Northern Voice 2009 - my thoughts...
February 22, 2009
I love Northern Voice. It is simply the most satisfying conference I attend each year. Yes, the conference is centred around blogging and social media. But, its really about much more than that. Its about a bunch of people using technology to be more human. Yes, there is sessions that talk about the business side of blogging, but even those feel much more like a late night conversation over drinks as opposed to a structured presentation in a board room.
I had to miss my first day of Northern Voice ever, in 5 years. Saturday, I had to go to Williams Lake to participate in an info session on something else I am passionate about - a new electoral system for BC.
My impressions on Friday:
- Stewart Butterfield is one down to earth technology leader
- Chris Heuer has some important messages on advertising online
- Bruce Sharpe has put together list of resources for audio and video online
- Roland Tanglao is still doing yeoman's service evangelizing mobile cell phone video.
I also was struck that this is the first Northern Voice where my laptop stayed firmly in my backpack. Thats what an iphone can do for you!
I am really bummed that I missed my friend Rob Cottingham's Saturday keynote. By all accounts, it was really incredible (see twitter stream at the bottom of his wife Alexandra Samuel's post)
I also missed spending time with my friends Robin Yap and Jeffrey Keefer, who could not be at Northern Voice this year.