[RTC List] Tech Conference

[Sterling Barlow]

This is my first post to this list. I became a member of RedwoodTech in anticipation of relocation to Humboldt County and this seemed a good place to come up-to-date on geo-centric tech issues.

Robert Beckerdite wrote "The maintenance of things like backup, patch management, anti-virus signature updates, wireless networks and personal firewalls are all areas where modern businesses find a lot of difficulty.  I think a lot of people and businesses simply don't know how to prioritize addressing these issues vs their day to day operational/life needs."

A few observations:

1 - There was a time when each of us were novices. There are always others who need to learn things that, for us, are now "common-sense" or about which our awareness is so high we respond without conscious thought. Everyone has to climb the same steep tech learning curve and can be found somewhere on that continuum. So the need for instruction on the issues Robert listed is always with us.

2 - The number of us who could be considered "highly tech literate" is and likely will remain quite small. The number who struggle to learn enough to function adequately is very large and constantly replenished.

3 - It appears the function of Redwood Tech Conferences is awareness and education.

4 - It appears Redwood Tech could use increased membership, participation and community awareness.

5 - How about multiple tracks at the Tech Conferences: one for broadband advocates, one for mom and pop entrepreneurs who want to learn enough to proficiently manage their rudimentary IT needs, perhaps another for ongoing topical needs (security, net admin, web presence, etc.) While there may be inadequate current participation to support all the conference could become, if the agenda is appealing enough to "average folk" as well as "geeks" it could grow and perhaps increase continuing participation in the group.