Deb Bassett - Urbanwide

Go mapping in Leeds this weekend!

I’ve enthused about mapping before, and now here’s your chance to help get Leeds on the map. This weekend, 15th and 16th September, sees Leeds’ first mapping party weekend and I’m really looking forward to going along to help fill in some of the gaps. The event is organised by local geo expert, Tim Waters, who presented at last month’s GeekUp and has also kindly offered to show us the results of the party at next month’s GeekUp.

Current Leeds Coverage:

Open Street Map aims to map the world in order to provide geographical data that is free for all to use. In the UK, mapping data is not free to use, even though the taxes we pay funds the mapping process.

Anyone is welcome to take part in the event providing they come armed with a GPS (Global Positioning System) unit, although some will be available to borrow - full training will be given. Even if you can only donate a couple of hours, you can still contribute to the project!

Walk, cycle and drive around the city, mapping the streets, points of interest, paths, parks, pubs, and whatever else you feel like doing!

For full details of this weekend’s event, see the upcoming page. Hope to see you there!

GeekUp Leeds - 6pm, Wed 19th Sept, 2007

I’m pleased to announce the 4th GeekUp Leeds!

Update - Tim Waters will be showing us the results of this weekend’s (Sat 15th and Sun 16th Sept) big event: the Leeds Open Street Map Mapping Party. I’m looking forward to seeing Leeds on the map!

Also at GeekUp Leeds this month, Phil Winstanley will be heading over the Pennines to provide us with a MIX Mastication - a quick tour of what was announced @ MIX, what it means, and why you should  care, even if you hate Microsoft.

In true tradition we will also honour our turn-up-on-the-night-with-a-20:20-slot, where it’s left up to the GeekUp crowd to decide on the night who gets to talk. The 20:20 format is outlined on the GeekUp wiki but it’s essentially 20 slides, with 20 seconds per slide.

Do tell us if you’re coming

Details:
* When: 6:00 PM Wednesday 19th September, 2007 (Talks start at 7:00PM)
* Where: The Lounge, St. Johns House, Merrion St, Leeds LS2 8JE
* Photo of the the Lounge
* GeekUp web site

I’d also like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for coming along to last month’s GeekUp. Big thanks to Tim Waters for his talk on Open Street Map - this weekend sees Leeds’ first Mapping Weekend, I’m looking forward to helping get Leeds on the map. Also thank you to Guy Redwood from SimpleUseability for his fantastic talk on Eyetracking - he showed us how we can, quite literally, see web sites through the end-user’s eyes.

* photos from last month’s GeekUp

Last, but not least, thanks to Jim for providing us with the great idea of wii night, and Dominic for supplying the wii - I know I’ll be tuning my wii skillz for the next one!

GeekUp Leeds needs your 20:20 talk (and wii sticks)!

GeekUp Leeds has a spare 20:20 slot this month - left open to all comers, so if you think you have something to talk about that fellow geeks might benefit from, then prepare it as a 20:20 style presentation, and the audience will be left to decide on the night which one they get to see. The 20:20 style format has been outlined on the GeekUp wiki, but it’s essentially 20 slides, with 20 seconds per slide. Please leave a comment if you’re planning on bringing one so I can get an idea of numbers.

In addition to this, there will be two confirmed 20:20 talks, Tim Waters will be talking about Open Street Map and Guy Redwood, Eye Tracking.

Ladies and Gents, bring your wii sticks! There’s rumour of some wii action later in the evening!

Do tell us if you’re coming.

Details:
* When: 6:00 PM Wednesday 15th August, 2007 (Talks start at 7:00PM)
* Where: The Lounge, St. Johns House, Merrion St, Leeds LS2 8JE
* Photo of the the Lounge
* GeekUp web site

GeekUp Leeds - July Roundup

A quick note to say thanks to everyone for another great GeekUp Leeds. The turnout was once again phenomenal, there being 40+ people there at peak (well, when I counted…). This month we had 2 talks, the first from Dave Verwer (from Shiny Development in Chester) on UJS, and the second from Dominic Hodgson (from Sticky Eyes in Leeds) on SEO, so big thanks to them. Thanks also to Rob for the intros, and Richard for organising the venue.

We’ve had a large amount of feedback from this month’s event and based on this we’ve decided to both slim down and fatten up the Leeds format to account for the audience being such a varied bunch. So we’re sliming down all talks to a strict, fast-paced, 20:20 style (6mins, 40secs each) but beefing the numbers up to three, having two pre-planned talks (Open Street Map & Eye Tracking) but leaving the third slot open to the audience to decide on the night which one is to be presented.

Rob will post the requirements for a 20:20 style presentation on the GeekUp wiki shortly but it’s essentially 20 slides, with 20 seconds per slide. We’re looking for some willing volunteers - the topic of your 20:20 can be anything you think people might learn something from and I recommend having some kind of geek-relevance too! Any un-used talks can roll-over to the next month’s GeekUp
Want more?:
* GeekUp photos on flickr
* GeekUp Liverpool
* GeekUp afeeda feed
* GeekUp Job Board

GeekUp Leeds - 6pm, Wednesday 18th July, 2007

I’m pleased to announce the second GeekUp Leeds! This month’s format will be 2 talks + social. Dave Verwer (of afeeda fame) is kindly heading over the Pennines to give us a 15 minute presentation on Unobtrusive Javascript (thanks Dave) & Dominic Hodgson of StickyEyes will be doing a 20:20 lightning talk on Search Engine Optimisation - which promises to be informative, fast-paced *and* entertaining.

Please note the change of venue to the Lounge! We’ve reserved an area out the back, grab yourself a drink and we’ll see you there.

Do tell us if you’re coming

Details:
* When: 6:00 PM Wednesday 18th July, 2007 (Talks start at 7:30PM)
* Where: The Lounge, St. Johns House, Merrion St, Leeds LS2 8JE
* Photo of the the Lounge
* GeekUp web site