Home The Time For Software Conferences Is Over

The Time For Software Conferences Is Over

Wearable World Congress is ReadWrite’s signature annual conference, taking place in San Francisco May 19-20. 

Wearable World Congress, the first big conference ReadWrite has put on in years, is just days away. My apologies for being quieter than usual in my writing, as I’ve been absorbed in making this event a big success. 

I’ve been recruiting speakers and planning my role as master of ceremonies, and I’m bouncing out of my chair thinking about what we’re about to show you.

Buy your tickets now: Wearable World Congress, May 19-20

As I reviewed the agenda again this morning, it struck me: Software conferences have gotten boring. Big companies bombard developers with incremental update after incremental update, new tools to learn, and more code to wrangle.

Pebble Time (photo by youtubers watch)

Hardware is where the excitement is, and that’s because devices are the way we experience software. Software may still be eating the world, but as I’ve observed before, hardware is the plate from which it feasts. It’s the link between the digital and physical worlds.

Wearable World Congress is a different kind of technology conference, one where we don’t shoo hardware off into some kind of metaphorical alley. Instead, we let it stride down Main Street with pride. We give our stage over to the creators, tinkerers, and backers of innovative devices.

Of course hardware is supported by software and services, and we’re convening everyone who matters to be part of the conversation. But you can’t have an Internet of Things without things. Those are front and center at Wearable World Congress.

If you haven’t bought your tickets, there are still a few seats to grab. Here are some highlights of what we’re putting on:

  • Eric Migicovsky, the CEO of Pebble, will take the stage just as his new Pebble Time smartwatches begin shipping. We’ll talk about how he raised $20 million in preorders and how he’s staying ahead in a hotly contested category.

  • Marcus Weller, the CEO of Skully, will talk about what it took to invent a new category in wearables. Forget face computers—Weller’s motorcycle helmets are full-on head computers.

  • We have panels on payments, fashion, medicine, fitness, and more—and we’ve stacked them with experts who go far beyond the usual subjects. For example, CNN’s chief product officer, Alex Wellen, is talking about the wearable future of media. And Kelly Starrett, a best-selling author and fitness expert, is offering perspective from outside the tech bubble on the relationship between our bodies and gadgets.

  • My colleague Redg Snodgrass, the CEO of Wearable World and ReadWrite, will reveal the IoT for Cities Initiative, an effort we’ve been quietly spearheading to reimagine how humans in urban environments connect. 

  • And we have just landed a surprise speaker to close out the second day of the conference. I’m holding back the name, but this entrepreneur sold a wearable startup to a major social player, and will be sharing thoughts on the future of the industry for the first time on our stage.

Find out more about our speakers at Wearable World Congress—and if by now you’re as excited as I am, please join me in San Francisco as we prove that hardware’s time in the sun has come.

To join me and other innovators and experts, register for Wearable World Congress 2015, May 19-20 in San Francisco. 

Lead photo by Ruben Schade; photo of Pebble Time by youtubers watch; photo of The Palace of Fine Arts by Alex Mason

About ReadWrite’s Editorial Process

The ReadWrite Editorial policy involves closely monitoring the tech industry for major developments, new product launches, AI breakthroughs, video game releases and other newsworthy events. Editors assign relevant stories to staff writers or freelance contributors with expertise in each particular topic area. Before publication, articles go through a rigorous round of editing for accuracy, clarity, and to ensure adherence to ReadWrite's style guidelines.

Get the biggest tech headlines of the day delivered to your inbox

    By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. Unsubscribe anytime.

    Tech News

    Explore the latest in tech with our Tech News. We cut through the noise for concise, relevant updates, keeping you informed about the rapidly evolving tech landscape with curated content that separates signal from noise.

    In-Depth Tech Stories

    Explore tech impact in In-Depth Stories. Narrative data journalism offers comprehensive analyses, revealing stories behind data. Understand industry trends for a deeper perspective on tech's intricate relationships with society.

    Expert Reviews

    Empower decisions with Expert Reviews, merging industry expertise and insightful analysis. Delve into tech intricacies, get the best deals, and stay ahead with our trustworthy guide to navigating the ever-changing tech market.