FEBRUARY 2025 | 57 THE OKLAHOMA BAR JOURNAL There is much more than AI advancement and ethics at TECHSHOW. This year’s TECHSHOW is honored to feature Cory Doctorow as the keynote speaker. Mr. Doctorow is a renowned science fiction author, journalist and technology activist, celebrated for his insightful commentary on the intersection of technology and society. As a special consultant to the Electronic Frontier Foundation, he has been a steadfast advocate for digital rights and freedoms. He explores themes of digital rights management, file sharing and post-scarcity economics, resonating deeply with contemporary technological challenges. Attendees can anticipate a thought-provoking keynote address that delves into the evolving landscape of technology and its broader societal implications. Barron K. Henley, a TECHSHOW planning board member and consultant with Affinity Consulting, will likely once again have a packed house for his observations and customizations about Microsoft Word, a tool most lawyers use daily. Have you ever wondered why Microsoft Word frequently requires multiple steps to do a common task? The answer is that Microsoft built it that way! I defy anyone who uses Word to sit through Mr. Henley’s program for the first time without bursting into laughter several times. But then he follows up by showing how to “fix” the issues. More than once, I’ve heard a member of the audience comment out loud, “And I thought it was me!” There are also many litigation- oriented presentations at this year’s TECHSHOW, including one that will be very interesting to solo practitioners: “Trial With an iPad.” This is a two-part session. We also note the “AI Litigation: Harnessing Generative AI for Trials” session is excellent for litigators. As mentioned, TECHSHOW is in April this year instead of the usual March setting. So we are hoping for some nice spring Chicago weather. Unlike most conferences, where you may only get to hear and interact with a speaker while they’re at the podium, TECHSHOW has, for many years, featured an event called “Taste of TECHSHOW”, where attendees are encouraged to sign up for a dinner with some of the speakers. It is great fun, and you get to dine with other TECHSHOW attendees who share similar interests. This year, TECHSHOW celebrates its 40th anniversary, a remarkable milestone in legal technology innovation and education. To commemorate this occasion, Friday night will feature an ‘80s-style birthday party, inviting attendees to don their favorite retro outfits and relive the era when TECHSHOW was born. On Saturday morning, the celebration continues with a special presentation from past chairs of TECHSHOW, “40 Tech Tips in 40 Years.” This session promises to blend valuable insights with humor as presenters reflect on the evolution of technology, poke fun at some outdated tools and perhaps even roast a few former chairs for their memorable contributions – or missteps – over the decades. Visit www.techshow.com to register and for the latest updates and details about ABA TECHSHOW 2025. Don’t forget to use your discount code, EP2507, when registering. Mr. Calloway is the OBA Management Assistance Program director. Need a quick answer to a tech problem or help solving a management dilemma? Contact him at 405-416-7008, 800-522-8060 or jimc@okbar.org. It’s a free member benefit. Ms. Bays is the OBA practice management advisor, aiding attorneys in using technology and other tools to efficiently manage their offices.
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