_ The Zero Emissions Strategy Conference

Geeks' Corner

OK, so we are still working here with 18th century Web technology thus far. Here's why.

Since we are working with a very hetero-equipped group here for the purposes of the conference (scientists,policy makers, bureaucrats), we always have to bear the lowest common denominator in mind. Thus, if we put any of this latest interesting but memory intensive stuff to work on the site, we risk to slow up the process for those with slower systems. But, let me say this as well: ignorance, sloth and time limitations have THUS FAR played a determining role in our chjoice of Web authoring and management techologies. Thus, in designing the present site and with survival as a core value, we have stuck to our now-old WebEdit authoring software (almost a year ancient), which as you can see in our hands gives adequate if not sensational results. We are going on top of this with FrontPage 97 as well, but using the latter mainly to fill in the obviously gaping holes. (By the way, we are using WS_FTP95 for managing the site (prodided for a fee by PrimeHost of AOL in Vienna, Virginia); again, year-old technology but works for us just fine (and fast).)

Indeed, one of our hopes in setting up the Geeks Corner is that some of you out there will give us some pointers and perhaps even a hand in improving the site.

Our Target Group for the Conference

Those on the leading edge of the issues before this meeting are almost certainly going to have to develop a whole new line of skills. And that of course in good part is what the present conference is all about. Think of it perhaps as a trial or test run of low cost and low perturbance, but, we hope, of high collaboratoin and high yield.

The truth is however that for reason of age, temperament, training, and other occupations and interests, many of those who traditionally come to meetings like this do not (as yet) have the skills needed to take full advantage of these powerful (potentially) new PC and telecoms technologies. Moreover, if you wander into their work spaces you will all too often spot that they simply do not have the technical gear, hardware or software, that would otherwise permit them to harness this, I think the word is not too strong, enormous potential. Worse yet, many of them continue to resist making the effort that is needed to bridge this non-trivial gap.

One of the principal objectives of this conference, therefore, is to see if we can help bring together these two otherwise disparate communities of interest, in an actual operational situation which will in many of its parts be entirely recognizable, i.e., the conference experience, and to see if we can somehow make it clear to at least some of those who participate that it is going to be worthwhile for them to consider gearing up to become reasonably skilled practitioners of this new technology.

For more on this have a look at:

The New Media: New Skills for the Research and Policy Communities This short piece which has been placed in the Podium is intended to set out some of the technical challenges and issues which this whole effort is trying to address adn perhaps advance.

Geek Reminders to Their Masters

In the email that has come in thus far, there is a theme of complaints from those running institutions and programs concerning the difficulties encountered in getting their Web site up and running in a timely and cost-effective manner. Interestingly enough of course, it's the other guy's fault. In actual fact, we see this as one more example of the uneasy geek/master compromise.

Thus, it strikes us that it might be useful to provide those who need it with a few friendly guidelines on how to get value for money out of their Websites and those who are asked to labor to make them work. What is perhaps most striking about all this when it does not work out is the syndrome of under-instruction, under-understanding, and almost under-caring. The master commisoins, waits what seems to him/her to be an intolerably long time, and then goes ballistic when the magic wand does not somehow yield their hoped for but ever so unspecified results.

Can we help them? Maybe with a Geek's Ten Commandments? ("Thou shalt not grunt and run....." "Thou shalt not ever spend more than two/three days away from the test site without checking in and leaving a kind (short) memo with questions and helpful observations"???)

"Geeks Against Unnecessary Emissions"

What if we put our heads together to come up with a Geek estimate of the ecological advantages of virtual conferencing? We'd need of course to do a bit of creative estimating (a process which would be helped once we have some feedback on usage (see above, and do give your suggestions)). We could suppose that the conference itself takes place in some sort of comfortable international capital like Paris, figure out travel, fuel, etc. (and maybe $ savings) savings for our various participants, and then opine a bit on what it means. Ideas? Fuel for the whole thing? Might be some interesting fodder for the Press Room.

Examples of Help and Dialog on the Net

Your reactions and suggestions for case study ideas or collaboration here