The new Washington Convention Center (http://www.dcconvention.com/) opened in April, and one of the first events at the massive new complex was FOSE, the Federal Office System Expo (http://www.fose.com/). This is usually the largest annual computer show in the Washington, DC, area, and as the name suggests it is heavily biased toward federal and state governments. This year, homeland security, the war in Iraq, and similar security and military interests dominated the show. Macintosh computers were scattered around the exhibit floor, running printers, plotters and slide projectors, demonstrating touch-sensitive screens and graphics tablets. While Windows computers were dominant, it really wasn’t a “Windows show,” since a large number of vendors were devoted to patching, protecting or overcoming various problems with Windows security. Apple had a large booth. but on such a vast exhibit floor their sign is all but invisible; look above the blimp in the center of the screen. And yes, that really is a remote-controlled blimp. (Photo by Lawrence I. Charters)
While the convention center was open for business and FOSE managed to fill a large portion of one exhibit hall, it didn’t fill the entire hall. Screened off from curious eyes was this vast expanse of bare concrete, construction equipment and exhibit paraphernalia. It rained heavily during the time the Expo was opened, and water leaks were everywhere. One of the most spectacular was right at the escalator leading from the Mount Vernon Square Metro station into the Convention Center. If it had been planned as an ornament, it would have been an impressive waterfall. But it wasn’t planned. (Photo by Lawrence I. Charters)