30Jul/076
Transvision 2007 Pictures
Click above to see my images (and a few by others) of the Transvision 2007 conference, held last week in Chicago. Regrettably, I left my camera charger at home so I only caught the first half of the conference. George Dvorsky posted his photos here. There is also a video of Ray Kurzweil's acceptance speech for the H.G. Wells award, given each year to an outstanding transhumanist. Previous winners include Aubrey de Grey, Ramez Naam, and Charlie Stross.
July 31st, 2007 - 14:51
Hi Michael,
Do you have any idea of the attendance at the event? George says it was around 300 but it looks more like 30 (including presenters). I am amazed that attendance was so low…and there was no parallel SL event either. In your estimation was this a marketing failure or just a reality check on how niche the transhumanist movement really is?
July 31st, 2007 - 14:56
The attendance was about 100. There was no parallel SL event partially because there wasn’t even any Wifi in the venue, which had to be changed at the last minute to the field museum. It seemed to be marketed okay, I interpret it as a reality check. There are only a few thousand people who consider themselves transhumanists on this planet.
July 31st, 2007 - 20:44
“It seemed to be marketed okay, I interpret it as a reality check.”
Maybe it had something to do with the $600 ticket price and the $250+/night hotel fare.
July 31st, 2007 - 20:48
It very well might have, and I would have preferred a lower cost to the celebrity presenters, but regarding the second figure, keep in mind anyone can stay at a $50/night hotel down the street and merely walk or take public transit to the conference venue.
August 5th, 2007 - 10:20
Three factors:
1. reality check
2. too expensive
3. marketing failure
September 16th, 2007 - 06:33
Ditto George Dvorsky.
Top-notch celebrity speakers do not come cheap. If the addmission cost was zero there may have been thousands that turned out to see Shatner and Kurzweil, but then how does one pay for the speakers fee. I guess one of the keys is getting high quality speakers for the cheapest cost possible.