[March 07] O’Reilly’s Emerging Technology Conference 2007

So I’m going to spend this week talking about the plans for the March USA trip and the conferences I’m attending. And like a good story teller, I’ll start at the end. The last gig of the trip is in San Diego, and O’Reilly’s Emerging Technology Conference. This will be the fourth year I’ve attended, and it’s teh conference that probably started me down the path that I’m now on with The Podcast Network.

Back in 2004, I was invited over to speak at Etech on OPL (the BASIC like programming langauge for Symbian OS back in the v6.0 and 6.1 days). My first time in America, my first big conference experience, and the chance to meet a whole new group of friends. At the time I was still heading up the Tech Support Team in London for Pinnock Organiser Service, a far cry from where I am now.

Anyway, while I was at that first Etech, I met up with Mick Stanic, who was over there to see what new stuff tehre was for his work in the Australlian Advertising Industry. As thigns progressed in 2004, podcasting started to get more attention, and when Mick joined up with Cameron Reilly, first to do G’day World, and then The Podcast Network, I was invited to help set up the network with them. The rest you all know.

So I have a soft spot for Etech – partly because of the subjects it brings up, but mostly because it puts in one room a whole bundle of smart people with ideas, investors, and managers. A heady mix indeed. This year will be no different, and the usual mix of Tech Conference interviews and news will be a little oasis of calm at the end of the journey. I’m not woried in the slightest about finding stories and news in South California. And when it’s all over, I’ll relax on teh Friday before starting the flight home to Edinburgh at 5pm.

You can read about my first Etech on my blog, starting here and working forwards in time.