[Sketching11] Sketching in Hardware Update #2

[Mike Kuniavsky]

CONTENTS
  - Beginning and end times
  - Presentation topics (again!)
  - Presenting with others?
  - Please keep your presentations to 18 minutes
  - Bringing new technology?
  - If you haven't paid, please pay
  - An NSF grant!

CONFERENCE TIMES
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Several folks have asked what the conference times will be. We will serve 
breakfast at 8:30 every morning at the Franklin Institute and 
presentations will start at 9AM. We'll wrap the main program at 5PM every 
day. Dinner is scheduled at 6:15PM on Friday at the Frankford Hall bier 
garden (we've taken care of the food, the beer is on you) and 5:45 at the 
Continental on Saturday (again, we got the food, the martinis--the 
restaurant specializes in martinis--are up to you). Sunday there will be a 
post-even drinks (location TBD).

PRESENTATION TOPICS
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
If you haven't sent me your presentation topic already, please send it 
ASAP. If you're having trouble figuring out what to present, contact me 
and we'll work something out.

PRESENTATING WITH OTHERS?
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
If you are planning to present with another Sketching participant, please 
let me know so that I can schedule you into the same time slot. Group 
presentations can get extra time (see below) if you'd like to explore a 
topic in more detail or have a group discussion.

PRESENTATIONS ARE EIGHTEEN MINUTES LONG, SERIOUSLY
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
We have a sellout crowd this year, which is great, but it means that we're 
going to stick to the schedule tightly. Please plan your presentations 
with the expectation that there will be a hard stop at 18 minutes.

We will tell you when you are at the 10 minute mark, the 15 minute mark, 
and when you're approaching 18 minutes, but I am counting on you to 
structure your presentation so that it'll fit.

BRINGING NEW TECHNOLOGY?
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Are you bringing new things to show off? Please do, and please let me 
know. I'm working on the schedule and as we did last year, I'm making 
space in the schedule for a kind of "Science Fair" style that will give 
everyone an opportunity to get some in-depth experience with everyone 
else's new cool stuff.

If you're considering bringing something to show and aren't sure if it's 
ready, just bring it and show what you have. Having nearly complete 
projects is as exciting as having the finished thing. But do let me know.

PLEASE PAY
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
If you haven't paid, there are two Pay Now buttons on sketching11.com that 
make it easy for you: the smaller button is for the $100 initial deposit, 
the larger button is for the $350 remainder. If you have any questions 
about payment, feel free to ask.

NSF GRANT
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
With the guidance of Sketching participant Pamela Jennings of the National 
Science Foundation and the help of Phil Van Allen of Art Center College of 
Design, Sketching in Hardware has been awarded a grant to help offset the 
cost of putting on the conference. This year it was especially necessary, 
since our costs were significantly higher than any previous Sketching 
event, so thank you Pamela, Phil and the NSF!

-- 
Mike Kuniavsky
mikek at sketching11.com