Baltimore Area Microsoft Developer User Group

Panelists: Pete Brown, G. Andrew Duthie and Kendall Miller
Topic: Panel Discussion on the Internet of Things

RSVP: Meetup

Location:Heavy Seas Alehouse
1300 Bank St‎
Baltimore, Maryland 21231

Date: Wednesday, March 25th, networking begins at 6:30

Abstract:
The market for Internet of Things (IoT) is expanding at astonishing speed and there are plenty of enthusiasm and euphoria in industry about its enormous prospects. This panel discussion attempts to explore business opportunities and challenges in IoT. Internet connected devices are being touted from door knobs to smoke detectors, cars, baby diapers, health monitors, etc. with new products coming to market in rapid successions. As IoT is transforming the business landscape and creating enormous opportunities worldwide, are wondering if the excitement about IoT is a flash in the pan or a pathway to the future? What are the killer apps, challenges, and roadblocks? What does an explosively growing IoT market means to at SW dev’s career? What and where are job opportunities? What area of IoT is the most promising for employment? What areas are ripe for innovations and development of products and services? What pitfalls to avoid? What opportunities to pursue?

The panel will attempt to answer these and other important questions as much as time would allow.

There is will most likely also be a demo of hardware, from .NET Microframework boards programmed with Visual Studio, to Arduino-compatible devices and even devices running JavaScript. If you love blinky lights, motors, and other fun hardware mash-ups, then this meeting is for you.

Bios :
Pete Brown is a PM on the TED Engineering Engagement team at Microsoft. He focuses on the Internet of Things, XAML and .NET, and creative applications for amateur and pro musicians. He loves to work on code for microcontrollers and embedded devices, especially if they blink and make noise.

G. Andrew Duthie is the chief consultant for Devhammer Enterprises. Andrew is a consultant focused on helping clients meet their business goals through software. Andrew is also a trainer and writer with more than 15 years of industry experience, including nearly 10 years as a Technical Evangelist for Microsoft’s Mid-Atlantic States district.

In addition to his work in software development, Andrew enjoys the world of hardware experimentation, including developing for Kinect and .NET Gadgeteer, mBed, and Arduino, to do everything from blinking LEDs and making strange noises, to flying a helicopter with his bare hands.

Andrew can be reached through his blog at http://devhammer.net/.

Kendall Miller is one of the founding partners of Gibraltar Software, an Independent Software Vendor (ISV) that develops & markets commercial applications for .NET developers Before starting Gibraltar Software, Kendall worked for multiple startups leading their technology development from beginning through profitability.

Kendall has a B.S in Computer Engineering from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

Speaker: Brian Noyes
Topic: Exposing Data Services with ASP.NET Web API

RSVP: Meetup

Location:
JMT
72 Loveton Circle
Sparks, MD 21152

Date: Wednesday, February 18th, networking begins at 6:30

Abstract:
ASP.NET Web API makes it really easy to write Web APIs or HTTP services of any flavor. But the vast majority of remote service call needs for client and web applications is to perform CRUD operations – retrieve data, work with it on the client side, and send changes back to the server. You can easily support this in ASP.NET Web API with just CRUD-oriented RESTful services, or you can use ASP.NET Web API OData. In this session you will learn how to do both and will learn what the advantages of using OData are over your own custom CRUD services.

Bio :
Brian Noyes is CTO and Co-founder of Solliance (www.solliance.net), a Microsoft Regional Director, Microsoft MVP, and Pluralsight author. Brian specializes in building rich HTML and XAML clients and the services that back them with ASP.NET, WCF, and Azure. Brian is author of over a half-dozen Pluralsight courses, four books, and dozens of magazine and online publication articles. He is a frequent top rated speaker at conferences worldwide including Microsoft TechEd, VSLive!, DevIntersection, DevConnections, DevTeach, DevReach, and others. Brian got started programming as a hobby while flying F-14 Tomcats in the U. S. Navy, later turning his passion for software development into his current career. You can reach Brian through his blog at http://briannoyes.net or on Twitter @briannoyes.

Speaker: Shahed Chowdhuri
Topic: Azure Mobile Services

RSVP: Meetup

Location:System Source
338 Clubhouse Road
Hunt Valley, MD 21031

Date: Wednesday, January 21st, networking begins at 6:30

Abstract:
Wondering how you can take advantage of the cloud, and build for multiple platforms at the same time? Join Microsoft Technical Evangelist Shahed Chowdhuri and learn how you can leverage your existing skills and experience to build Universal Apps and connect them via Azure Mobile Services.

Bio :
Shahed Chowdhuri is a Senior Technical Evangelist for Microsoft and a public speaker in the DC Metro area. In his spare time, he builds indie games and dev tools via OnekSoft Games and OnekSoft Labs. He is also the founder of multiple game development groups on Facebook: Xbox One Indie Devs, Unity Indie Devs and Construct 2 Indie Game Developers. You can find him blogging at http://WakeUpAndCode.com and tweeting via @shahedC and @OnekSoftGames.

Speaker:Vincent Novak
Topic: SASS/SCSS : Streamlining development of UI

RSVP: Meetup

Location:Red Brick Station
8149 Honeygo Blvd
White Marsh, MD 21236

Date: Wednesday, October 29th, networking begins at 6:30

Abstract:
Using object oriented styles, media queries and HTML5 to create responsive web sites and applications that move gracefully between devices can make your CSS code extensive and difficult to maintain. Using CSS pre-compiling speeds up the process of creating website styles, breaks up changes in styles for varied devices into manageable portions, and allows for site-wide style changes in just a few lines of code. The demonstration will give a quick introduction to CSS pre-compiling options, but will focus on setting up a project to leverage SASS/SCSS to streamline the development of front end UI and the basics of the SASS language.

Bio :
Vince Novak has more than 15 years of experience in the graphic design and interactive field, with a strong understanding of user experience design and an equal amount of print design expertise. He currently serves as an Interactive Design Specialist at the JMT Technology Group in Sparks, MD. He has created websites, interactive media, brand identities and integrated ad campaigns in the sportswear, financial, technology and government spaces. Mr. Novak has led teams of designers and web developers recognized by several professional organizations for their outstanding work. Aside from holding a bachelor’s degree in graphic design from the Maryland Institute, College of Art, Mr. Novak also holds several awards in the design and multimedia industries.

Specialties: User Experience Design and Strategy, HTML5 and CSS development, Responsive Design, Information Architecture, Video and Audio Production, Adobe Creative Suite, Photography, Print Production, and knows enough PHP, ASP.NET, Javascript, JQuery, Drupal, WordPress and Umbraco to be dangerous.

Speaker: Shahed Chowdhuri
Topic: Unity Game Development: Beyond the Basics

RSVP: Meetup

Location:DoublePositive
1501 S. Clinton Street, Suite 1520
Baltimore, Maryland 21224

Date: Wednesday, September 24th, networking begins at 6:30

Abstract:
Do you have an interest in creating games with Unity and publishing to Windows, Xbox and other popular platforms? Go beyond the basics to learn how you can use Unity and your existing C# experience. Even if you’ve used Unity’s 3D features before, learn how you can use the new 2D functionality to build 2D games much more easily now!

Bio :
Shahed Chowdhuri is a Senior Technical Evangelist for Microsoft and a public speaker in the DC Metro area. In his spare time, he builds indie games and dev tools via OnekSoft Games and OnekSoft Labs. He is also the founder of multiple game development groups on Facebook: Xbox One Indie Devs, Unity Indie Devs and Construct 2 Indie Game Developers. You can find him blogging at http://WakeUpAndCode.com and tweeting via @shahedC and @OnekSoftGames.

Speaker: Various

Topic: Business Intelligence

RSVP: Meetup

Location:Green Turtle Hunt Valley
Hunt Valley Town Center
118 Shawan Rd,
Hunt Valley, MD 21030

Date: Wednesday, July 30th, networking begins at 6:30

Abstract:
This month we are focused on BaltoMSDN member driven conversations about anything technical and non-technical. It might be a good opportunity to talk about tech trends, companies that are hiring in the area, new management for this user group and topics for future meetings.

We’ll start off with a short presentation on Business Intelligence for developers by Ed Mullin.

Speaker: Ben Davis & Scott Springer

Topic: UNITY+ Window 8 – ARC GIS Integration

RSVP: Meetup

Location:Double Positive
1501 S. Clinton Street, Suite 1520
Baltimore, Maryland 21224

Date: Wednesday, May 28th, networking begins at 6:30

Abstract:
Ben’s Presentation :
Working with the Unity game engine and Windows 8 our team has been able to create a compelling education application. Benjamin will give a quick demo of the app and talk about some of the technologies that went into creating the app.

Scott’s Presentation :
The webpage for the Penn State Geospatial Revolution project states:
“Geospatial information influences nearly everything. Seamless layers of satellites, surveillance, and location-based technologies create a worldwide geographic knowledge base vital to solving myriad social and environmental problems in the interconnected global community.”
But how does this technology work? How do those satellite signals translate into a location on a Google map or another map-based application?
The purpose of this presentation is to explain how geospatial applications work, both from the storage of geospatial information and the dissemination of that information to applications, but also in how to take that information and present it in a usable

Bio :
Benjamin Davis joins LCG Technologies as an application developer to primarily focus on the Microsoft Mobile strategy. With a growing knowledge of Microsoft technologies, Benjamin is not only helping to create LCG’s presence in the Windows store but also help their clients with Microsoft centric mobile solutions.

Prior to LCG, Benjamin studied computer science at Morgan State University and has work independently on Windows phone applications.
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Scott Springer :
I’m a senior application developer who works primarily out of the JMT Technology Group office in Sparks, MD. My specialty is developing web-based solutions using Microsoft and open source technologies. My hobbies include driving to and from work as well as cooking for, cleaning up after, and chasing my two boys around.
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Joe Bizzell :
I have over 11 years of experience and am an ArcGIS Server Enterprise integrator and product developer as well as an ESRI ArcGIS Server Programming. I have extensive experience with architecting and coding configurable, modular enterprise solutions that involve GIS with both Oracle and SQL Server databases. In addition, I have experience as team lead and architect on multiple application development projects. I have experience developing solutions in Java, C#, Flex, SharePoint, Javascript, HTML

Speaker: Eric Greene
Topic: Power Up Productivity with Visual Studio Extensions

RSVP: Meetup

Location:System Source
338 Clubhouse Road
Hunt Valley, MD 21031

Date: Wednesday, April 23rd, networking begins at 6:30pm

Abstract:
Visual Studio Extensions are a great way to enhance Visual Studio to perform useful, frequently executed tasks thereby saving time, reducing the risk of human error and contributing to a more efficient and enjoyable software development experience. Extensions are quite simple to create, publish and distribute to other members of your team. The demonstration tonight will show the basics of code and debug an extension, how to interact with the Visual Studio API as well as how to distribute it via a private Extension Gallery.

Bio :
Eric is the founder and chief software developer for Sarnata Corporation. He holds a BS in Computer Science from the Virginia Military Institute and numerous software certifications to include the Microsoft Certified Professional Developer certification. Mr. Greene has experience programming mobile, web-based, and desktop applications using a variety of commercial and open-source platorms including .NET, PHP, Node.js, Linux, Windows, SQL Server, SQLite, MySQL, Postgresql and MongoDB. He has worked with large and small companies, on-site and off-site to help his customer’s meet their software development needs.

Specialties: Mobile & web application software development using ASP.Net 4.5 MVC, HTML 5, CSS3, JavaScript, jQuery, KnockoutJS, KendoUI HTML, Telerik & DevExpress Controls, Bootstrap, LessCSS, CoffeeScript, PHP, Node.js, MS Test, QUnit, SQL Server, SQLite, MySQL, Postgresql, MongoDB, Windows Server & Linux. Also, Mr. Greene has some experience with MonoTouch and Protoshare Wireframes.

www.linkedin.com/in/ericwgreene

Speaker: Open Mike
Topic:Member Driven meeting

RSVP: Meetup

Location:Green Turtle Hunt Valley
Hunt Valley Town Center
118 Shawan Rd,
Hunt Valley, MD 21030

Date: Wednesday, March19th, networking begins at 6:30

Abstract:
This month we are focused BaltoMSDN member driven conversations about anything technical and non-technical. It might be a good opportunity to talk about tech trends, companies that are hiring in the area, new management for this user group and topics for future meetings.

Speaker: Katie Hirsch
Topic: User Interface (UX) Design and Development

RSVP: Meetup

Location:UMBC Training Center in Columbia
6996 Columbia Gateway Drive
Suite 100
Columbia, MD 21046

Date: Wednesday, February 19th, networking begins at 6:30

Abstract:
This talk will be an overview of the many considerations involved in developing user interfaces for software. Initially the talk will focus on examples and lessons learned from user interface (UX) development in the gaming industry and then will discuss how those lessons are applicable and transferable into the world of corporate software development.

Bio :
Katie has developed software and technologies for companies including Day 1 Studios, Firaxis Games and Breakaway Ltd. where most of her work has been focused on User Interface development and design. She has both a Bachelors of Science in Computer Science and a Bachelors of Arts in Visual Arts concentrating in Animation from the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC) where she graduated magna cum laude in 2004. Over the course of her career she has shipped such titles as F.E.A.R.3, Civilization V, Command & Conquer 3 Expansion: Kane’s Wrath, and The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-Earth II – The Rise of the Witch-King and worked with platforms including the Xbox360, PS3 and PC. Katie also returns regularly to her alma mater to teach courses on Game Development, guest speak, and mentor.

www.linkedin.com/pub/katie-hirsch/1/12/680