“I’m a Mac!” “I’m a PC!” Wait, you’re John Hodgman, PC-actor, author and Daily Show comedian, who will be joining Engadget, Microsoft, Google, Facebook, Starbucks, Amazon, Rhapsody and numerous other ‘Game Changers” at the encore 2012 edition of the Seattle Interactive Conference, this Fall’s most powerful networking event.
Tickets for SIC 2012, two full days dedicated to the convergence of online technology, creativity, and emerging trends in one of the world’s most innovative cities, are available now exclusively online via the SIC Web site.
Set for The Conference Center at the Washington State Convention Center in downtown Seattle, SIC 2012 showcases programming tracks focused on “Develop,” “Design,” and “Digital,” with dedicated programs ranging from online commerce and social media to gaming, interactive advertising, entertainment, enterprise collaboration, and more. After a successful 2011 debut that attracted more than 3,000 attendees, SIC 2012 will accommodate up to 4,000 attendees and more than 150 participating companies.
SIC 2012 will also bring an expanded base of digital music and entertainment-related programming to the docket, providing companies like Rhapsody an arena for exchanging perspectives with personalities such as musician John Roderick and the Daily Show’s Hodgman.
Additional luminaries from the technology and entertainment sectors will explore technology’s capacity to do good, via “Game-Changers for Humanity,” while a panel of print, broadcast, and digital media leaders will discuss the ever-changing landscape of journalism in 2012 and beyond. Entrepreneurs will also figure prominently in the programming, with 2012 Emmy-nominated speaker Elan Lee having recently raised $215 million for his Fourth Wall Studios venture. Venture capitalists and angel investors will provide SIC 2012 with additional perspectives.
“The Pacific Northwest is only strengthening its position as a global powerhouse in the world of interactive technology, whether we’re talking about traditional technology giants, entrepreneurial ventures in digital media and advertising, or additional areas emerging on an almost daily basis,” said Brian Rauschenbach, SIC curator. “SIC 2012 is here to generate important discussions about what lies ahead and how all of us should be prepared to address the exciting and challenging times upon us.”
Some key additions to SIC 2012 include:
- Engadget Meet-up: On Monday night, October 29, SIC will produce and co-host Engadget’s debut “Reader Meet-up” in Seattle, following several standing-room-only Engadget events for technology and digital media professionals held in such markets as New York and San Francisco. Slated for Showbox at the Market, Engadget’s meet-up is free-of-charge to SIC attendees and the general public and will provide a dynamic forum in which attendees can exchange ideas with Engadget’s editors as well as have the opportunity to win numerous gadgets and other technology prizes.
- The SIC Laptop Battle provides a competitive event for laptop computer musicians to match skills against one another, showcasing a combination of sound design, competition, and stage performance. Created by Seattle entrepreneur Zach Huntting, Laptop Battle involves one-on-one competitions done in three-minute rounds. Structured as a single-elimination tournament, Laptop Battle will use a panel of distinguished judges as well as crowd response to determine which competitors advance to the championship match. SIC will soon post registration information on its Web site for those interested in competing;
- Sanctioned networking events, happy hours and entertainment: Working with sponsors such as Bing, Filter, AOL, WINTR and others, SIC will provide attendees with several after-hours choices in terms of networking events, meet-ups, and music/entertainment in venues throughout downtown Seattle.
According to Rauschenbach, SIC was developed not only to cater to the Seattle-area technology community, but to draw attendees, speakers, and participating companies from throughout the US and beyond, providing a place to exchange ideas, information and share visions for the future. With an early-bird pricing points of only $499 (Platinum Conference Pass) and $399 (Gold Conference 
Pass) to attend, the event is deliberately priced to be as accessible as possible, at a time when many other multi-day conferences charge $1000 or more to attend. SIC 2012 plans to post its complete agenda in the coming weeks. [24×7]
