Semantic Web Advantages

I think the main advantages of the Semantic Web are structuring of information, leading to adaptability of systems to changes and flexibility for a fast paced fast changing world. This also helps with extensibility of the system and/or of its use by increased numbers and range of types of user/contributor.

User Driven Modelling/Programming - Overall Aims

The aim for this research has for some time been to enable empowerment and indepedence of people creating models/programs within their team from :-

• Changes in the strategy of the organisation or the environment in which it operates.
• Changes in the software environment, e.g. what software the IT services will allow.
• Problems in having time and skills for learning and using computer languages.
• Difficulties in visualising and representing the software created.
• Difficulties in enabling collaboration.
• Inaccessibility of software created, caused by use of proprietary, department only, or specialist software.
• Maintenance problems.
• Mistakes in reuse, caused by lack of visualisation and representation of previous use.

The means for this is development of diagrammatic visualised software over the web as far as possible, where the visualisation matches the structure and therefore enables the collaborion by cutting through uneccessary barriers.

The main possible uses so far are models/problems that suit a tree/network based structure, such as process modelling, business modelling, and scientific taxonomies, and family trees.

European Healthgrids: A glimpse of the future? - Tony Solomonides

Interesting and useful talk :-

European Healthgrids: A glimpse of the future?
Start: 20/04/2010 - 19:00
End: 20/04/2010 - 21:00
Speaker: Tony Solomonides
City of Bristol College, Bristol

Following a number of grid projects for health and biomedical research, Tony Solomonides led the development of the integrated road map for healthgrid research and deployment in the SHARE project. He has since focussed on two open problems in that field: live knowledge management in a healthgrid and automatic privacy and confidentiality negotiation also in a healthgrid. Having set the scene with an outline of projects and the road map, Tony will report on his and his students' work in healthgrids. - http://www.bristol.bcs.org.uk/?q=node/87.

Empowering engineers and others to create software

With my PhD work, there was extensive prototyping of software solutions created and feedback from engineers. At first engineers tended to ask for software that followed the strategy of the business and met its deadlines. What emerged over time though was a desire from engineers to have more control over the software so that they could do this themselves and have input into this strategy. With a top down strategy and inflexible software and rules about what can be used and installed, missing of deadlines, and problems in meeting aims were built into the system, and engineers realised this.

So even in engineering, an industry that by its nature has to be conservative, due to safety needs, it is realised that empowerment is necessary in software development. So there was a need to empower the engineers by provision of collaborative software that could be installed and used as easily as possible and be adaptable. Empowering the engineers to be fully involved in the creation and maintenance of such software, because they're interested in the software and what it can do, was essential to make the use, re-use and maintenance of the software practical. This is necessary because it would not be possible to achieve application of useful software by any top down strategy, with limited involvement of higher managers and software suppliers. Visualisation and modelling of the software by a large range of people can be achieved by use of diagrams to show the problem and software structure, as part of the software and how it is used.

Further feedback was obtained from others via an online survey of a greater cross section of others rather than only engineers. This bore out that people want more control and involvement in software development and use, and that visual editing of the software over the web is the best way to achieve this.

Unified Computing For Engineering, Business and Science

The research undertaken and described here crosses the boundary between engineering and computing. This is achieved by reusing the same approach for computer modelling and engineering modelling, thus applying computing use case and tree based node and object design. This approach is usable for any kind of tree and network based modelling e.g. engineering process modelling, workflow, business process modelling. The approach makes use of nodes linked by equations, or pure taxonomies if equations aren't required, thus making this useful for taxonomies, and useful for representing computing structures, biology, and engineering structure. When these taxonomies are linked up, they can then be used for a colour coded visualised ontology super taxonomy, of sub taxonomies e.g. processes, materials, components (engineering or computer software), resources, and cost rates.

The visualisation represents the structure of the model, and the structure of the problem, creating a unified approach for systematic program and model, computing and engineering, business, and biology structure representation. This makes structured representation much clearer than it can be in a flat structure such as a spreadsheet, and makes auditing and keeping track of changes easier.

This unified approach then enables representation of the problem at a high level of abstraction and if the optional equations are included aids process modelling and decision support. This high level of abstraction and structured representation and visualisation makes errors more obvious and findable, aiding auditing. Semantic Web and Web 2.0/3.0 technologies make this approach feasible for moving this approach from more complex to simple low end computing and networking the approach where useful or necessary.

My INCOSE/Bristol University presentation for 24th March

Downloadable PowerPoint newest version -
http://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0Bx_KguSfl6vSYTg5NTVhYTAtODFkOS00Njc0LTkzZWYtYjQ0NmE4YmRmNTI3.

Downloadable PowerPoint 1997-2003 version -
http://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0Bx_KguSfl6vSZjg5ZGYzOTUtZTc0Ny00OGQ5LWE4NzUtN2YwZWY3M2Q3NTg4&hl=en

Abstract

User Driven Modelling and Systematic Interaction for End-User Programming

This talk discusses PhD research (just submitted) into building a systematic infrastructure and capability, and how to solve problems which could hamper this. This approach is based on creation of systems that can be customised to produce other systems and models, and translation from abstract diagrammatic representations to computer representations. The conclusion explains how this approach to modelling and end-user programming enables interoperability, and collaboration, and that this assists with Maintenance, Extensibility, Ease of Use, and Sharing of Information.

Systems Engineering is involved in the analysis of the relating of interdisciplinary research requirements, in both engineering and computing, for this research. Systems engineering is also important in that the application area of modelling, for aerospace (Airbus and Rolls-Royce) has been one where complex engineering products are created, and a systematic approach is needed. Further to this the research has required systematic production of systems that in turn must be usable by a wide range of users to produce and share their customised engineering models.


24/03/2010 - 24/03/201018:30
Bristol Local GroupUniversity of Bristol, venue is TBA.
Systems Research Showcase Following on from last year’s popular event, this event will provide another chance to see some of the latest postgraduate research in the systems arena being conducted in the south west. This event will take place at the University of Bristol.

There is 1 Document for this event, click here to view
To book for this event, please click here.

Translation between models/programs

As well as user to computer translation, an important area of research is similar semi-automated translation between computer programs and models. Much of the structure of programs/models is the same regardless of what particular programming language is used. Making translations of a program/model available on multiple systems by translation from one to the other eases maintenance and re-use and widens availability. Also involving users in such a process would enable sharing and understanding of models/programs, so aiding Decision Support.

A history of end user programming - SiftMedia

SiftMedia have published online this article of mine.

03-Feb-10

A brief history of the evolution of computer programming from the 60s to the present day, by Peter Hale.

- http://www.knowledgeboard.com/item/3058/23/5/3.

User Driven Modelling and Systematic Interaction for End-User Programming

This is the abstract of a talk I'll give to - Systems Research Showcase, INCOSE UK, Bristol Local Group, Wednesday 24th March 2010 - at Bristol University -

http://www.bristol.ac.uk/engineering/systemscentre/news/2010/incoseblg.html.

This talk discusses PhD research (just submitted) into building a systematic infrastructure and capability, and how to solve problems which could hamper this. This approach is based on creation of systems that can be customised to produce other systems and models, and translation from abstract diagrammatic representations to computer representations.The conclusion explains how this approach to modelling and end-user programming enables interoperability, and collaboration, and that this assists with Maintenance, Extensibility, Ease of Use, and Sharing of Information.

Systems Engineering is involved in the analysis of the relating of interdisciplinary research requirements, in both engineering and computing, for this research. Systems engineering is also important in that the application area of modelling, for aerospace (Airbus and Rolls-Royce) has been one where complex engineering products are created, and a systematic approach is needed. Further to this the research has required systematic production of systems that in tern must be usuable by a wide range of users to produce and share their customised engineering models.

BBC article - Tim Berners-Lee unveils government data project

This is an interesting article about use of the Semantic Web for Government data -

"Web founder Sir Tim Berners-Lee has unveiled his latest venture for the UK government, which offers the public better access to official data.

A new website, data.gov.uk, will offer reams of public sector data, ranging from traffic statistics to crime figures, for private or commercial use.

The target is to kickstart a new wave of services that find novel ways to make use of the information.

Sir Tim was hired by PM Gordon "

Tim Berners-Lee unveils government data project - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8470797.stm - 21 January 2010

British Computer Society Interview -

Sir Tim Berners-Lee talks to BCS
November 2009
In an exclusive interview with the Institute, Sir Tim Berners-Lee spoke about the latest on the semantic web, his view on the advent of artificial life forms on the internet, the biggest barriers to enabling the information society for all, where the mobile web is going and more. - http://www.bcs.org/server.php?show=ConWebDoc.33535.

User driven modelling: Visualisation and systematic interaction for end user programming - SiftMedia

SiftMedia have published online this article of mine.

Article for Knowledge Board - SiftMedia - User driven modelling: Visualisation and systematic interaction for end user programming - http://www.knowledgeboard.com/item/3053/23/5/3.

04-Jan-10
Peter Hale explores to what extent it is possible to improve user-driven collaborative software development through interaction with diagrams and without requiring people to learn computer languages.

Methodology for creation of modelling systems

This approach is based on creation of systems that can be customised to produce other systems and models, and translation from abstract diagrammatic representations to computer representations.The conclusion explains how this approach to modelling and end-user programming enables interoperability, and collaboration, and that this assists with Maintenance, Extensibility, Ease of Use, and Sharing of Information.

This methodology can be seen as an attempt to semi-automate knowledge acquisition and representation approaches such as the SEPA Funnel (Systems Engineering Process Activities) . This methodology was prototyped in the research that led to the User Driven Modelling/Programming Approach. This provides a translation process from Knowledge Acquisition to modelling (User Driven Modelling), and automated translation of model to software (User Driven Programming), and so takes this SEPA Funnel to a further stage of translation/transformation of the model/system design specification. This can be facilitated by using XML (eXtensible Markup Language) as a programming language, for the representation of data and formulae, and of the user interface e.g. XAML (eXtensible Application Markup Language).

The methodology suits top-down ontology and model creation e.g. from those responsible for the root item in a product data structure downwards, and bottom-up ontology development, e.g. alternative solutions, tagging of items to allow discussion and enable disambiguation, and agreement on terminology, and mapping of alternative names to each other. This dual approach is facilitated by the translation being provided in both directions.

This model-driven approach examines how links between engineers and modellers/modelling tools can be improved, by visualising a modelling structure that mirrors the structure of the engineering product design. This provides traceability for calculation and decision making in a more clear, structured and visualised way than the audit trail in spreadsheets. This work concentrates mainly on requirements (Airbus, Rolls-Royce), software, and HCI aspects of systems. The main method for this is diagrammatic modelling which was used in gathering requirements, and is also implemented within the modelling system developed.

Making the structure of a model be the same as the structure of the engineering component modelled, and visualising both turns two problems into one. This speeds up co-operation in prototyping of both the software model and the component. Both rapid prototyping and rapid application design/development involve iterative fast development with prototypes communicated for feedback and refinement.

Requirements emerge gradually as part of this process, so early stage design can begin, in co-operation with life-cycle management, marketing, accounts etc. To get full benefit from this all staff who are part of this design process, manufacturing, management, and life-cycle management need to be able to access the models. The longer term aim is to enable direct modelling/prototyping of this by customers of the modelling tool e.g. engineers/end-user programmers. Such a system documents itself as the structure of the engineering product and software model are displayed/visualised. This would make it possible for emergent properties of a system to become known.

Despite object-oriented programming techniques being heavily influenced by the approach used by engineers for Bill of Materials/Product Data Structure modelling this link is difficult. Much of object-oriented programming was developed before graphical user interfaces became practical and common. So objects/classes are often represented mainly by text with visualisation/representation being added as an afterthought. This is not useful for engineers who are used to objects being physical things, or at least diagrams. A further problem has been an over-emphasis on encapsulation (hiding an objects' details, while creating an interface for its use, and re-use). This can lead to errors due to re-use of objects not fully understood. So the classes/objects must be visualised, even if the user does not intend to change their contents, then the user of objects has sufficient understanding of how to use them. This would improve the link and co-operation between engineers and modellers/models. The advantage is that engineers can iterate back and forth between problem and solution, this avoids two risks - going straight to a solution too early, or the problem being so abstract that no solution is achieved. Rapid iteration that semi-automating of the system provides enables an improved chance for finding a good solution. This approach is particularly suitable to taxonomy tree structures, so is best applied for process modelling (business and engineering), product data and work breakdown structures, and scientific taxonomies/phylogenies.

A requirement for use of such a system by engineers (or business and science) is to eliminate or minimise the need for code writing. This then would enable engineers to create models by linking of formulae, as they do when using spreadsheets, but provide a more structured (tree based) representation and visualisation of model(s). To find alternative ways of representing models that do not require the user to write code it must be easier to interact with and change the models, and to share and develop information with colleagues. It would also be useful to more closely align and link UML, and code development environments. Too much need for coding leads engineers to lose influence on the system to be developed, as the model needs to be created by software experts who have less understanding of the engineering problem.

Conclusion
This work involved development of a system for creating systems. Advantages of this approach are Maintenance, Extensibility, Ease of Use, and Sharing of Information. The use of open standards and representation enables this system to interact and interoperate with other systems and enable collaboration. This makes this system a ‘white box’ which can interact with and be viewable to other systems rather than a proprietary ‘black box’. This systematic design and representation of engineering modelling systems, enables semi-automated translation. This enables rapid iteration around a cycle of knowledge acquisition, specification of the problem, prototypes, and alternate potential solutions. This assists with deciding when to adapt and re-use existing solutions and when to innovate.

Such a system could be used to rebuild the system engineering for aerospace capabilities at UWE, and is being developed further at Bath University. A further advantage of the approach outlined here is that it shows promise for use in the SALT (Sharing Approaches to Learning and Teaching) project and for the Tearfund disaster relief project, so the flexibility built into it makes the process applicable to problems for which it was not envisaged and designed. Although these tools can be regarded as software related, they are also and more importantly a way of empowering computer literate end-users (e.g. engineers) with the autonomy to collaboratively model problems more free of constraints of software development. This enables better collaboration across disciplines and more independent of management structure and hierarchy.

SEPA Funnel - http://www.umcs.maine.edu/~ftp/wisr/wisr9/final-papers/Barber.html - K. Suzanne Barber, Thomas J. Graser, and Stephen R. Jernigan.

Systems Engineering MSc Module Assignment - Main part - http://docs.google.com/View?id=dgp7zcg6_344cxn8sxhs - Appendix - http://docs.google.com/View?id=dgp7zcg6_352c8j2w5cg.

Systems Engineering MSc Assignment

Cover Sheet
Peter Hale, University of the West of England, Bristol (UWE)
Continuing Professional Development in Aerospace - Systems Engineering
28th - 30th October & 16th - 17th November

Executive Summary

This assignment examines the systems engineering work at the University of the West of England, Bristol (my employer 2000-2008, and 2009-10). The particular focus is on application of this towards aerospace and modelling for Airbus and Rolls-Royce. It is argued in part a) that poor decision making by UWE led to this work being restricted, and that it needs rebuilding. Section 1 explains the reasons behind the problems, and ideas for recreating this system capability.

Section 2 part a) examines how change can be brought about to repair this damaged capability and a plan for rebuilding this, taking into account the problems already faced. Part b) describes the approach used to try to rebuild this capability and how to avoid problems which could hamper this. This approach is based on creation of systems that can be customised to produce other systems and models, and translation from abstract diagrammatic representations to computer representations.

The conclusion explains how this approach to modelling and end-user programming enables interoperability, and collaboration, and that this assists with Maintenance, Extensibility, Ease of Use, and Sharing of Information.

Systems Engineering MSc Module Assignment - Main part - http://docs.google.com/View?id=dgp7zcg6_344cxn8sxhs - Appendix - http://docs.google.com/View?id=dgp7zcg6_352c8j2w5cg.

Microsoft Imagine Cup

These are ideas put together from what I've heard from others that are interested in forming a team to enter with this kind of project. I'm hopeful we'll form a team and enter.

Maybe a start of the case then is for Tearfund disaster management, creation of a form using Microsoft Infopath, for feedback and sharing of disaster management information, uploaded to Sharepoint (could be tested on the UWE Sharepoint site). This then could be linked to stylesheets e.g. CSS for presentation in different regions and to a Microsoft translation service. The XML could be searchable on the web and maybe link with and be a way of uploading information for lost and found people. The forms must be usable on mobile phones, as much of a range as possible. Results to go to a server for help with systematic co-ordination of relief efforts.

Imagine Cup - http://imaginecup.com/, http://imaginecup.co.uk/.

A relevant event which I'm going to and will give a short presentation (PhD work, and Imagine Cup ideas is - Bristol Knowledge Unconference 2009 - 12th and 13th December - http://www.craftivism.net/wiki/UnCraftivism/Bristol_Knowledge_Unconference_2009

Themes - Knowledge Management/Semantic Web - Location: Arnolfini, 16 Narrow Quay, Bristol, BS1 4QA - UnCraftivism event, in association with the Craftivism Exhibition at the Arnolfini in Bristol.

My Presentation - User Driven Modelling - PhD
Visualisation for knowledge editing and creation by users -

Social media 'could transform public services' - BBC website

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8382252.stm - By Mark Ward Technology correspondent, BBC News.

This article describes the usefulness of Web 2.0 in providing user involvement in health and public services. This report is from the MyPublicServices conference. This provides a useful solution to current problems that centralised systems don't give patients and users enough involvement, but plans such as relying on Google tools for the management of systems are misguided. This conference investigated ways of involving users to a degree that is practical.

"Social media could transform the NHS and other public services in the same way that file-sharing changed the music industry, a conference has heard.

Growing use of tools, such as Facebook and Twitter, offered an opportunity to reinvent services, delegates heard.

The MyPublicServices event debated ways to harness these conversations, many of which are critical, to make services better and more inclusive.

If this was not done, many services would be undermined, speakers said.

"It's happened to the music and travel industries and it's going to happen to public services," said Dr Paul Hodgkin, founder of the Patient Opinion site that organised the MyPublicServices conference.

Said Dr Hodgkin: "The question is how do we cope with it in a useful and productive way and not spend decades beating each other up?" "

Here are more interesting articles about this debate -

Tories attack leaked five-year IT plan as 'unambitious' - BBC News Website - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8387972.stm.

The politics of crowdsourcing - BBC News Website -
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/technology/2009/12/the_politics_of_crowdsourcing.html -

- "Politicians in opposition and in government are latching onto the idea of using the web to engage with the wider public
Rory Cellan-Jones
BBC's technology correspondent"

- "This leak isn't likely to generate lurid headlines, as the report on transforming government by using "interactive (web 2.0) tools and processes, cloud computing technology and service-oriented architecture (SOA)" isn't exactly dynamite.
Still, the Conservatives have come up with quite a clever idea - they've put the document online and are inviting the public to comment on every part of it as they frame the party's response. "

BBC News - Google previews Chrome open source operating system

This is an interesting development in bringing Web 2.0 web browser software on a stage -

"Internet search giant Google has lifted the lid on its operating system, known as Chrome OS.

The free and open source system is initially aimed at low-cost netbooks and does away with many of the features of a traditional programme.

All programmes are designed to run in a web browser and all the user's data is stored on Google's servers.

Engineers from the firm said the first computers running the system would be available before the end of 2010."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8369611.stm.

Researcher Collaboration - Web 2.0 - Strength in science collaboration - BBC Article

This looks like a useful Web 2.0 collaboration tool for researchers -

The BBC article is at - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8342851.stm

"Victor Henning is the co-founder of Mendeley, an online collaboration tool which was created specifically for scientists.
The free software allows scientists and researchers to upload papers which are then trawled for bibliographic data - author, title, issue and so on - and paired up with similar papers already in the database."

"Mendeley is supposed to take the work out of managing these [research] papers.," explains Mr Henning.
"You can just drag and drop your collection of PDFs into the software and it'll automatically extract all the bibliographic data - all of the stuff that you'd usually have to type in manually." - Victor Henning.

Engineering modelling an iterative approach

This post discusses how links between engineers and modellers/modelling tools can be improved, using an approach of visualising a modelling structure that mirrors the structure of the engineering product design. The main method for this is diagrammatic modelling.

Making the structure of a model be the same as the structure of the engineering component modelled turns 2 problems into one. This speeds up co-operation in prototyping of both the software model and the component. Both rapid prototyping and rapid application design/development involve iterative fast development with prototypes communicated. Requirements emerge gradually as part of this process, so early stage design can begin, in co-operation with life-cycle management, marketing accounts etc. To get full benefit from this all staff who are part of this design process, manufacturing, management, and life-cycle management need to be able to access the models. The longer term aim is to enable direct modelling/prototyping of this by customers of the modelling tool e.g. engineers/end-user programmers. Such a system documents itself as the structure of the engineering product and software model are displayed/visualised.

Integration of information representation UML/Doors (http://www-01.ibm.com/software/awdtools/doors/productline/) is progress towards this. Also a user interface is required that makes it easier for engineers to model using such a combined UML/Doors solution

Despite object-oriented programming techniques being heavily influenced by the approach used by engineers for Bill of Materials/Product Data Structure modelling this link has become difficult. Much of object-oriented programming was developed before graphical user interfaces became practical and common. So objects/classes are often represented mainly by text with visualisation/representation being added as an afterthought. This is not useful for engineers who are used to objects being physical things, or at least diagrams. A further problem has been an over-emphasis on encapsulation (hiding an objects' details, while creating an interface for its use), and re-use. This can lead to errors due to re-use of objects that are not fully understood. So the classes/objects need to be visualised, even if the user does not intend to change their contents, so the user of objects has sufficient understanding of how to use them.

The above steps would improve the link and co-operation between engineers and modellers/models.

PhD Thesis Submitted

I've submitted my PhD in User Driven Programming, and continued this while my work environment changed. Previously I retrained from clerical work to engineering and computing, and developed advanced skills and experience in this through vocational and higher education. I worked for 10 years as a researcher at University of the West of England. I researched difficult problems, and helped gain funding for such research, and have written funding proposals. I'm very thorough and consistent, resolute, determined, am diplomatic, and have relevant skills for analysing research questions, and presenting findings. My home page is http://sites.google.com/site/userdrivenmodellingprogramming/Home. I devise ways for users to create software, to achieve this I apply Semantic Web techniques. I enable non-programmers to create software from a user interface that allows them to model a particular problem or scenario. I develop ways of translating this information into program code. This is useful for employees that have insufficient time to learn programming languages. This makes it easier for software systems to manage and enable sharing of information and programs people create.

Bristol Knowledge Unconference 2009

The Bristol Knowledge Unconference in 2009 - http://www.craftivism.net/wiki/UnCraftivism/Bristol_Knowledge_Unconference_2009 - will be an UnCraftivism event, in association with the Craftivism Exhibition at the Arnolfini in Bristol.

Basic Info
Date: 12th - 13th December 2009
Time: TBC
Location: Arnolfini, Bristol
Organiser: Daniel Lewis
Email: danieljohnlewis [at] gmail [dot] com
Instigator: Rui Guerra
Helpers: ...
In collaboration with:

What is Bristol Knowledge Unconference?

Bristol Knowledge Unconference is an "Unconference" specifically about Knowledge. The first Bristol Knowledge Unconference was in September 2008, and involved about 50 people who talked about Knowledge from scientific and new-media perspectives.

The knowledge unconferences are "themed" around the general subject of Knowledge, which includes:

The Semantic Web / Linked Data / Hyperdata / Data Web
Web Science
Topic Maps
Information Architecture and Design
Knowledge Acquisition and Knowledge Management
Knowledge-Based Systems, Knowledge Engineering and Rule-Based Systems (etc)
Knowledge/Information Visualisation and Graphical User Interfaces
Knowledge-orientated Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)
and maybe even, Object Oriented Databases

What will Bristol Knowledge Unconference 2009 be about?

This will be our second Bristol Knowledge Unconference. Our first one was very fun, and we hope to multiply that amount of fun - particularly as we'll be running alongside other groups involved in UnCraftivism.
As we will be in the Arnolfini, it has been decided to label this years Knowledge Unconference: The Art of Knowledge
Knowledge is both art and science. Everything we do with knowledge can be both beautiful and methodical. We will discuss these things, and talks will be established in order to think about these ideas. Other more general talks/demos are very much welcomed, no matter how arty or scientific they are. The idea of an Unconference is completely free-flowing, it is developed with minimal structure/organisation and also attempts to maximise the equality of the attendees.

We will be running simultaneously with other events happening during the unCraftivism weekend, see the Main Exhibition Page - http://www.craftivism.net/wiki/Main_Page - for more details.

I am definitely coming...
Feel free to put your name here if you know you will be attending: