While most Norwegians flocked outdoors during the country’s record warm Easter holidays, more than 5,000 computer and high-tech fans huddled indoors for “The Gathering,” an annual “data party” that continues to attract large crowds.
“We were sold out, as usual,” André Hals, a “Gathering” spokesman, told newspaper Dagbladet.
The event started in 1992 and draws thousands of so-called “data nerds” every year. Since 1996, The Gathering has been held during Norway’s long Easter holiday in the former Olympic speed skating hall in Hamar knows as Vikingskipet, because it was designed to resemble an overturned Viking ship.
This year around 5,200 literally moved into Vikingskipet to spend an estimated 500,000 hours in front of computer screens, playing games, swapping programs and sharing innovations.
Hals called the event “a completely unique social arena, a place where those interested in data can meet like-minded people. They can also meet face-to-face after playing against each other.”
He had no fears before the event began that participants’ activity would exceed available power and data capacity, after a major upgrade to 100 Gbit/s, from 30 last year.
Views and News staff
