Defcon app
Date of Submission: 27 May 2011
Primary Speaker Name*: Isaac Wilder
Primary Speaker twitter name (If you want it known if you are accepted): n/a
Primary Speaker facebook page (If you want it known if you are accepted): n/a
Primary Speaker any other social connector like a skype or chat account (If you want it known if you are accepted):
Primary Speaker Title and Company (if applicable): Founder, Free Network Foundation
Primary Speaker Email Address: isaac@freenetworkmovement.org
Primary Speaker Phone Number: 816.377.8433
Additional Speakers' name(s)*, titles, and social information: Charles Wyble, Technical Advisor, Free Network Foundation
Additional Email Addresses: n/a
Has the speaker(s) spoken at a previous DEF CON? No
Is there a specific day or time you MUST speak by? No
If you are submitting to speak at Black Hat as well, is your ability or willingness to speak predicated on your talk being accepted at Black Hat? No
Presentation Information
Name of Presentation: Building the MIND: An overview of Next Network initiatives
Is there a demonstration? Yes
Are you releasing a new tool? No
Are you releasing a new exploit? No
Is there audience participation? Yes
How much time does your presentation require? 20 minutes*, 50 minutes or 110 minutes, or 1/2 day Thursday (please specify) 20 minutes would be enough for just a talk, but 50 minutes would be better, to allow for audience questions and conversation.
Has this presentation been given in any other venue or conference? Yes or No If yes, please list dates, venues, and how this version of your presentation is going to be different than the past version. We are looking for unique talks, so help us understand how your talk has changed to essentially make it new again. No, but it is slated to be given at Contact in October
Equipment Needs & Special Requests (DEF CON will provide 1 LCD projector feed, 2 screens, microphones, wired and/or wireless Internet. If you need to multiple outputs for a demo please mention that below)
What are your equipment needs? Just mains power for some plug computers.
Will you require more than 1 LCD projector feed? Yes or No - if yes, please specify how many and why. No
Will you require a white board? Yes or No No, but it would definitely be nice
Are there any other special equipment needs that you will require? Yes or No - if yes, please specify No
Detailed Outline:
You must provide a detailed outline containing the main points and navigation through your talk - show us how you intend to begin, where you intend to lead the audience and how you plan to get there. The outline may be provided in a separate attachment and may be as simple as a text file or as detailed as a "bare bones" presentation. The more information you provide to us, the better chance we have of giving your presentation fair scrutiny.
We will begin by setting the stage for the recent developments in distributed architectures. We will give an overview of plug computers currently in production, including the sheevaplug, busybox, and pogoplug. Then, we will talk about emergent peer-to-peer protocols, and applications that are designed to take advantage of true peer-to-peer design. We will focus on the batman-adv mesh daemon, tahoe-lafs data store, and the phantom resilient network protocols.
We will proceed by laying out the vision and roadmap for the Free Network Foundation, detailing how the different pieces of the emerging nextnet landscape fit together, and what has already been accomplished.
This begins with the emergence of mesh-based network access cooperatives. This allows end users to purchase network access collectively, driving down the price, and putting in place a system with a peer-to-peer architecture.
Next, we see the emergence of what we call digital villages - these are coops that have begun to use their mesh networks for true peer-to-peer applications. Neighbors can communicate with one another without any fear of censorship or interception.
As digital villages emerge the world over, the key is to connect them together in an overlay or virtual network. This could be accomplished with phantom, tor, or some other application for wrapping packets for safe transmission over corporately owned infrastructure. What results is a network that allows for communication which opportunistically peer-to-peer. This means that packets take a collectively owned route when possible, but are otherwise transmitted via corporate infrastructure. The fractal geometry of the network and the patterns of communication amongst individuals suggest that most traffic would not need to travel on the corporate grid.
What remains is to provision a communications backbone for ourselves. We could crowdsource funds for outright purchase of existing facilities or for the construction of fiber lines. Everyone invests together, everyone is co-owner, and so the only costs incurred are upkeep.
When the network is co-owned by the whole of humanity, we can set about the mission of providing access as a human right, ensuring that no one ever again goes hungry for knowledge.
Once we have detailed the mission of the Free Network Foundation, and our plan to accomplish that mission, we will explain the challenges as we see them, and how people can help the cause.
We will ask for ideas of what applications will make the digital village useful. Mesh networks offer opportunities for localization and community that hub-and-spoke networks do not. What do people want to build that fits with this new model? How should local traffic be secured? What is considered truly secure in this regard?
The challenge that we're most keen on presenting to the community is that of securing those communications that have to travel over the corporate grid. Are there systems that are both reliable and scalable? What combination of DHTs and packet tunnelling fits the bill?
Finally, having presented the main outstanding problems in the field, we will give an overview of the main actors in the field, including the Freedombox foundation, the #nextnet initiative, project byzantium, mondonet, and New America Foundation's Open Technology Initiative. We will explain how we fit in among these projects as a stewardship organization, and what people can do to get involved.
Abstract: The Free Network Foundation is facilitating the construction of a global communications network which is peer-to-peer at every layer of the network, and which is owned and operated collectively by its users. This network is called the Mesh Interface for Network Devices, or MIND. Come learn about the FNF roadmap, the main challenges that lie ahead, and what you can do to help ensure freedom of information for all of humanity.
Supporting File(s): Additional files/materials? Yes or No (please describe) No
Speaker's Bio(s):
Isaac Wilder is a developer and systems engineer who started the Free Network Foundation in fall 2010. He left school last May to pursue free network advocacy full time. He believes in the power of technology to help heal the world. He is a wanderer, but calls FLOfarm, the open-source co-living space in NW Pennsylvania, his baecamp.
Charles Wyble is a senior systems and security engineer with 15+ years of experience. He works as an administrator at HostGator, and has participated in initatives such as The Village Telco Project and The Serval Project.
Terms and Conditions:
By submitting you agree to the Terms and Conditions below, please read and accept these terms by inserting your name in the appropriate area, otherwise your application will be considered incomplete and returned to you. Please read carefully as some of the terms have changed!
Grant of Copyright Use I warrant that the above work has not been previously published elsewhere, or if it has, that I have obtained permission for its publication by DEF CON Communications, Inc. and that I will promptly supply DEF CON Communications, Inc. with wording for crediting the original publication and copyright owner.
If I am selected for presentation, I hereby give DEF CON Communications, Inc. permission to duplicate, record and redistribute this presentation; including, but not limited to, the conference proceedings, conference CD, video, audio, hand outs(s) to the conference attendees for educational, on-line and all other purposes.
Terms of Speaking Requirements
1) I will submit a completed (and possibly updated) presentation, a copy of the tool(s) and/or code(s), and a reference to all of the tool(s), law(s), Web sites and/or publications referenced to at the end of my talk and as described in this CFP submission for publication on the conference CD by noon PST, June 24th, 2011.
2) I will submit a final Abstract and Biography for the DEF CON website and Printed Conference Materials by noon PST, June 17th, 2011.
3) I understand if I fail to submit a completed presentation by June 24th, 2011, I may be replaced by an alternate presentation or may forfeit my honorarium. This decision will be made by DEF CON and I will be informed in writing of my status.
4) I will include a detailed bibliography as either a separate document or included within the presentation of all resources cited and/or used in my presentation.
5) I will complete my presentation within the time allocated to me - not running over the time allocation.
6) I understand that DEF CON will provide 1 LCD projector feed, 2 screens, microphones, wired and/or wireless Internet. I understand that I am responsible for providing all other necessary equipment, including laptops and machines (with VGA output), to complete my presentation.
7) I will submit, within 5 days of the completion of the conference, any updated, revised or additional presentation(s) or materials that were used in my presentation but not included on the conference CD or conference proceedings.
Agreement to Terms of Speaking Remuneration
1) I understand that I will be responsible for my own hotel and travel expenses.
2) I understand that DEF CON will issue one payment per 50 or 110 minute presentation.
3) I understand that in order to be paid, I must provide a valid name and snail mail address. US citizens will be paid with a company check. Non-US citizens will be paid via money order or company check.
4) I understand that the name and address that I provide to the on-site speaker liaison is where the payment will be sent if I do not pick up payment during the con.
5) I understand that I will be paid $200 USD, within 30 days from the end of the conference, after I have completed my presentation. I may choose to waive my $200 speaking fee in exchange for 2 DEF CON Human badges in addition to my Speaker badge.
6) I understand that the above payment or badge options are offered for 50 and 110 minute presentations only. 20 minute presentations are not eligible for payment, but will still receive a speaker badge free of charge.
7) I understand that should my talk be determined to be unsuitable (e.g. a vendor or sales pitch, a talk on the keeping of goats, etc) after I have presented, that I will not receive an honorarium.
Yes, I, Isaac Wilder, have read and agree to the Grant of Copyright Use.
I, Isaac Wilder, have read and understand and agree to the terms as detailed in the Agreement to Terms of Speaking Requirements.
I, Isaac Wilder, have read and understand and agree to the terms as detailed in the Agreement to Terms of Speaking Remuneration or I will forfeit my honorarium.