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DLD News
January 20, 2008 · 02:47 PM
DLD Opening and welcome
A sunny day in Munich marks the start of DLD08. People are streaming into the venue, the DLD logo is everywhere: the black goodie bags are the fashion of the day. Welcome to the conference! This is what happens inside...
Many people are waiting to get inside, more than 1000 will attend this year's DLD, including speakers from all over the world, press members and technology freaks. Munich has its first sunny day of the year today and the venue is right in the middle of the city.
Those who enter the building get a free drink - nice welcome!
Up on the second floor, jazzy tunes are in the air. The atmosphere is relaxed. Everybody is looking forward to three days under the motto "UPLOADING THE 21st CENTURY". The building is magnificent: marble columns and video screens dominate the setting.
At 3 p.m. the room is crowded with people, many of whom seem to know each other. You can hear "Hey, how are you? Great to see you again" everywhere. This seems to be a family meeting.
At 5 minutes after 3 p.m DLD Hosts Stephanie Czerny and Marcel Reichart enter the stage and people give them a warm welcome. "This is our start of the year", says Reichart. They seem relaxed - and obviously, there is a lot work that DLD organisers invested to put this event together.
He asks: "Who has been here last year?" - half of the people in the auditorium raise their hands. "What a community".
The short review of past DLDs confirms the first impression of a family meeting - many people smile when they see pictures from robots, speakers and the party from the previous two conferences (anybody remembers the spontaneous pool party?)
But this year's program won't be a disappointment as well.
The founder of the TED conference, Richard Wurman, is in the audience - people clap their hands. "We stole a lot of you" says Stephanie Czerny with an ironic grin. DLD and TED are working together to connect technophiles all over the world.
Pioneers and innovators will be there and the imperative from the hosts is: don't talk about technology, BE technology. This means: ask questions.
With this, the first panel is about to open...