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ATO 2017 – Comfortably In the Groove

Between now and the opening of All Things Open 2023 on October 15, which will begin the conference’s second decade, FOSS Force is each day taking a look at an individual year in ATO’s history. In today’s article we’re looking at All Things Open 2017, which was the conference’s fifth outing.

The 2017 All Things Open T-Shirt

In All Things Open's 2017 T-shirt, it appears that the spaceman is taking his chair for a ride in space.
In All Things Open’s 2017 T-shirt, it appears that the spaceman is taking his chair for a ride in space.

Year Five by the Numbers

Attendance continued to grow in 2017, and the slate of speakers only got better. According to All Things Open, more than 3,200 people registered for conference number five, an increase of 800 over the previous year.

Large crowds are evident during opening day registration at All Things Open 2017.
The large number of people present during the opening day registration at All Things Open 2017 were a sign of the conference’s increasing success.

The increased attendance was especially evident during the keynote addresses in the conference center’s Grand Ballroom.

Looking into the Grand Ball before the opening morning keynote addresses at All Things Open 2017.
Looking into the Grand Ball before the opening morning keynote addresses at All Things Open 2017.
View of the large audience present for the opening keynotes on All Things Open 2017's second day.
View of the audience present for the opening keynotes on All Things Open 2017’s second day.

From its beginning in 2013, the conference offered a depth of speakers that was great for attendees who wanted to add to their open-source knowledge and skills, and also helpful for people looking to do a bit of old-fashioned networking. While this was especially important in the early years when the conference was run by educationally-focused IT-ology, that focus remained even after IT-ology was no longer connected with the event.

Dry erase job board in the central registration area at All Things Open 2017.
Job board in the central registration area at All Things Open 2017.

People at ATO 2017

The people from the group Chick
People at the booth for ChickTech at All Things Open 2017. ChickTech is a national nonprofit organization founded in 2012 for empowering people of marginalized genders through tech programs and events.
Danese Cooper, who has a rich background in open-source that includes being a former board member at Open Source Initiative and a long connection with the Apache Software Foundation, was a keynote speaker at All Things Open 2017. Currently she is chairperson at InnerSource Commons Foundation, which she co-founded.
Well known open-source advocate and speaker Kelsey Hightower at All Things Open 2017, where he was a keynote speaker.
Well known open-source advocate and speaker Kelsey Hightower at All Things Open 2017, where he was a keynote speaker. This summer Hightower announced on Twitter that he was retiring from Google.

All Things Open 2023 Opens Sunday

All Things Open 2023 opens this Sunday at the Raleigh Convention Center in downtown Raleigh, North Carolina, which it has been its home since it started in 2013. The schedule for this year’s event is available online. If you’re interested in attending, you can get information on prices (it’s extremely reasonable) and register here.

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