Since I’ve been tinkering around with HTML5 on my own theme, and reading debates over it the last few months, I’d like to propose a session on HTML5. There are quite a few things we can discuss, including, but certainly not limited to:

• Features of HTML5, including new tags and tag attributes, offline web applications, Geolocation, et cetera.
• Implementing HTML5 now; Design and development considerations for using HTML5, including browser support of certain features.
• HTML5 in the context of the Apple/Adobe argument over Flash.
• Potential impact of HTML5 on digital humanities work; How do standards bodies for technologies and languages affect our work and, conversely, how might digital humanities as a field begin to influence the development of standards such as HTML5?

I imagine we could hack out some code and examples, too. Any other ideas for this?

UPDATE 6/21: Are you building a THATCamp website? We’ve put some resources at thatcamp.org/plan/website.

As you probably know, we received funding from Mellon to support regional THATCamps. One of the things we plan to do in this effort is develop a package we can give regional organizers to get a THATCamp started. What we’ve currently been doing is giving organizers a list of plugins I’ve used on the THATCamp site and the theme we use if they’d like to use it.

So, I’d like to lead a discussion on “THATCamp-in-a-Box.” It would be an idea-gathering, pie-in-the-sky chat about what we should offer regional THATCamp coordinators to get a camp started. The package itself could take on any number of forms: some custom WordPress plugins and a theme for managing applications, registrations, badges, scheduling. Or we could find some plugins already out there and bundle those with some instructions. Or we could just develop and launch a WordPress/BuddyPress/Mediawiki service, where sites for regional camps would be hosted by us, and attendees would have a BuddyPress profile and  use one registration for multiple camps. I’m think of something almost as hot as what Matt Gold,  Boone Gorges and others have developed for the CUNY Academic Commons. But, there are questions as to how much centralization we’d want to do with THATCamp. Regional organizers wouldn’t have to use the package, of course; Its just a way to make setting a THATCamp a little easier.

So, in this session, I’d love to bring together past regional coordinators, potential coordinators, or just anyone interested in contributing some ideas to this effort. We’ll be working on this more over the summer, so it’d be really great to have your input!

Following successful home events in 2008 and 2009, and regional events around the world, the Center for History and New Media is pleased to announce the return of THATCamp for 2010! We’ll have the third annual THATCamp May 22-23, 2010, at the home of CHNM, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia.

THATCamp is, as the about page explains, “The Humanities and Technology Camp,” a user-generated “unconference” on digital humanities. The conference program is more-or-less made the day of the conference, and organized based on attendee interest. An unconference is not a spectator event. Participants at THATCamp  are expected to present their work, share their knowledge, and actively collaborate with fellow participants rather than simply attend or passively observe.

THATCamp is of course open to anyone with energy and an interest in digital humanities: scholars, students, teachers, librarians, archivists, museum professionals, educational technologists, designers, developers, hackers, public historians, artists, writers, humanities administrators, grant makers, and more.

As to what you should present about, that’s up to you! Sessions at THATCamp will range from software demos to training sessions to discussions of research findings to half-baked rants (but please no full-blown papers; we’re not here to read or be read to.) You should come to THATCamp with something in mind, and on the first day we’ll find a time, a place, and people for you to share it with. Once you’re at THATCamp, you may also find people with similar topics and interests to team up with for a joint session.

Unfortunately, we only have space for about 100 participants, so we’ll have to do some vetting. To apply for a spot, simply fill out the THATCamp registration form telling us a little about yourself, what you’re thinking about presenting, and what you think you will get out of the experience. Please don’t send full proposals. We’re talking about an informal note of maybe 200 or 300 words, max. To apply, please fill out the application form, which includes fields for a brief biography and the topic you’d like to present or discuss. Deadline for applications is March 15. There are no application or registration fees for THATCamp, but donations for snacks and soda are very much appreciated.

So what are you waiting for? Go apply!