Every year since 1993, IBM Almaden has organized a one-day research/technology conference called New Paradigms in Using Computers (NPUC). This year’s theme, organized by Jeff Pierce and John Barton, is “The Future of Design and Software Development” Featured speakers include Brad Myers, Ethan Eismann, Gina Venolia, Caitlin Kelleher, Kimberley Peter, and Rastislav Bodik. In addition to the speakers, there are lots of demos both from within IBM and from others.
I was looking forward to attending again, particularly because I had at one point considered looking at the HCI of programming for my dissertation. Instead, I will be spending at least part of the day in Redwood City in a jury selection process for the Superior Court of California that did not conclude today.
This is the closest I’ve ever gotten to being on a jury in 26 years of being a registered voter in California, and I admit to mixed feelings about tomorrow’s decision: On one hand, it would be interesting to observe a trial and (hopefully) see justice done, but on the other hand, I can certainly find more productive things to do for the next three weeks.
ps: For those who cannot attend but are not trapped by the legal system, streaming video of the event will be available.