(cover photo under Creative Commons licence by Adrian Howard)

Where are we then? In my first post on this platform I said I will try to see whether technology and social media can help us in achieving the Millennium Goals. What I know for now and what I start to realize it more and more as I look at UK, Polish and global projects and communities is the conviction that new media and new technologies bring people together around specific themes. Whether newly created communities, or already build but moved on-line groups  - people find it easier to access and filter information and contacts, collaborate on projects and finally deliver solutions that are in many cases open source (read - easy to adjust to new fields, free to use by any one, supported by specialists in the field, etc). With the increasing popularity of geolocation based solutions we grow confident in reaching out to the right audiences in our areas. With new style of on-line gaming, we can easily engage our project supporters in work towards common goals - and this based on game mechanics we carry in our genes and practice since early years of our lives. Not to mention augmented reality! Have you tried 'Layar' app on your phone? It's fun, super speed and easy to find information wherever we are!

Today I would like to focus on two elements of technological progress - open source solutions and inclusiveness. Both are connected to the Barcamp Oxford I helped organizing yesterday. You might not be familiar with this form of events, but trust me - they are truly inspiring, often unpredictable. The idea is to provide field, venue and assets for discussion, but reverse the model of conference (one speaker, passive audience) to active participation (one moderator/speaker, everyone contributing). Also called 'un-conferences', they require support from attendees on every level - even organizing. So you will see people changing you at reception, bringing coffee, helping with design, taking notes, blogging and finally cleaning. It's a day or two of team work and great group photos;)

Barcamp Oxford happened for 2nd time this year, organized by people working in and with various fields of technology, so I personally felt rather like I am helping out - since I am at the back end of everything those wonderfully talented and passionate people create. Nevertheless as a great supporter of open thinking, I found the invitation to organizing as privilege, and the actual attendance fun! To give you a better picture of it, from organizers' point of view, I prepared three interviews. Have a listen!

Now, having worked for larger corporations, I understand the marketing approach to closed, unique solutions. I personally however do not think that those are sustainable in long run. Both as consumers, as well as developers we grow up to realize that the world is smaller and we need to share, collaborate and deliver new solutions faster feeding our ideas from common pool of skills and experiences. I would like to know whether you agree with me on this one, by the way!;)

Secondly I wanted to mention the session I held yesterday. Having no experience in design or programming, the only technical topic I could come up with was the discussion on women in technology (and another event planned for this summer in Oxford). You can find the notes here, but I would like to focus on my favorite bits. I really liked the fact that the discussion happened in team dominated by men - which I rarely happen to experience, so maybe I should do it more often;). The points mentioned, as well as attitudes reflected in our statements reflected one brilliant state of variety and tolerance. There are areas or the world and IT related professions where women are still discriminated. There are areas, where women receive exceptional support - which might be needed, but might be offensive or unjust. There are areas where women are simply not present, so it's difficult to bring them into the field. And there are areas where women are present, but not as active (we looked at it from networking point of view) as men. From my point of view the creation of new event targeting the increasing of women participation in 'geek' events makes sense - but for me any new event does;) I think this tweet sums it all up.

There is also the idea of 'geek' terms too. We had a short discussion of very negative, more traditional meaning of the word. We also looked at new meanings related to the social, the community person.

So the points I took out of the event were simple: it's great to talk to people from various fields, both sexes, many regions of the world about topics that interest me and be able to maintain supportive, productive level of discussions. In places like Barcamp Oxford you simply feel that your skills and ideas are valued, so it's great to be yourself!;) This is why I cannot stop thinking of one sentence mentioned in my session by Noirin - very inspiring girl from Google, who said in relation to lack of pink or more generally targeted at women devices on the market:

'Me, I love pink!'

Above: Noirin at the reception desk

I also like pink sometimes, but most of all - I like to feel I can be who I really am. I like to feel that the elements of my life related to technology - like this event for instance - bring the best of me, while at the same time provide great opportunities for improvements in some serious work on serious solutions. Those solutions might become crucial to your daily work in few months time - see Twitter for example. My entire involvement in transparency issues has started during previous Barcamp Oxford, so I am a living example of how a barcamp can change, improve one's path.

When it comes to solutions there will always be some limitations, of course. As mentioned under my post on the virtual launch of 'The Networked Nonprofits', the quality of Internet connection might become restrictive. It's a serious barrier of development, which must be considered - by developing communities' access to the web or simply looking for alternative solutions. And there are plenty of those!

Let's just remember the 'social' element of 'social media' term - which clearly points to the real, off-line connections and practical usability of solutions. We need to apply new technologies wisely. However if we do, we will only benefit from them. We will enjoy new tools. We will meet in new communities. We will achieve our goals faster, more efficiently, and with fun. So let's sit back, and enjoy the new meanings of old relationships and emotions. Let's enjoy the term 'geek in pink';)