FRAMINGHAM, MA--(Marketwire - Apr 11, 2011) - The IT community arrived in greater numbers and the online and on-site dialogue reached an all-time high, as Computerworld and the Storage Networking Industry Association (SNIA) wrapped up SNW Spring 2011, the premier conference on storage, infrastructure and the data center. Featuring new programs and activities, internationally-recognized speakers and enhanced media and social media presence -- all taking place in the heart of Silicon Valley -- SNW Spring 2011 attracted 15 percent more qualified attendees than last year's conference.
SNW Spring 2011 capitalized on the move to Silicon Valley by featuring innovative presenters like Apple founder Steve Wozniak and organized data center tours to local IT facilities. Wozniak and other industry experts -- including top executives from HP, Hitachi Data Systems, Dell and IBM -- focused their presentations on innovation, keeping with the conference's theme, "Driving Innovation Through the Information Infrastructure."
SNW Spring 2011 also featured a number of other firsts for the 11-year-old conference, including an Emerging Tech Program, which recognized technical innovation and entrepreneurial excellence; expo passes that allowed more of the IT community to experience SNW; and a Social Media Studio, dedicated to supporting podcasters, bloggers and producers of online video and Internet broadcasts.
An increased emphasis on social media, through the Social Media Studio, helped drive record Twitter, blog, podcast and online video activity. Podcaster InfoSmack and web video broadcaster SiliconAngle were among the online media reporting from SNW, joining a greater number of traditional media and analysts -- from throughout Silicon Valley, across the US and around the world.
"We had high expectations for SNW Spring 2011, and the IT community responded, not only with more attendees then we have seen in recent years, but also more contributions to the dialogue around 'Driving Innovation' at the conference and online," said John Amato, vice president & publisher, Computerworld. "This spring's conference clearly reinforced SNW's position as the premier conference for IT industry leaders focused on storage, infrastructure and the data center."
"SNW was a huge success this year as evidenced by the increase in the number of attendees, as well as the caliber of the keynote speakers, session presenters, case studies and sponsors," said SNIA Chairman Wayne M. Adams. "Their participation in the new SNW programs and first-ever activities here in Silicon Valley generated a dialogue and an energy that brought to life our focus on driving innovation."
SNW Spring 2011 featured more than 150 sessions and presentations by dozens of top IT management experts covering cloud computing, energy efficiency, backup and archiving, virtualization, data security, solid state and other increasingly critical technology topics. SNW attendees also participated in tutorials, Hands On Lab and SNIA certification workshops, as well as opportunities to network with peers and IT solution providers.
The conference concluded with a "Spirit of Silicon Valley" reception at The Tech Museum featuring a performance by The Ray Johnston Band, headed by former NBA player and cancer survivor Ray Johnston.
SNW is produced by Computerworld and co-owned by Computerworld and SNIA (The Storage Networking Industry Association).
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