Keynote Speakers

Saturday AM Keynote Speaker:  Philip Rosedale (SL: Philip Linden)
Saturday, 8/14 from 8AM to 9AM EST

Philip recently returned as interim CEO after Mark Kingdon stepped down in July, and we expect that he’ll address the company’s future direction and Linden Lab’s “return to the basics” of improving the core Second Life experience.   In a recent post on the Second Life blogs, Philip talked frankly about addressing Resident’s concerns.  “We need to get back to being the first to invent and deliver the solutions that evolve virtual worlds,” said Rosedale, “We are still at the beginning of a huge market.”   Rosedale’s speech will be delivered in world and simultaneously webcast to attendees of the Second Life Community Convention in Boston on Saturday morning.

“Rezzing Prims and Painting the Future”  Doug Thompson  (SL: Dusan Writer)
Saturday, 8/14 from 1PM to 2PM EST

Second Life gets one thing absolutely right: its ability to paint a picture of the future.  Through Second Life, we begin to understand how our lives will evolve and change because of technology; the promise and peril of increased virtuality; and the larger implications of an individual’s ability to rez a prim. Drawing from lessons and discussions with leading thinkers, this presentation will take a rapid tour through how Second Life is informed by (and informs) disciplines as diverse as game design and theory, architecture, organizational development, innovation, spirituality, content creation, commerce, governance and branding. As the pace of technology continues to accelerate, how can Second Life continue to be a source of rich value, connections and insights and is there a continued role in this changing landscape for the act of rezzing a prim?

“Pioneers in Virtual Worlds:  Your Time Is Always Now” John Lester (SL: Pathfinder Linden)
Sunday, 8/15 from 8AM to 9AM EST

Platforms for creativity and community will always arise, grow and change over time. Regardless of the nature of any specific platform, it’s the users of those platforms, specifically people with pioneering spirits and creative ideas, who drive innovation within the platform as well as the inevitable development of new platforms. In this keynote, John will talk about pioneers in Virtual Worlds, exploring their role in a constellation of available tools for creative expression and communication. He will discuss why community building is critical to the evolution of any creative platform and why cultural understanding is the most important factor for success that needs to be cultivated by both platform creators and users. New challenges always create new opportunities, and John’s keynote will highlight why the time of pioneers in Virtual Worlds is…and always will be…*now.*

“The Second Life Viewer: What’s Next?”
Kent Quirk (SL: Q Linden), Scott Lawrence (SL: Oz Linden), and Sarah Hutchinson (SL: Esbee Linden)
Sunday, 8/15 from 1PM to 2PM EST

Linden Lab spent the better part of the last two years working heads down on Viewer 2. The focus was on creating a Viewer that would be easier for new users to adopt. It has become clear, however, that this design did not meet the needs of an important fraction of our existing Resident community. We’re now embarking on a new, more open and collaborative approach. The people leading this effort will explain what, why, and how in a special panel keynote session.

Saturday Evening Social Events

Tallguy Kidd performs at SLCC09.
Image courtesy isfullofcrap.

Second Life Musicians Showcase:  Music ‘R’ Us
Saturday, 8/14 from 7PM to 9:30PM

Saturday night, get your dancing shoes on to enjoy the live musical performances of a great line-up of Second Life musicians!  The evening will include performances from individual musicians as well as old and new musical friends, including Jean Munro, Mash Rhode, Gandalf Mornington, Stratus Mactavish, Tamra Sands, Handarido Optera, Edmund Collins, Edward Lowell, Dann Numbers, Casias Falta, Debi Latte and Katydid Something.   The entertainment will be emcee’d by the inestimable Lauren Weyland.

AvaCon Presents the Avatar Ball:  Come As Your Avatar or As You Are!
Saturday, 8/14 from 10PM to 1AM

Saturday evening, AvaCon will host a premier social event open to all SLCC attendees.   The theme of this year’s event is to “Come as Your Avatar”, or if you don’t feel like getting into full costume, you can just come as you are!  Meet up with Second Life friends and colleagues while everyone brings their SL Avatars to real life at the Avatar Ball!  Lively DJ’s will be spinning the best dance music of the 80’s, 90’s, 00’s, and today. There will be several surprising door-prize give-aways throughout the night, all generously donated by our wonderful sponsors, a “Best Dressed” contest and (for fun!) a “Worst Dressed” contest, a cash bar, and we’ll be dancing all night long!

Sunday Evening Social Events

“LIFE 2.0” Feature Film Screening and Q&A with Director Jason Spingarn-Koff
Sunday, 8/15 from 7:30PM to 10PM

Sunday evening after the convention formally closes, join us for a private screening  of the feature film documentary “LIFE 2.0” with the film’s director, Jason Spingarn-Koff, and a Q&A session to follow.  “LIFE 2.0” is about an upgrade of the human operating system — where life is no longer determined just by atoms, but also by bits. It’s about a remaking of identity, relationships, and the nature of reality. First time feature director Jason Spingarn-Koff digs deeply into the core of basic human interaction by assuming his own avatar and immersing himself in the worlds of Second Life residents – whose real lives have been drastically transformed by the new lives they lead in cyberspace. In doing so, he manages to create an intimate, character-based drama that forces us to question not only who we are, but who we long to be.