The Lotusphere Blog

Lotusphere becomes IBM Connect - Mission Completed

LotusphereBlog — Fri, 7 Sep 2012 05:53:57 +0100

As many have predicted, this year IBM has completed the task of renaming Lotusphere as IBM Connect.

From being a small sub-conference for business leaders in 2011 to much larger set of tracks in 2012, Connect is now the main brand for the event in 2013. Many of the favourite elements of Lotuspheres past will of course still be present, and IBM is making great efforts to ensure that the technical focus of so many of the tracks remains strong. Lotusphere has had a terrific history, and whilst the name has changed, the values that have been exhibited over the past 20 years will hopefully carry through into many more events in the future.

However the name change means that this site gets a chance to re-evaluate its existence. When it started back in 2008/9 there was little support from IBM for the event on social channels - whilst Ed and others blogged, there were few tweets, few LinkedIn posts and very little aggregation of the content that was shared. Over the past four years and through IBM's shift to Social Business, that is most definitely no longer the case! On that basis, I'm very happy to stand aside and allow others to take on this role - this site will be left dormant for a while as a resource and then shut down at some stage in 2013.

Lotusphere is dead, long live IBM Connect!

All the best, Stuart.

Lotusphere 2012 OGS replay now available

LotusphereBlog — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 14:47:47 +0100

Registration is required, but after that, replay stream works well:

Link: Lotusphere 2012 Opening General Session

The Lotusphere 2012 OGS, in 60 seconds!

LotusphereBlog — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 09:40:39 +0100

Great wrapup of the highlights from the Lotusphere 2012 OGS:

Alone we are only popping champagne corks. Together we are dynamite!

LotusphereBlog — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 11:28:56 -0400

Guest post by Arne Nielson of MyNotesBlog:

NORWAY: - This is the second year in a row that I don't participate at Lotusphere. Being a guy who breeds and bleeds yellow and have been working for Lotus for 15 years, I have to admit: It feels like being a small boy who has been left alone at home when the rest of the family goes on holiday. It feels lonely, it feels heartbreaking. But, someone has to stay at home and take care of the house, watering the flowers and feed the cat. And someone has to stay at home defending the fortress!

Lotusphere is a nation
Lotusphere is a fantastic event. Thousands and thousands of people from all over the world gathers around one common interest; social collaboration. Not only are they interested in the technology - they are practically performing social collaboration live! They mingle, talk, laugh, change information, teach and learn, build new skills, meet new friends, meet old friends. People from all over the world, of all colors, all religions, all political standpoints, all cultures, all food preferences - they are all different, but they are all alike in some way - they are positive, peaceful, friendly and open! Lotusphere is a great place to be. Sometimes I think that the rest of the troubled world could learn something from the "Lotusphere Nation" - that collaborating socially makes the world a better place.

Stay close to the source
In january 2010 i participated at Lotusphere registered on IBM's blogger quota. I blogged heavily during the Opening General Session, simultaneously. After three days I had posted nearly 50 articles from the event. Not only short news bits and comments, but interviews and full reports with pictures - like any web based news agency. That got me more than 7.000 readers - not bad when writing in Norwegian only with only 4,5 million Norwegians.

The year after I was not there, but blogged from my home office, following OGS especially and Lotusphere in general via the internet. I can assure you the result was not the same. The number of readers fell to 4.500 people. This tells me one thing, that I learned in my earlier days as a professional journalist - you have to stay close to the source!

Watching the streaming - often with technical problems and bad sound - will never be as good as being there. You never get the same feeling of togetherness as you do in that people packed conference hall. You never hear the summing, the comments, the intense nerve that is in the air. You never get the same inspiration via the internet. Being there is what rules.

Seeing is believing!
Especially I will miss all the demo's. Seeing is believing! I have more than a hunch on what will be announced, what the trend and the roadmap will be. If you are more than interested you will understand what has to come, without knowing all the facts in detail. You know that integration of social abilities and functions will be everywhere. You know that there will be more open technology. These are all technical stuff that many traditional Lotusphere-geeks are looking forward to. But for me, who is not a techie and has been working as a journalist and personal productivity adviser in my earlier career - the most interesting thing will be to see the new way of working!

You will see that the old way of working in silo's will slowly disappear and transformed into a horizontal way of working. And the possibility to connect to other people will be integrated everywhere. We will see that everything is connected, people, documents, places - and there will be many ways to connect.

Social collaboration makes the world better
My thoughts goes back to that fantastic event when CNN's founder, Ted Turner, set up a direct TV link between USA and USSR. He let ordinary americans talk to ordinary russians. For a young man like me at that time it became a learning for life. These people who has so very different lives and economic standards, suddenly understood that they all had the same worries and the same feelings about what life is all about. That TV show was imperative for my choose of a personal life agenda - and made me understand that social collaboration is what makes the world go forward.

Alone we are only popping champagne corks. Together we are dynamite!

Arne Sigurd Rognan Nielsen
arne@mynotesblog.com
@mynotesblog
www.mynotesblog.com

Join a social learning revolution with Lotus Education at Lotusphere

LotusphereBlog — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 14:40:00 +0100

IBM Lotus Education Office hours
Sunday, January 15th 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Location - Yacht & Beach Conference Center | Grand Harbor Salon I
Stop by during Lotus Education "Office Hours" to share your feedback on what training and exams you would like to see in 2012 ? What tasks do you find most difficult? Where do you go to learn new skills? Is there a topic you'd like to see covered? Do you prefer classes, articles or eLearning ? What do you think about the exams we have developed in 2011 ? Are there any new job roles you'd like to see addressed ? We really value your feedback and appreciate the time you can give us !
Register in Lotus Greenhouse

Lotus Certified Instructor Meeting
Sunday, January 15th 3:45pm – 6:30pm
Location: Grand Salon 1 in the Yacht and Beach Conference Center
This annual event gives instructors the opportunity to network with their peers from around the world -- as well as with key players on the Global Lotus Education team. To register, send an email to snicklin@ca.ibm.com in order to secure your space at the only face to face event hosted by Lotus Education devoted to the instructor community.

Lotus Certification Prep Lab
Monday, January 16th 11am - 6pm
Tuesday, January 17th 8am - 6pm
Wednesday, January 18th 8am - 6pm
Thursday, January 19th 8am - 1pm
Location : Swan Hotel - Peacock Room
Take advantage of a variety of onsite learning resources to study for your IBM professional certification exams. Resources include FREE assessment tests and e-courseware available 24x7 for the duration of the conference.

Lotus Certification Testing Lab
Monday, January 16th 11am - 6pm
Tuesday, January 17th 8am - 6pm
Wednesday, January 18th 8am - 6pm
Thursday, January 19th 8am - 2pm
Location: Swan Hotel - Lark Room
The Certification Lab is an IBM testing facility that enables customers to fit certification exams into their Conference schedules with convenience and flexibility. Candidates are encouraged to take their exam(s) as early as possible during the conference in order to ensure seating, as the lab typically gets busier as the week progresses. Attendees can take unlimited exam at a heavily discounted price of $75 each.

Lotus Certification Lounge
Monday, January 16th 11am - 6pm
Tuesday, January 17th 9am - 6pm
Wednesday, January 18th 9am - 6pm
Thursday, January 19th 10am - 1pm
Location: Swan Hotel – Suite #706
For anyone who has been at Lotusphere before they know that it’s an exhausting few days. It’s tough to find a quiet spot when you can put your feet up and relax for a few minutes. As Certified Lotus Professionals we have made that easy for you. Come to the lounge to chat with someone at Lotus Education, or have a coffee or just take a quick cat nap !

IBM Education Showcase
Monday 11:00am - 8:00 pm (Evening Opening Reception)
Tuesday, January 17th 9:30 am - 5:00 pm
Wednesday, January 18th 9:30 am - 4:00 pm
Dolphin Showcase Area - IBM Ped # 21
"What's next?” Now that you've learned about IBM's extensive social and collaboration capabilities, come see how ISSL's technical experts, trusted advisors, and education specialists have channeled these capabilities into real world solutions for thousands of organizations. Discover the benefits of social business with ISSL's unparalleled experience, guidance, and proven leadership.

Training Opportunities with the Cloud
Monday, January 16th 4:00 pm
Location - Certification Lounge | Swan Suite 706
This session will explore how to best incorporate the Cloud into your learning environment to maximize your reach, decrease costs, and maintain the same quality of delivery. You will have the opportunity to hear the latest information on virtual delivery techniques and exchange ideas on how to provide a full range of learning experiences facilitated through the Cloud.

BOF113 Take the Fast Lane and Accelerate with Proven Solutions for Successful Collaboration!
Monday 1/16, 6:15 pm – 7:15 pm
Location : Swan Parrot 1
Jump into the driver's seat and find out how organizations around the world are ensuring successful deployments of their social and collaboration software. A panel of IBM experts will guide you through an active discussion of strategies and solutions available in the areas of environment design, deployment, adoption, performance, and maintenance. Our depth of experience and expertise has proven that every environment is unique, with its own technical and business challenges. Join us to find out how your organization can take the lead with social and collaboration software and cross the finish line with the checkered flag!

IBM Training Partner Breakfast By Invitation Only
Tuesday, January 17th 7:30 am
Blending Social Media Into Learning & Performance - Marcia Conner and Jeff Felice
The workplace is an ever increasing dynamic environment where processes and technology are continuously updated to accommodate the rapidly changing requirements to operate our businesses. This requires our people to continuously update their knowledge and skills and share information in an ever more distributed environment. Learn how social media combined with traditional learning methods and innovative support mechanisms can assist organizations in gaining and dispensing information as they work towards greater productivity.

Enabling End Users and Adoption Strategies
Tuesday, January 17th 4:00 pm
Location - Certification Lounge | Swan Suite 706
Are your end users as productive as they can be? Are you getting the most value out of your software investments? Enabling end users is a critical component to new software deployment, productivity, and reduction in support calls. Come join us as we hold a discussion on the best ways to support your environment, we'll examine end user enablement and support options that can increase productivity and save you time and money in your environment. We will be joined by Fred Doyle, Global Account Executive for Knowledge Accelerators, creators of the Multimedia Library for Lotus Software. Come share your experiences and learn how others have enabled end users and adopted software in their environment as we discuss best practices and tools you can utilize in your environment.

Why Certify? The Value of Lotus Certification
Tuesday, January 17th 10:30 am
Location - Certification Lounge | Swan Suite 706
Certification enables companies to maximize the value of IT investments, increase productivity and reduce overhead cost. Join a round table discussion on the tangible impact certification has had, or can have, on your professional development. Learn how certification can help differentiate you from the competition, the current IBM Collaboration Solutions certifications available and how to best prepare for them

Using IBM Connections to Develop and Deliver Learning Assets
Wednesday January 18th Afternoon - Time 3pm
Location - Certification Lounge | Swan Suite 706
Capabilities in IBM Connections, such as Activities and Ideation Blogs can help you to engage networks of people to work together and find new ways to create business value. In this discussion, learn how Connections can be used to support the training lifecycle from assessment through evaluation. You will hear how IBMers have used Connections to design, develop and deliver training, build Communities of Practice, and meet increasing demands for learning.

Find more about Lotus Education activities at #ls12 by following us on twitter @lotuseducation

Getting social at IBM Connect and Lotusphere 2012

LotusphereBlog — Fri, 6 Jan 2012 08:33:44 +0100

By Joyce Davis, IBM Collaboration Solutions and Social Business community manager

We've got some exciting things planned to enhance your IBM Connectand Lotusphere experiences. Not attending? No problem. Even if you're holding the fort back at the office while your colleagues attend, you can keep up with the excitement and even participate in discussions online. We also have some on-site activities planned to make the most of those meeting IRL (which means "in real life" in case your teenager isn't nearby to translate). Here are some of the highlights of our social activities online and off....

Online communities - connect, share information and exchange ideas before, during and after the event. Even those who are unable to attend can benefit from the excitement and discussion generated from the conferences. The best way for you to keep track of all social activities, including the ones mentioned below, is to join the IBM Connect and Lotusphere communities. Also, after the event, conference content (presentations, etc.) will be shared via the communities. First register at Lotus Greenhouse, then join:
- IBM Connect community - http://bit.ly/ibmconnectcommunity
- Lotusphere community - http://bit.ly/lotuspherecommunity

In addition to the online IBM Connect and Lotusphere communities, other social activities are planned for the conference include:

Social cafes - come by one of our 4 interactive lounges set up through out the conference! Each cafe will have:
- Interactive touch screen monitors - view relevant videos, tweets, blog, photos and more. You can even post a tweet from the monitor and send social media content to your email address.
- Topics of the hour - hear social media experts talk about various topics related to social business, and learn tips to get started.
- Social hosts - talk to community builders who are standing by, ready to help you with your specific social business needs.
Tweet ups - watch the hashtag #LS12 on Twitter to find out where tweet ups will be happening on-site!
FourSquare - check into sessions and find other attendees using FourSquare on your mobile app!
Scavenger hunts - stay tuned for some fun scavenger hunts that will help you discover interesting people and places!
Photo sharing - share conference photos using Instagram, Flickr and the community media gallery!

You'll hear more details about these conference activities over the coming weeks, but I hope you'll take a moment to join the online communities NOW so you can jumpstart your social experience!

[Originally posted at the Social Business Insights blog - cross-posted with approval]

Have a BOF idea its not too late

Sharon Bellamy — Thu, 5 Jan 2012 16:23:38 +0100

Paul Withers (@PaulSWithers) from Intec blogs:

Just before Christmas two new communities launched on Lotus Greenhouse for Lotusphere and Connect

The communities have a wealth of useful bookmarks, wiki articles and other content. IBMers and Champions have been adding content over the last few weeks and will continue to build in that in the lead up to Lotusphere and during the conference. The communities are intended as an ongoing resource for attendees to use to get the most out of the conference. (If you have any further questions, there’s also a forum in the communities.)

There is also an Ideation Blog in the Lotusphere community. Here you can vote on existing BoFs you want to atttend. Also, following feedback from IBMers and the community on making the Ideation Blog more powerful as an example of Connections functionality, you can now also suggest and vote on new BoF ideas, some of which will get selected. There is no confirmation yet on numbers, but there will at least be a few. The deadline for BOF ideas is Friday 6th January so join the community and act fast!

It’s great to see this nice idea from IBM to drive the community which a number of people have invested time in developing. You’ll be able to meet some of those involved in setting up the community at the Social Lounges at Lotusphere as well as find more information about all things social. There are also other plans in the pipeline, so look for us at Lotusphere as well as keeping an eye on the community (for example, using the Connections app for mobile or other tools like iWildfire).

There is only 2 days left to get those ideas in - so get on over to the Lotusphere Community now and get your ideas in.

A list of current BOFs is available in the Lotusphere Community ideation blog and via the LS Sessions DB and LS Mobile Application

Social Business Online is now up

LotusphereBlog — Thu, 5 Jan 2012 09:49:01 +0100

The latest iteration of Lotusphere Online is now available, and it's been renamed as Social Business Online with a rather nifty URL of socialbizonline.com (kudos from me for that!):

If you are registered for either Lotusphere 2012 or Connect 2012 you should have received an email with user name/password details.

It's always interesting to see what IBM delivers in the online site, even more so now there are ongoing communities in the Greenhouse as well.

’I love the smell of Lotusphere in the morning...’

LotusphereBlog — Wed, 4 Jan 2012 09:00:07 +0100

11 days to go!

The Lotusphere 2012 Hog Ride

Lotusphere Blog — Wed, 4 Jan 2012 05:40:18 +0100

At the other end of the Lotusphere week from the Blogger Open, the annual Lotusphere Hog Ride is back for its 3rd year...

Paul Mooney has the details:

It’s that time of year again. The most important event of the year. The Lotusphere Hog Ride! Apparently there is another event just afterwards but let’s not bother with that. This page is an attempt to organise some of the basic details into one place so that people that are thinking of going on the ride can organise themselves. Read below and if you have questions, leave a comment and I will update.
The Dates
The plan is to ride out over two days. Saturday 14th Jan and Sunday 15th Jan. You are more than welcome to join us for just one day.
The Routes
We don’t know yet, but there will be a different route each day. We meet at the fountain in the Dolphin hotel at 9am sharp each morning. On both days we will start and end at the Dolphin Hotel. We expect to be back before nigtfall (but this is not guarenteed!). On the Saturday, many of us will start with collecting the bike from the rental place, but we set out at 9am.
Bringing your own bikes
You are more than welcome to bring your own ride.
Going in a car
Again, more than welcome to join us in a car, if you just fancy the day out to see Florida.

There are more details over on Paul's blog. As a non-rider, I'm sorely tempted to hire a convertible and join the gang this year. It is always great fun - a tremendous way to see the sites of Florida and meet some great folks along the way.

Who's riding this year?

The Lotusphere 2012 Bloggers Open - registration is, errr, open!

LotusphereBlog — Wed, 4 Jan 2012 05:30:00 +0100

Mitch Cohen has announced that the Lotusphere Blogger's Open registration site is live.

Now in its 4th year, the Blogger Open is one of the social highlights of the week in Orlando. A chance to throw off the shackles after a week of walking the halls and shaking of hands, this a true social event - friends, beer and crazy golf, what's not to like?!

Even better, there's prizes to be won too. So get registered, make up a team, and turn up on Thursday evening to close Lotusphere 2012 in style!

(P.S. Loving the work that Mitch and Mike McGarel have done on the site - terrific work guys!)

Partners, remember to sign up for Business Partner Development Day when you register for Lotusphere 2012

LotusphereBlog — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 07:34:21 +0100

If you're an IBM business partner, one of the key elements of the Lotusphere calendar is the Business Partner Development Day (formerly the Business Development Day - BDD):

Mark your calendar for Sunday, 15 January and join us for the Business Partner Development Day at Lotusphere 2012.

When you register for either Lotusphere 2012 or Connect 2012, be sure to sign up for Business Partner Development Day at the same time.

Business Partner Development Day is the kick-off event for IBM Business Partners - the place to hear from IBM leadership about the IBM Collaboration Solutions strategy, channel partnership and the social business opportunity for 2012. There is no extra fee for participating. Pre-registeration is required.

A Partnerworld ID is required to register.

The event has brand new schedule this year so even if you've been to the BP day in previous years, make sure you give it a go this year...

Those that wish, receive! The 12th Annual Lotusphere Sessions Planning DB

LotusphereBlog — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 07:46:33 +0100

Some good people in the IBM/Lotus community have done something special for Lotusphere. Other great people have completed such an activity multiple times.

Others, like are simply heroes of Lotusphere for their commitment again and again and again. There is no doubt whatsoever that Ben Langhinrichs is in that category, having delivered the amazing Notes Sessions DB for the 12th straight year:

For those who can't do anything but dream of Orlando in January...

Many people have deduced the super secret URL. Unlike last year, where the URL was http://www.GeniiSoft.com/showcase.nsf/LS2011_SessionsDB or for every year back to 2001 when it was http://www.GeniiSoft.com/showcase.nsf/LS2001_SessionsDB (and so forth through the intervening years), this year the super secret URL is... wait for it...

http://www.GeniiSoft.com/showcase.nsf/LS2012_SessionsDB

Anyway, Version 0.2 (meaning oh-my-god-are-there-ever-gaps) is ready for you to download. I'd strongly encourage you to replicate with Tranquility (using the handy view action if you like) frequently over the next few weeks. I should point out that frequently does not mean every fifteen minutes. It means once a day or so. Around January 10, you can move to every fifteen minutes if you have ADD, ADHD or ADOS (attention deficit ohh shiny).

If you use Lotus Notes on a regular basis, perhaps as your email platform, there really is no better way to plan for Lotusphere than to download and use this application. Do yourself a favour and do that now. You won't regret it!

Thanks Ben. The first of our 'Heroes of Lotusphere'.

Lotusphere 2012 Sessions as a PDF

LotusphereBlog — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 07:27:14 +0100

The new Lotusphere site is a massive improvement on the old one, but does take a little while to load and so perusing the sessions can be a time-consuming business.

Therefore, this PDF list of all the sessions selected may make life easier, at least until the mobile or Notes-based session apps become available...

Spark Ideas: Submissions closed and already a success!

LotusphereBlog — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 07:17:24 +0100

[A guest post by the NerdGirls - via Femke Goedhart]

Monday was the last day for submitting abstracts for the "NERD101: Spark Ideas" session.

It's proving to be a sounding success! Lot’s of really good abstracts were submitted ranging in topics from …… Well, that's a secret! We’ll just have to wait and see. What is known is that abstracts came equally from Male and Female submitters and that topics were very diverse.

The next step will be the selection phase. All submissions will be anonymized and put in front of a panel. That panel determines individually which they like best after which all results will be compared and the best are chosen. Keep an eye on the NerdGirl blog for the announcements and a big ‘thank you!’ to all submitters for their great Spark ideas, you inspired already!

Don’t miss the Spark Ideas session on Tuesday, January 17 11:15 AM – 12:15 PM at Lotusphere.

Lotusphere 2012 agenda published

LotusphereBlog — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 17:01:02 +0100

We're getting there... The sessions for Lotusphere 2012 have been listed on the site along with schedule details:

Lotusphere is packed with session content covering the entire IBM Collaboration Solutions portfolio from Lotus Notes and Domino to IBM Sametime and IBM Connections and beyond.

Find out what is offered, who is speaking, and when and where to meet.

Jumpstarts and Master classes
Two-hour technical courses for developers and administrators taking place Sunday only

Best practices track
Sessions providing practical solutions to complex problems for existing technologies and new deployments

Insights & innovation track
Sessions focused on the business value, implications, and opportunities of new technology

Show 'n tell
Technical education sessions that feature comprehensive, step by step detail on a specific technology

Infrastructure & deployment track
Sessions about the latest features and capabilities, deployment techniques, and product architecture

Sponsor sessions
Sessions from thought leaders, Business Partners, and IBMers on such hot topics as cloud computing and social media

Application development track
Sessions covering the breadth of topics from core development skills to those needed to build social applications

Special sessions
Sessions that include SpeedGeeking, Ask the Developers, and other Lotusphere favorites not to be missed

The NerdGirls Spark Ideas... New this year at Lotusphere 2012

The NerdGirls (via Femke Goedhart) — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 20:28:41 -0400

[A guest post by the NerdGirls - via Femke Goedhart]

There is a new type of session at Lotusphere this year and the speaker is..... you!

Spark Ideas is session in which we bring together a group of people to discuss what inspires us. Lead by Kristen Lauria, Vice President Marketing for IBM Social Business, a group of speakers will share their experiences, inspiration, challenges, etc., during a compilation of five minute talks.

Want to participate? There’s still time to submit your abstract! The topic can be anything that you feel is relevant from how you were inspired by your math teacher to go into computing, a unique personal experience or story, how you juggle your busy job and coaching little league soccer, or describing your hobby or family project. Whatever you think would inspire your colleagues and friends in the room!

So don’t hesitate if you feel you’ve got something to contribute.

How?? To sign up, send your abstract (maximum 500 words) to info@nerdgirlgroup.com with a short bio telling us who you are.

But be quick because time is running out! Submit your abstract by December 19, 2011. Final selection of abstracts will be made public in the beginning of January.

We hope to see you in January in Orlando, let's Spark!

NerdGirls

And the Lotusphere 2012 party location is...

LotusphereBlog — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 18:01:33 -0400

SeaWorld Orlando!

SeaWorld welcomes Lotusphere guests to an evening of celebrating, connecting, and memory making all wrapped up with excitement, wonder and thrills!

Lotusphere guests will enjoy thrilling rides, amazing shows, delicious food, fantastic shopping, and unparalled animal encounters—one-of-a-kind experiences only SeaWorld Orlando can create!

Manta, SeaWorld’s newest mega attraction will seamlessly transition guests from the awe of encountering rays in underwater flight into the sensation of actually being one. Swooping over sea and sky, Manta will inspire riders with amazing underwater animal habitats, then soar them face-down, in a horizontal position, aboard a manta-inspired flying coaster.

Kraken, Orlando’s tallest and only floorless roller coaster, is themed after a massive, mythological underwater beast unleashed from the depths of the sea.

Ready for our amazing performances? Lotusphere guests will marvel at our talented animals and trainers in Blue Horizons, a dolphin theatrical performance about a place where sea meets sky in a world of acrobatic dolphins and whales, soaring birds, and leaping water.

At Clyde and Seamore Take Pirate Island, the journey begins with the HMS Pinniped setting sail to Pirate Island. This show will be customized with Lotusphere jargon and innuendos.

Shamu Rocks is a rock n’ roll concert of unprecedented proportions combining improvisational movements of killer whales with music remixed by some of the hottest rock stars in the industry, including Savage Garden, Cold Play, Jennifer Lopez, Rascal Flats, and Shakira.

Attendees are encouraged to take advantage of special event transportation provided to and from the Lotusphere conference hotels. Complimentary parking is available at SeaWorld Orlando.

More >

Can't wait!

’Lotusphere. Every Year.’

LotusphereBlog — Fri, 9 Dec 2011 00:24:05 +0100

Some great quotes in this montage of clips from Lotsuphere 2011:

Lotusphere 2012 Labs published

LotusphereBlog — Thu, 8 Dec 2011 11:56:30 +0100

The labs have always been a key part of the Lotusphere experience, although one that many first-timers unfortunately miss.

The list of labs for Lotusphere 2012 has now been published:

Labs hours

Date Hours
Monday, January 16th 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Tuesday, January 17th 9:30 AM to 6:00 PM
Wednesday, January 18th 9:30 AM to 6:00 PM
Thursday, January 19th 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM

Meet the Developers Lab
Dolphin - Asia 1 & 2
This informal lab setting lends itself to friendly, relaxed discussions with the engineers responsible for the design, code, testing, performance and deployment of the collaboration solutions portfolio.

IBM Innovation Lab
Dolphin - Asia 3
The IBM Innovation Lab showcases the social research that is paving the way for the future of social business. Meet the IBMers behind these innovations - computer and social science experts inventing ways to build social solutions into real business problems.
Learn about our newest thinking in social analytics, expertise ramp-up, collaborative decision making, time analytics, gamification and crowd sourcing technologies.
See what we are building. Talk to us about the business problems your company faces. Exchange ideas with our researchers and developers. Let us know how what we are building could work for you.

User Experience Lab
Dolphin - Asia 4
In the User Experience Lab, view the latest product design concepts, explore the demonstrations used during the opening session, experience mobile product designs and provide feedback to improve the information experience. Meet social solutions designers, user researchers and information architects who invite you to influence the direction of our products.

IBM Collaboration Solutions Development Lab
Dolphin - Europe 10 & 11
The IBM Collaboration Solutions Development Lab is a great venue at Lotusphere where customers, partners and developers can learn how to leverage the collaboration solutions portfolio to create solutions that integrate business functions with collaboration and communication. Learn more.

Certification Prep Lab
Swan - Peacock 1 & 2
The Certification Prep Lab is where you can take advantage of a variety of virtual and on-site learning resources, including free skills assessments, to help you prepare for your IBM professional certification exams.
Certification Prep Lab hours

Date Hours
Monday, January 16th 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Tuesday, January 17th 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Wednesday, January 18th 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Thursday, January 19th 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM

Certification Testing Lab
Swan - Lark 1 & 2
The Certification Testing Lab is an IBM testing facility that enables customers to fit certification exams into their conference schedules with convenience and flexibility.
Candidates are encouraged to take their exam(s) as early as possible during the conference in order to ensure seating, as the lab typically gets busier as the week progresses.
Certification Testing Lab hours

Date Hours
Monday, January 16th 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Tuesday, January 17th 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Wednesday, January 18th 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Thursday, January 19th 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM*

*The last seating takes place between noon and 1:00PM depending upon the duration of the exam.

If you haven't visited the Lotusphere labs before, make sure you do take the time out to do so at Lotusphere 2012. In particular, the Innovation and User Experience labs are un-missable!

Date	Hours
Monday, January 16th	11:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Tuesday, January 17th	9:30 AM to 6:00 PM
Wednesday, January 18th	9:30 AM to 6:00 PM
Thursday, January 19th	9:00 AM to 12:00 PM