Sebastopol, CA, October 15, 2007--Now in its fourth year, the O'Reilly Where 2.0 Conference will bring together the people, projects, and issues building new technological foundations and creating value in the location industry. The conference, taking place May 12-14, 2008 at the San Francisco Airport Marriott in Burlingame, CA, will draw over 500 leading-edge developers and innovators from companies who are building location aware technology.

Happening over three days, Where 2.0 is single-track conference featuring a unique combination of high profile keynotes with big players, lightning talks, panel discussions, demos, product launches, and Q&A. The most innovative and interesting people in this space are featured on stage, and stay around to debate and discuss with other attendees off stage. 

In the O'Reilly conference tradition, Where 2.0 presents leading trends rather than chasing them. The 2008 program will explore how businesses and entrepreneurs are seeking out location applications, platforms, and hardware to gain a competitive edge.  Program chair Brady Forrest, "This year
we plan to broaden the scope of sessions to include the following topics:"

-Geo-Tagging Data: As major players add the capability to modify their site maps, who owns the data? How it used?

-Open Source Geo-Data: Today some of the most intriguing developments in the geo-spatial arena are created by open source developers: where are they pushing the GIS software companies?

-Sensorweb: From traffic sensing and traffic tickets to flooding and fire detection, cheap sensors are becoming ubiquitous: what are the implications and opportunities?

-Ultralocal: Wi-fi positioning lets companies know where you are. What does that mean for consumers and companies able to locate them and provide services on a block-by-block basis?

-Visualization: What new tools and applications will neo-geographers have to look forward to?

-As virtual worlds continue to mature, what are the implications for exploration in the real world?

- Local search and advertising is driving a new wave of innovation. What are the new trends?

-Privacy: With greater access to location and sensor data comes greater concern for privacy.

-Environment/NGOs: Regardless of political bent, geodata and software will be needed throughout the world by governments and NGOs.

-Wild Cards: Virtual worlds and Games: People use them to explore their world, but in doing so, what new technology will be gained?

The deadline for proposals for Where 2.0 2008 is November 26, 2007.

For the first time in 2008, Where 2.0 will have a full day of tutorials so participants can dig deep into a range of issues and leave the conference armed with new tools and skills. Tutorials are a half day (three hours) in length and will be held on Monday, May 12. Topics we'd like to explore
include:

Geo Support in Web Application Frameworks: As people design their own mapping applications, there has been a need for built-in geo support. Workshops will teach about Mapstraction, Modest Maps, Open Layers, GeoDjango, GeoRuby, MapCruncher, and other tools.

GeoStack: As locations apps are brought in-house, companies need their own geostack. What are the best tools?

Mapping APIs: The location space would not have gotten as far as it has today without all of the innovation in the mapping API space. How can you test the limits of these free resources?

GeoTargeting: Knowing users' locations has never been more important. Identifying it accurately can be difficult and expensive. What are the best methods?

Privacy Implications: As you are collecting user data, keeping track of your users, or collecting geodata, are you aware of the relevant laws? What would you teach others?

GeoBrowsers:  Google Earth and NASA WorldWind are both amazing geobrowsers. How can you get the most out of them?

Data Management: Geo applications work with massive amounts of data. What are the tools, tips, and tricks that can be used to manage it?

Protocols & Formats: GeoRSS, GML, KML, EXIF, Microformats, Geo OpenSearch. Which formats are on the way in and which ones are on the way out?

O'Reilly conferences provide a great opportunity for the exchange of ideas and networking. For 2008, Where 2.0 will have multiple activities to choose from, including:

-Where Fair: hands-on, science fair style event brings together the creators of emerging location-based projects to share their inventions with others. Where Fair projects will be selected from research, academia, and yet-to-be-discovered entrepreneurs
-BoFs: Evening sessions provide face-to-face informal meeting time for those interested in discussing the same topics, projects, and concepts -Exhibit Hall
-Ignite: A high-energy, fast-paced event featuring 5 minute presentations that are a platform for start-ups to make their debut

Attendees at Where 2.0 will also have an opportunity to learn about the latest technologies and product offerings from companies making things happen in location-based technology. The 2007 event included the following
sponsors: Google, MapQuest, ESRI, Autodesk, Garmin, 3DConnexion, deCarta, DigitalGlobe, Fatdoor, Leica Geosystems, Microsoft Virtual Earth, Quova, Schmap, Skyhook Wireless, TeleAtlas, Where.com, and University of Alaska. The exhibit hall will feature even more companies in 2008.

Registration for both general attendees and media will open in January 2008. Program details will be available in early 2008.

What past participants have said about Where 2.0:

"The Where 2.0 conference is probably one of the most important meetings of the year for developers of new Web 2.0 mapping technologies."
- Frank Taylor, Google Earth Blog

"I can't remember a conference I have attended in the past few years where there was just so much to take-in. [The next] Where 2.0...will be a show not to miss." –Ed Parsons, edparsons.com

The call for participation, now open, closes November 26, 2007. Early registration for Where 2.0 2008 will be open in January.


Learn more about Where 2008 by visiting:
http://conferences.oreilly.com/where

To read the news from Where 2008 visit: http://www.oreillynet.com/conferences/blog/where_20/