Would you like to know what inspires the developers that create the apps you use, the games you play, and the websites you can't live without? Have you ever wondered how some products get their start?  Are you curious about the tools people utilize?   This year, in lieu of a holiday party, Michigan Technology Network joined with other local user groups to support Lansing Demo Camp 3.  A big thank you goes to Foster Swift, MITN's December sponsor, who made it possible for MITN to be part of the event.

On December 15th, over 125 developers, designers, marketers, entrepreneurs, and the other curious tech peeps gathered at the Michigan Historical Society.  Demo Camp showcases the accomplishments of local tech talent. Twelve speakers entertained the audience with examples of their creativity and hard work.  Topics ranged from a digital quilting site, to educational video games, to a browser plugin that displays the carbon footprint of the flights you're choosing between.

Appetizers and microbrews were served while attendees mingled and networked before the speaker series began. During networking, money was raised to support another local technology organization - ITEC.  ITEC is the Information Technology Empowerment Center that offers low cost educational classes for people of all ages that want to learn computer basics.  Once the speaker series began, each presenter was given 10 minutes to share their work.

• We're proud of the MITN members that presented at Demo Camp including:
• Jillian Winn who shared her behind the scenes story about SigningSavvy.com an online sign language dictionary. Watch the Demo
• Brian Winn who charged up the group with his interactive demonstration of a video game he and his lab, the Games for Entertainment and Learning Lab, at MSU created. Watch the Demo
• David Smith who is helping us all prevent the spammy emails our inlaws forward to us with an impressive tool he created to work with gmail. Watch the Demo
• and Jonathan Stars who introduced us to a tale about technology of the future he is writing for science fiction fans. Listen to the Talk

Thanks to everyone that joined us for our December meet up and thank you to the other user groups that welcomed MITN to join them in sponsoring Demo Camp, including: Greater Lansing .NET User Group, the Michigan Flex User Group, the ColdFusion User Group, the Lansing Area Macintosh and Lisa Users Group, the Lansing Java Users Group and Hackers and Hustlers.  The event was a great example of our region’s tech community working together.