# OSCON Keynotes and USV Portfolio

By [Continuations](https://continuations.com) · 2008-07-24

vc, opensource

---

Had a great time at [OSCON](http://en.oreilly.com/oscon2008) yesterday.  Day started with inspiring keynotes by Tim O'Reilly on the challenges for open source and by Chrstine Peterson from the Foresight Institute on Open Source Physical Security.  Tim mentioned cloud computing and mobile as the #1 and #2 challenges for open source.  Just as open source has made a lot of progress these two new trends threaten to move much of computing onto proprietary and closed platforms.  Christine started by pointing out how we had missed the boat of open software and systems for voting.  She admonished the audience not to do the same for the ways we try to guard against terrorism, giving the example of open software and systems for  sensor networks.  It was heartening to see many folks at OSCON who are working actively on these problems.   And I was pleased that this includes two companies in our portfolio that were both represented here – [Buglabs](http://www.buglabs.net) for devices (which could be used to build sensor nets) and [10gen](http://www.10gen.com) for cloud computing (Tim even gave 10gen a shoutout in his presentation).

---

*Originally published on [Continuations](https://continuations.com/oscon-keynotes-and-usv-portfolio)*