Notes on JSConf Australia 2016
I spoke at JSConf Australia in Melbourne at the beginning of this month. Like in CSS Conf Australia, the videos haven't been published individually yet, but the event was streamed live, and you can watch it again... and again... and again...
My brain got into one of those intensely obsessive focused moments pre-talk so I will admit I could barely pay attention to the talks prior to mine—I'm really sorry, specially because I heard so many good things about them!
These notes will be shorter because of that. Apologies if you were expecting a full conference review... but sometimes you cannot get everything you want! 😔
And now to the talks!
Jessica Lord: "Electron: A Tale of Two Processes"
This one was a really enlightening talk about Electron's architecture. I had no idea it worked that way, and my assumptions were basically wrong. It was good to be shown the truth in an amicable way—like Jessica's! I really enjoyed this talk and that's big, considering it was right before mine!
Ruth John: "How to be a Web A/V Artist"
Ruth explained the secrets behind her "Web VJ*" set-up and also managed to produce an even smaller MIDI controller than the last time I spoke to her. It's as if she kept getting Bluetooth miniatures!
She introduced some comedic elements into the talk but I'm not quite sure they worked for everyone... I felt some of the "funny samples" (like the Windows 9x error sounds) were lost on parts of the audience... that were younger than expected!
*Web VJ sounds so much like a new and upcoming API. Maybe... maybe... navigator.webvj.... 😏
Michaela Lehr: "An Introduction to WebVR"
She had an slightly different take on WebVR, which was really refreshing. She also mentioned things rarely mentioned such as the fact that VR can cause strong psychological and physiological responses on some people, and we need to be mindful of that when we design the new experiences in the web. If certain things are VR only, are we going to exclude some people this way?
Lena Reinhard: "Debugging the Tech Industry"
I have huge respect for Lena—she's always delivering these immensely difficult talks. It's hard to be the bearer of bad news. And there are plenty in tech!
Weeks after the talk, I'm still thinking about the message, and trying to come up with ways in which we can build tech that is not "accidentally" hostile to everyone who is not the creator of said tech.
Live.JS + Karaoke(.js?)
After the talks were done and we took the "family photo" and announcements were done, the room was cleared and Matt McKegg and Ruth John set up shop to have one of their Live.js events, like the one in Singapore.
I challenged Matt to "dubstepify" his act, which sort worked because his music is super improvisational.
Once they were done, an impetuous bunch of karaokers took up the stage and starting singing with lots of energy and heart and soul, but also lots of misplaced notes. I described this as "this is when the bar is closed, the last patrons get out and they really want to keep singing the last song the bar was playing, and so they keep singing it in the streets"...
This is when I left—and I was so tired anyway, I could barely stand on my feet, no energy left to listen to extremely eager karaokers---let alone join in the party 😜
Overall
Like CSS Conf, this was a really chill and enjoyable conference. I had again lots of interesting conversations--more so on this day because people had seen me speak, so they wanted to ask me questions or just discuss ideas they had had!
I also learnt a few things. All good stuff!
If you are ever faced with the possibility of submitting a proposal for this conference, don't even think about it—do it! It was really lovely and well organised—I'm very glad I was invited to apply and my proposal was accepted!
Also: Melbourne is such an interesting city... lots of things to look at and explore, from street art to museums to neighbourhoods to just buildings, and of course great food and coffee, although I still can't stop feeling so confused with "Jingle bells" playing on the background while signs for "Happy summer!" and "Merry Christmas" live side by side on the storefronts!
I feel like I'm missing out on the part of Australian culture that has warm reggae Christmas songs instead. If that doesn't exist—it MUST be invented!
And this is the last installment of "notes on..." for this year, at least!