Defrag - Blog Posts

Defrag 2014 Wrap Up

Defrag's Predictions for the Future of Tech

So what is in and growing in the world of technology? For sure containers, clouds and APIs. Containers allow developers to run more applications simultaneously and currently Docker is the king of containers. Docker provides open source application deployment through containers creating an additional layer of abstraction and replaces virtual machines. Google has developed Kubernetes, an open source container cluster manager to manage your Dock containers. IBM recently launched Bluemix, a platform that enables developers to launch applications on a cloud and scale up to handle increases of traffic. Personally I will be playing with Bluemix because a representative of IBM shared how Bluemix was used at a hackathon to quickly deploy an app. APIs (Application Programming Interface) are a set of tools used to build software applications. Each layer of APIs abstract from machine code, make interfacing with the machine easier by using more human language, and become more relevant to the application being designed. Managing APIs makes sense for developers especially because those in computing value abstraction and code reuse. Platforms for sharing, storing, and developing APIs are popular since developers will not have to reinvent the wheel to get an application running. Many companies need the same kinds of applications. Pools of APIs provide an interface for these generic needs.

Philosophy of Defrag

Nerd Nite is an event where science meets good times. Individuals present about their tech passion while the crowd enjoys a drink. Presentations from Nerd Nites have been memorable to me due to the pure energy driving the presentation and the motivation behind the presenter to simply share their ideas. There has been presentations about Star Wars, creating a to scale replica of the Big Dipper, and our Mayor's take on the method of choosing political delegates. Defrag is like Nerd Nite on crack. It is two days of back to back Nerd Nite-ish presentations topped with an evening of networking. Defrag's philosophy is to provide a conference for people to share their ideas while attendees to enjoy without being bored by sales pitches. Sure speakers are a part of a company but the focus of their presentations are bigger ideas. Defrag did such a good job implementing this philosophy that I felt uncomfortable when a speaker tried to make a plug for their product. It was like they were tarnishing Defrag's pure intent to simply share ideas. As I am sure many other Defraggers agree, it was refreshing to hear the tech industry is still human.

What I Learned

As a sophomore in college I'm sure what I got out of this conference was pretty different than the majority of attendees working in industry. I could talk to you all day about new applications/technologies I learned about, but mostly I felt relieved about the kind of environment, although still not ideal, tech industry will provide in my career. IBM's Most Prolific Female Inventor, Lisa Seacat DeLuca, presented about her daily life patenting, inventing, and raising two awesome kids. She is the proof of concept of work life balance; pursuing your personal and career goals. In tech industry, getting eight hours of sleep and having a social life is possible! Author Jane Miller wrote this kick butt book debunking stereotypes in the workplace, "Sleep Your Way to the Top", after someone in her workplace questioned if her current position in the company was not due to her ability alone. While flipping through my copy I see great tips on how to handle awkward situations in the workplace, how to defend yourself in industry, and how leaders in these companies can be good leaders. Miller's advice to the audience is "give honest feedback, don't be a jerk, and mentor". At Defrag I saw people aware of the change needed in industry to make work environment more female friendly, as well as more friendly in general, and an attitude to make that change.

Experience at the conference confirmed my decision to study what I am and motivated me to continue pursuing what I love. I enjoyed representing NCWIT as an Aspirations in Computing Award winner, representing University of Minnesota Duluth for the first time at a tech event and meeting others with similar passions in technology. Defrag you rock!

Links to Check Out (Basically what I will be doing, reading, and playing with over winter break)

"We'll do it live!!" Bluemix where I will be making apps this winter: https://console.ng.bluemix.net/

Docker/ Container Links: https://www.docker.com/ http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Docker_(software)

NCWIT National Center for Women in Information Technology go to for Women in Tech stats and proven ways to close the gender gap in tech: http://www.ncwit.org/

SKYNET IS REAL bow down: http://developer.octoblu.com/

Robots that forecast weather: http://understoryweather.com/

Defrag Conference: http://www.defragcon.com/2014/

Defrag tech swag.

Are Apps Worth Our Time? Defrag Day 2

Our obsession of technology has amounted to 11 hours of action yesterday at Defrag 2014. A theme throughout all of the conference is determining if this obsession is worth while.  Speaker Anil Dash, from Think Up, explored if technology is a good use of time.  How often you scrolled through your Facebook newsfeed, sent a tweet, or Snapchated a pic? In fact, you are using a form of social media right now. Social media is a tool used to connect others, yet there may not be much to show from all of our time on apps. Dash recognizes that companies will do their best to "steal your time" and keep you on their apps longer. As developers and innovators there exists a level of responsibility since what is created will use people's precious time, therefore should be worth a user's while. Tech creators, in Dash's words, must "earn (a user's) time. As a user, be aware of who creates your apps and social media tools . Is it a "ma and pop", giant company's, or 20 something year old from silicon valley's app? Reflect if you are getting anything out of your time. Thankfully, I can reflect and see that through the power of social media I have been able to make connections with others who share similar interests with me and opened doors to many opportunities. However if your time is spent racking up "likes", a rearrangement of priorities may be in order. Time is the most valuable resource, use it wisely.

Defrag 2014's Take On Data Security

As reflected by our year of high traffic social media platforms, large scale company hacks, and increased amount of data, security of that data has become a top priority in tech. Defrag had a series of break out sessions that featured security. Hot topics highly discussed this afternoon have included the slippery slope of "who owns your data?" presented by Lorinda Brandon from SmartBear, "what's in your trash" explored by Rory O'Rouke, and online security challenges revealed by Rami Essaid of Distil Networks.

The biggest lie on the internet, according to Brandon, is that "you read the Terms Of Use". Let's be honest, we all quickly check the "read" box, and do not bother to even open the privacy policy. Why? To even understand the ramifications of what you are agreeing to would take hours and still be missing details. Brandon shared her hours long experience picking apart Samsung's privacy policy and found that Samsung "Share(s) information for purposes of business and ecosystem". Our data and how businesses use it for their own profitable benefit can be unclear. As innovators in tech it is necessary to be mindful of other's data and be transparent with users.

Bounce.io utilizes digital waste by finding treasure in trash, taking data on what kinds of emails "bounce back" to a user and why it was kicked out.  A cool idea O'Rouke of Bounce.io mentioned was a user comparing emails in their spam about penny stocks to the actual performance of that penny stock in the market. If information about a stock ends up in your spam, does that indicate that the stock is a poor investment.

2014 has been filled with a "storm of security attacks" as pointed out by Essaid with the security hacking of Target, Sears, and Home Depot. Unfortunately, hacking has become a profession where it pays to be bad; easy, cheap, low risk, and a big payoff. One of the biggest factors that companies are missing is the idea of prevention accompanied by a plan for reaction if an attack occurs. An attack is inevitable, as the data illustrates with the thousands of bots in existence, so not having a reaction plan is foolish. An interesting scenario Essaid pointed out your website may not be the one that is initially hacked into, yet another website's user names and passwords can be hacked and then bots use these stolen usernames and passwords to access your website's accounts.

How to get involved...

- Become aware of your data footprint and who shares your data

- Advocate for transparency about how companies use your data

- Check security settings on your social media

- If in the tech industry, ensure your company is prepared for security breach

First Impressions of Defrag 2014

In just a few hours attending Defrag 2014 my skepticism about drones has been eliminated, early computing has become extremely interesting, and I now believe that the vacant/occupied bathroom indicators on airplanes are genius. Experiencing Defrag starts by being welcomed into an idea intimate environment with tech "swag" (goodie bags), refreshments, and an imitate establishment that we are here to share ideas and grow ourselves. These ideas are first shared via keynote presentations by professionals from across the spectrum of tech including Chris Anderson from 3D Robotics, George Dyson author of "Turning's Cathedral" and Amber Case from Esri.

When the word "drone" is mentioned initial things that come to my mind include military drones that are used in combat and the seemingly foolish idea to use drones to deliver packages from Amazon. A word that didn't come to mind was Orangutans. Orangutans... you mean the primate? Yes. Anderson shared a unique and useful application of drones is to track wildlife and their well being. Primates make nests daily and can be identified from imaging captured by drones. In industry, a practical application for drones includes surveying of farm land. From an aerial view farms can get real time feedback in their crops and react accordingly without wasting money on chemicals and waiting to see a result.

"Imitation Game" is a motion picture releasing on November 28th which follows Alan Turning's challenge reverse engineering the Enigma Machine. Dyson provided an excellent crash course in computing's journey, including Turning's contribution, from analog to digital. He shared most importantly the unbiased vision of the future of computing that was imagined before computing was born. A way computing can grow is by letting the computer make mistakes and learn. Reliability isn't necessarily ideal. In conclusion Dyson shared his vision for future of computing... 1) 3D computation 2) Template-based addressing 3) Pulse-frequency coding 4) Analog Computing

Technology can be overwhelming! Bells, whistles, and features galore. Sometimes we just want something to accomplish a task when we want it and not give annoying notifications. Amber Case spoke about Calm Technology that promotes "Great design (which) allows people to accomplish their goals in the least amount of moves". Airplane bathroom vacancy indicator is a calm technology approach to alert a user of information they need in an un-invasive manner.  "A person's primary task shouldn't be computing but being human."

How you can get involved...

Drones: Imaging of the future is surprisingly affordable and even available in toy stores! They can be picked up for easily under $500 and programmed to your will.

History of Computing: Often neglected in education, history of computing and technology is a way to look back in order to look forward farther. Research about the history of technology and find unbiased inspiration.

Calm Technology: Case mentioned a fun exercise where you design the most overly complicated piece of technology and try to "calm it". Get your product to be as efficient in helping reach the end goal as possible.

Looking Forward to Defrag 2014

Drones, APIs, and Raspberry Pi, Defrag 2014 is a unique tech conference which the coordinators describe "explores the frontiers of technology's intersections with society". Recently I was granted a scholarship, sponsored by True Ventures, to attend Defrag in snow capped mountainous state of Colorado. Thousands of the scientifically savvy will be gathered at Omni Interlocken Resort to take part in a two day tech intensive filled with keynote speakers, break outs, and networking galore. Representatives of big name companies like IBM, Microsoft, Google, Dell, and AT&T will be attending. Aside from from my anticipation of the innovative atmosphere, I am excited to attend keynotes with the names "Robots Take Flight", "Monkey Selfies and Other Conundrums: Who Owns Your Data?", and "Can you Handle the Big Data Explosion?" name just a few. With pen, legal pad, and ideas to contribute I am ready for Defrag 2014 to blow my mind.

Where does the word defrag come from?

Defrag is short for defragmentation. When a file is stored in memory, space which that file takes up may not necessarily be continuous. Meaning, pieces of the file could be stored in chunks separate from each other. Defragmentation matches the pieces that correspond to one another and puts them next to each other. This makes retrieving files faster.

How can I get in on the action?

Throughout both days I will be blogging about my experience which you can follow here. Defrag has their own Twitter tag #defragcon which will provide updates on happenings during the conference. Check out Defrag: http://www.defragcon.com/2014/