Dan & Ralph Fink (OS facilitator), I can feel the spirit of invitation of a wonderful host team. And now the only thing that remains is to "be prepared to be surprised!"<br><br>Suzanne<br><br><br><br><div class="gmail_quote">
On Thu, Sep 22, 2011 at 11:40 PM, Daniel Mezick <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:dan.mezick@newtechusa.com">dan.mezick@newtechusa.com</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding-left: 1ex;">
<div bgcolor="#FFFFFF" text="#000000">
On 9/29 in Boston, we (Agile Boston) are producing an event called
Agile Day 2011 Boston. We have about 250 people coming. <br>
<br>
See <a href="http://newtechusa.net/user-groups/ma/agileday2011/" target="_blank">http://newtechusa.net/user-groups/ma/agileday2011/</a><br>
<br>
The event includes an Open Space in the afternoon. We are planning
full proceedings. The proceedings are to be delivered in PDF format
not later than 48 hours after the event. <br>
<br>
We are taking a shot at experimenting with some small improvements
that may prove useful for OST practitioners. <br>
<br>
Here is the list of things we are trying: <br>
<br>
1. Helium Balloons for Session Location Signage. We are using helium
balloons as the session-meeting-space signage. The balloons are
marked A,B,C,D etc and then tied to chairs or easels. The letters
and colors make it simple to use expansive convention spaces (no
walls or corners) for OST and point people to session spots from
very far away. "See that green balloon marked G way over yonder?
That's your session!" Etc. Chairs can get moved around and the spot
for meeting is still clearly marked and visible from far away.
That's the idea anyway !<br>
<br>
2. Yardsticks on Flipcharts. We know this one works. This technique
originated with the Agile Boston group, which has done 6 Open Spaces
so far. The technique allows the use of use flip charts in a session
without the need for an easel. The flip chart goes on a chair
instead. The technique goes like this: <br>
<br>
a. Get a flip chart, a yardstick, and some duct tape<br>
<br>
b. Affix yardstick to back of flip chart with duct tape, to make a
backbone for the flip chart. Let 1/2 inch of yardstick protrude at
bottom. This creates a little foot or anchor.<br>
<br>
c. Now place flip chart on chair. Back of chair supports yardstick,
yardstick supports flip-chart. The yardstick makes the flip chart
rigid. The 1/2 inch foot cushes into the chair seat cushion and
keeps the flip-chart upright and easy to write on when seated. <br>
<br>
<br>
3. Searchable PDF Proceedings. <br>
We are producing a high-quality, searchable, transcribed PDF of the
Open Space proceedings. At least 100 pages worth. Up to this point
few if any Open Spaces in Agile conferences are producing any
proceedings. Those that are, are not producing a searchable file.
Rather, the proceedings contain copies of proceedings forms, or
scanned images. We are aiming at producing a searchable PDF by
using a transcription service to convert scanned images to text to
render said text searchable in a delivered PDF. <br>
<br>
Steps<br>
<br>
a. At the event and before, make it very plain that conveners are
expected to make free-hand, paper-form-based proceedings happen.
Provide forms and pens but do not force anything further per se<br>
<br>
b. When a convened session is over, conveners are expected to go to
Newsroom with freehand forms filled out, to hand over. <br>
<br>
c. Volunteers rush to meet and serve convener, bench-checking the
handwritten form, photographing any artifacts generated on
flip-charts, and finally, sending the convener on his or her way
thereafter. <br>
<br>
d. Copy of proceedings-form is made, gets posted immediately in
Breaking News. Original gets scanned, sent to transcribers by email
and filed. Said transcribers send back RTF file. RTF file is
inserted into PDF and is now searchable etc. JPG artifacts are added
as needed per session. <br>
<br>
e. The completed searchable PDF is posted on a public share, free
to anyone in the world who has the link. <br>
<br>
f. Expected latency is no more than 48 hours per 200 pages of
proceedings generated<br>
<br>
We expect 20 sessions per round over 3 rounds of 50 minutes each in
this afternoon event. We expect 230++ people so we expect 60 or 70
sessions to document. <br>
<br>
We plan to post a full experience report here after the event, to
let you know how it goes, what we learned etc. We welcome and
strongly encourage suggestions, historical information about similar
stuff people have tried, specific guidance and so on. The event is
in one week. <br>
<br>
Dan<br>
<br>
<div>-- <br>
Daniel Mezick, President<br>
New Technology Solutions Inc.<br>
<a href="tel:%28203%29%20915%207248" value="+12039157248" target="_blank">(203) 915 7248</a> (cell)<br>
<a href="http://newtechusa.net/user-groups/ma/agileday2011/" target="_blank">AgileDay2011
Sept 29!</a>
<br>
<br>
<a href="http://newtechusa.net/dan-mezick/" target="_blank">Bio</a>,
<a href="http://newtechusa.net/blog/" target="_blank">Blog</a>, <a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/danmezick/" target="_blank">Twitter</a>,<br>
<a href="http://newtechusa.net/services/agile-scrum-training/" target="_blank">Team
Training</a>, <a href="http://newtechusa.net/services/agile-scrum-coaching/" target="_blank">Team
Coaching</a><br>
<a href="http://newtechusa.net//user-groups/ma/" target="_blank">Agile Boston!</a>
</div>
</div>
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<br></blockquote></div><br><br clear="all"><br>-- <br>Suzanne Daigle<br>NuFocus Strategic Group<br>7159 Victoria Circle<br>University Park, FL 34201<br>FL 941-359-8877; <br>CT 203-722-2009<br><a href="http://www.nufocusgroup.com" target="_blank">www.nufocusgroup.com</a><br>
<a href="mailto:s.daigle@nufocusgroup.com" target="_blank">s.daigle@nufocusgroup.com</a><br>twitter @suzannedaigle<br><br>
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