Code in Color: Open Source as Public Art

Ubuntu has become a mantra for the open source developer community. It is a Nguni Bantu (South African) term meaning "humanity" or often translated as "I am because we are." This talk explores the universal bond that connects us all through modern software that is built for purpose-driven social good. In this sense, open source software can be viewed as public art -- a product of cultural experiences on full display with the capacity to change the way we see the world.

• Speaker Details -

Kaixi Yang will be sharing her art and thoughts on existing, creating, artifacts, technology, and human connection. She is an artist, singer, and product design engineer studying at Stanford University, and the cofounder of ArtX, a creative technology collective at Stanford.

Dennis Adjei-Baah believes open source technology runs the world. From supercomputers built by NASA to smartwatches built by Google. What's the secret sauce that makes it possible for places like these to use technology built for free public use? In this talk, we will explore how open source communities play a big part in the open-source world, how each member contributes a unique perspective to software and how you as a software engineer can be a part of it.

Ife Ajiboye notes that in an increasingly digitized and interconnected world, open source spaces serve as a new third space centered on our desires to make, share and belong. These communities are unbound by distance or geography; they overflow with collaborative creation over simple but powerful ideals. He'll be discussing his engagement with open source spaces, especially how it has fostered his sense of artistry and civic responsibility.