In this instance, I am drinking knowledge! Tomorrow night I will attend a Minnesota event sponsored by our local BarCamp, Minnedemo. Although my event is in Minnesota, BarCamps are hosted throughout the world. These get togethers are a fantastic way to learn how the "world of the web" is progressing. You will meet individuals who have product ideas for using the the web and software in ways about which you had never dreamed!
You need not be "technical" to obtain benefit from a Barcamp. Most presentations present idea, and give brief working demos of software if that is germain to the discussion. I can remember when I first "got it" about mobile and the web. Quite a few years ago I attended a BarCamp where two young gentleman presented a new product idea ... cell phone cameras ... text messages ... and large professional sports stadium monitors. Basically, one would flash up a message asking fans to take a photo in the stadium, and send the results immediately to the host sports team. Within a few minutes the best examples would be shown on the HUGE stadium monitors. End result ... a marketeer's dream ... interaction with the customer, phone numbers, contact information etc.
Attend a BarCamp and learn! Here is a brief description of tomorrow night's Minnedemo. You'll note that I also get a real drink, not just knowledge! :-)
"MinneDemo is for real, working technology products made in Minnesota. Demos are 7 minutes long and PowerPoint IS NOT ALLOWED. Some have described it as geek show and tell. We like to think that geeks and those interested in what they are doing (i.e., investors, media organizations, etc) will enjoy an event centered on seeing what the local scene is up to and networking before, during, and afterward with food and drinks. It’s an energizing and informative evening"