| Linucon | |
|---|---|
| Status | Inactive |
| Genre | Science fiction/Linux |
| Venue | Red Lion Inn |
| Location(s) | Austin, Texas |
| Country | United States |
| Inaugurated | 2004 |
| Most recent | 2005 |
| Organized by | Rob Landley |
Linucon was a combination Linux expo/science fiction convention in Austin, Texas. Conceived as a "sister convention" to Penguicon, Linucon was co-founded by Rob Landley and Stu Green. [1]
Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991, by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution.
Science fiction is a genre of speculative fiction that has been called the "literature of ideas". It typically deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts such as advanced science and technology, time travel, parallel universes, fictional worlds, space exploration, and extraterrestrial life. It often explores the potential consequences of scientific innovations.
Penguicon is a convention in southeastern Michigan designed originally to mix the communities of the science fiction fandom and Linux user groups. In addition to educational panels on science fiction in the media, attendees participate in professional and beginner-level panels on Linux and open-source software. Penguicon takes its name both from a Monty Python sketch and from Tux, the penguin mascot of Linux.
Two Linucons were held. The first Linucon was held October 8–10, 2004, at the Red Lion Inn located at 6121 North I-35 in Austin. [2] Linucon 2.0 was held September 30 – October 2, 2005, at the Ambassador Hotel located at the intersection of I-35 and Highway 183. [3]
The science fiction side had three main tracks: an anime track, a literary track, and a gaming track. [4] These tracks included cosplay (and a Masquerade), filk, a dealer's room, panels, author readings and signings, Birds of a Feather sessions, and an art show. The convention suite featured caffeinated Jell-O and ice cream made with liquid nitrogen. There was also a live action role-playing game. The video room played around the clock and both gaming rooms (computer and paper) were open 24 hours.
Cosplay, a portmanteau of the words costume play, is a performance art in which participants called cosplayers wear costumes and fashion accessories to represent a specific character. Cosplayers often interact to create a subculture, and a broader use of the term "cosplay" applies to any costumed role-playing in venues apart from the stage. Any entity that lends itself to dramatic interpretation may be taken up as a subject and it is not unusual to see genders switched. Favorite sources include anime, cartoons, comic books, manga, television series, and video games.
A masquerade ball is an event in which the participants attend in costume wearing a mask. Less formal "costume parties" may be a descendant of this tradition. A masquerade ball usually encompasses music and dancing. These nighttime events are used for entertainment and celebrations.
Jell-O is a registered trademark of Kraft Foods for varieties of gelatin desserts, puddings, and no-bake cream pies. The original Jell-O gelatin dessert is the signature of the brand.
The technical side ranged over such subjects as Linux kernel architecture, security and network administration, web design, use of Linux on a laptop, computer gaming, digital art, electronic publishing, and machinima. [4] Free wireless internet access was available. There were panels, tutorials, an "installfest" and featured guests who went head to head in a first person shooter elimination tournament (the "celebrity fragfest").
Security is freedom from, or resilience against, potential harm caused by others. Beneficiaries of security may be of persons and social groups, objects and institutions, ecosystems or any other entity or phenomenon vulnerable to unwanted change.
Web design encompasses many different skills and disciplines in the production and maintenance of websites. The different areas of web design include web graphic design; interface design; authoring, including standardised code and proprietary software; user experience design; and search engine optimization. Often many individuals will work in teams covering different aspects of the design process, although some designers will cover them all. The term web design is normally used to describe the design process relating to the front-end design of a website including writing markup. Web design partially overlaps web engineering in the broader scope of web development. Web designers are expected to have an awareness of usability and if their role involves creating markup then they are also expected to be up to date with web accessibility guidelines.
Digital art is an artistic work or practice that uses digital technology as part of the creative or presentation process. Since the 1970s, various names have been used to describe the process, including computer art and multimedia art. Digital art is itself placed under the larger umbrella term new media art.
Notable guests included actor Wil Wheaton, Jay "Tron Guy" Maynard, [5] game designer Steve Jackson, and Linux activist Eric S. Raymond. [1]
Richard William Wheaton III is an American actor, blogger, and writer. He portrayed Wesley Crusher on the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation, Gordie Lachance in the film Stand by Me, Joey Trotta in Toy Soldiers and Bennett Hoenicker in Flubber. Wheaton has also appeared in recurring roles as Aqualad in Teen Titans, Cosmic Boy on the Legion of Super Heroes and Mike Morningstar/Darkstar in the Ben 10 universe. He also appeared regularly as a fictionalized version of himself on the CBS sitcom The Big Bang Theory and in the roles of Fawkes on The Guild, Colin Mason on Leverage and Dr. Isaac Parrish on Eureka. Wheaton is also the host and co-creator of the YouTube board game show TableTop.
Jay Maynard is an American computer programmer, system administrator and the volunteer project maintainer for Hercules, a free emulator of IBM mainframe hardware. He is known for his self-made electroluminescent costume based on the film Tron, which resulted in his nickname Tron Guy.
Eric Steven Raymond, often referred to as ESR, is an American software developer, open-source software advocate, and author of the 1997 essay and 1999 book The Cathedral and the Bazaar. He wrote a guidebook for the Roguelike game NetHack. In the 1990s, he edited and updated the Jargon File, currently in print as The New Hacker's Dictionary.
