I was reminded that our focus needs to be as much on community as it is on the technology itself.

I have a few suggestions I have based on my experience that might help us grow as a community through our presence at future SCALE events. Some of these suggestions have been discussed in the past but for one reason or another haven't been implemented.

• Printed Handouts - This year we provided printed hand outs with a map to our normal venues. This could be improved to include more information about our organization. Other information about Linux and open source software could be made available.

• Better Signs - We had our SFVLUG Tux poster but some folks didn't understand who or what we were easily from our signs.

• Branding - It would be great if we could provide stickers, or other low cost swag with name and URL included

• Scheduled Participation - I had plenty of help with the booth but it would have been nice to have known in advance when I'd be able to attend a presentation or go to the bathroom.

• Printer - There were many times it would have been handy to print out information for a visitor.

• CD/DVD Burner - I burned a few to hand out, mostly Knoppix 5.1.1 and Open CD for Windoze. It would be nice to continue this practice but a bit more on purpose.

--Miasma 23:07, 13 February 2007 (EST)