Summit at Sea was first “floated” five years ago as a one-time venture for 1,000 thinkers and entrepreneurs in a variety of fields. But when organizers brought it back for four days last November, they made it bigger and added a novel element: a virtual appearance by National Security Agency whistleblower Edward Snowden via video-conference from Russia.
Pulling off that feat of globe-spanning telecommunications required coordination and multiple layers of redundancy. The ship, which sailed out of Miami, remained in port for the keynote so organizers could get a hard-wired fiber line run to the boat to access broadband, rather than relying on wireless-only Internet access.
The effort was worth it, said Summit co-founder Elliott Bisnow. “People were blown away to have such an intimate conversation with such a public figure who was speaking via video chat from Russia,” he said. “It was a moment everyone will remember.”
For the rest of the event, though, there was no Internet access and a no-social-media policy—a hallmark of Summit events that organizers say helps foster a sense of intimacy and community, which is no small feat for a 3,000-attendee conference. “With a larger event we are able to create much more dynamic content and musical experiences,” Bisnow said. “Larger events become more about the experience, as the community gets to explore all around the ship and immerse themselves in everything.”
“Everything” included discussions on social justice, technological innovation, wellness programming, improv comedy, and acoustic jam sessions.
“It’s critical that a community unplug together and put the phones away,” Bisnow said. “We strive for our community to disconnect and spend quality time together.”
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