The Penn Hotel hosts the last-ever 2600 Conference--A.K.A. "The Last HOPE"--in New York began this afternoon and runs through Sunday. Featured panelists include Kevin Mitnick, with a keynote by Steven Levy.
The conference focuses on the implications of technology and privacy, but most of all, it's about the ability of new tech to revolutionize social change. Most of the talks happening here are from the perspective of the computer-programming community, who routinely uncover government and corporate indiscretions.
Known initially as a quarterly magazine featuring smart construction techniques for extending the use of the national phone system, 2600 was one of the first hacker voices in the early days of the Internet to go mainstream, becoming available at your local Barnes & Noble by the mid-nineties. Using network systems to the user's advantage was an empowering message and still is. While many in the crowd have grown beyond Cap'n Crunch phone-tone whistles, the general idea of watching the watchers and pointing out trouble continues.
Right now I'm listening to Lexicon discuss macro social economics and how social engineering can benefit from the same methods. It's a bittersweet conference, to be sure, for any of us who got our start sitting in font of disassembled computers trying to untangle IRQ conflicts just to hear that beautiful hum of a connecting 14.4 modem.
The Penn Hotel is near 34th St. on 7th Avenue. Tickets are available at the door for $80, which grant access to all talks and events.
Post by Melody Chamlee
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Who says Sony’s afraid of competition when it comes to the handheld race? Definitely not John Koller, whether you ask him. Actually, he was asked just precisely that in the closing moments of E3. And he believes that the PlayStation Portable is just as primed for the big 08.
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