Just after Frontiers 2006

Posted on 20/06/2006 by admin

This is REALLY a tough sequence of tough tough days. But let’s say first things first,

The Interaction Frontiers has been a wonderful event packed with great speeches from bright minded speakers. I expected something like 90 people but we largerly exceeded 100s! (with a pick of 120 people in the same room during a working day!!).

This is a short video of the atmosphere we had:

Flickr is plenty with photos of the event, just to let all you know the mood we breathed last Friday: this was probably the first Innovation related event with great deejaying live (I scratched too!), we had great speakers (too many to be named) and robots walking among us and interacting (break dancing too!)

We had bloggers who blogged their feedback (Italian readers might find a very nice report at Intense Minimalism) and – given this was the first time we tried such an innovative format – I’m very very VERY happy with the results. I’m really proud of being one of the conference producers (and Leandro, my partner in crime, is really proud too).

My thanks goes to all the speaker who provided such high quality content, to our sponsor Kallideas who made the event possible and – last but not least – to the University of Milano-Bicocca which confirms itself the most innovative place in Milan (even if they have creepy wi-fi policies

Just a quick note: posts are going rarefy in the next days since I’m down learning the real estate market (I’d say I’m really enjoining my first Gabetti days: a lot of cuttin edge project one after the other; and the meetings with the people deputed to make this real-estate-idiot mind become shining are simply inspiring)

Update
The national press gave us some real cool attention:

Il Sole 24 Ore (Italian economic newspaper)

L’espresso (Italian 1st class weekly mag)

Changing the World

Posted on 28/05/2006 by admin

I spent the beginning of the week with Barbara and Francesca at my parents’ house in Mantova. We had a nice time (my mom is a great cook) and had also the lucky chance to find a great offer for the new car we were looking for (since I’ll leave my Citroen C4 at Consultechnology). We needed a family car suitable for daily travels to the office but good for weekends with babies and friends too, and the Destiny eventually broight us to a super-accessoired Renault Grand Scenic that’ll arrive at home in June.

But I’m digressing. While in Mantova I passionately told the ongoing efforts we (I and Leeander) are putting in the organization of this year Interaction Frontiers event: press relationships, speakers accomodation, the venue, the registrants, etc. etc.
One morning my mom questioned me about the money I was raising from the event organization and she was completely stuck when I told her that NO MONEY was coming in mine or Leeander’s pocket at all: we had expenses that were covered by the sponsors or the great help of friends that were doing this for free but the event was free for all.

And then she dropped THE QUESTION: “So, why are you doing this?”

The answer came to my mind in a blink: “Mom, I’m acting as an enabler for the transmission of cutting edge technology from bright minded people. I’m working to change the minds of the people who’re going to attend and hope they’ll be able to change the mind of their colleagues and friends. In other words: these are my two cents to create a better World.”

Nough said.

Nathan Shedroff at the Interaction Frontiers 2006

Posted on 24/05/2006 by admin

It’s with great pleasure that I’m here to announce that, thanks to our friend – and Frontiersman – Fabio Sergio, we’ll host an exclusive video contribute at the Interaction Frontiers by the great Nathan Shedroff.

Here below you’ll find his own introduction to the speech:

Nathan will discuss and illuminate the connection between emotion, values, and meaning for customers and users and show a process for developing products, services, and interfaces directly configured around them.

Meaning is the most important part of any experience we create and offer to others and it’s only been recently recognized and analyzed.

Since we’re not planning to make this video publicly available the only way to see this is by subscribing (FOR FREE) at the event (seats are limited).