2008 Pachyderm Conference

The focus of the Pachyderm Conference was to bring together authors, developers, and others in an ongoing conversation about how to communicate effectively with digital media. The conference will provide a forum for beginners to learn from established experts, and for those with more advanced skills to exchange ideas and gather inspiration from their peers.

The theme of this year’s conference was the power of story. Highlights will include final details about the next release of Pachyderm, which is imminent, as well as a special showcase of presentations that demonstrate the deep connection between story and audience.

This year, the conference took on a form that involves the audience in ways much like the "unconference" model. For those unfamiliar with this model, it allows room for presentations to come from the audience as well as pre-scheduled speakers. It is a kind of web 2.0-meets-real-life format that is both fun and informative.

In addition to informal or on-the-fly “unconference” sessions, attendees shared their experiences and learn from colleagues in a variety of traditional sessions, including:

• Keynotes: Leaders in the field of digital media will inspire attendees with thought-provoking discussions of current issues and opportunities.
• Panel Sessions: Discuss themes from design and creativity to planning and support with museum and higher education leaders.
• Conversations with Developers: Find out where Pachyderm is going, help to influence future development work, and meet the people who continue to develop Pachyderm in the open source community.
• Showcases: Leading Pachyderm authors will display their work in a Pachyderm Showcase that highlights the variety of disciplines using Pachyderm today.