Extras

Assistance

One annoyance for many attendees at past Convergences has been trying to find a local committee member of whom to ask pertinent questions. In order to better fulfill your needs, we have settled on staffing key locations with locals who can answer questions, and help solve your specific problems. Directions to certain parts of town, where to eat, how to find some particular item of personal hygiene, etc. will be made easier by having a smiling face on hand to guide you. We intend on having at least one of these people at the Hotel and on the regular buses.

We intend on acquiring some form of wireless voice device (Nextel or Radio) to enable guides to maintain contact with committee personnel and each other. Better communication leads to better problem-solving.

Computers

Given how Convergence Attendees always seem to have items of personal technology in hand, we will implement a wireless (802.11b) network at the hotel for those who have Airport, Lucent, Cisco and Cabletron Wireless cards. We also plan to arrange Internet connectivity.

The purchase or lease of a number (3-4) of iMacs for a small lab in a hospitality suite of the hotel is also being discussed, and is very likely. The "lab" would, naturally, be attached to the network and have Internet connectivity. These systems (and associated hardware), if purchased, would be given to the next Convergence committee for use in both the planning stage, and during the next convention.

Program

We have plans for an expanded program with listings of restaurants, shops, bars, nearby grocery stores, Pharmacists, and other needy things you'll be wanting. Maps will be included as well as indications of MARTA routes through those areas.

Palm Guide

Quite apparent at Convergence 6 was that the number of palm tops has grown in the past year. I (Ryan) myself have a Palm Vx that I'm never far away from. We will do a palm guide to convergence with much of what is in the program plus more. Essentially a big mirror of the web site.

Laminates

Designs are, of course, still pending. But rest assured, we will use a big font size (48pt. or larger) on the "name" side, and will provide hang loops. We are still debating the multiple color/icon format for those of varying net habitats. The possible variety being endless, we may settle for sticker appliques.