“We needed to consider typical health and safety as well as effective placement (breathing height, multiple monitors in multiple rooms rather than near windows/doors),” says a Kawaiicon rep who walks by. Spout online told WIRED via email.
“Frankly, this is no different than having to consider other accessibility options (e.g., access to venue, access to negotiations, access to private space for personal use),” Sput wrote. “Since we are a technology-focused community, it's easier for us to set this up ourselves or with the help of volunteers, but it's definitely not unattainable given how accessible CO is2 monitor technology”.
Kawaiicon visitors could quickly check conditions before arriving and decide how to protect themselves accordingly. At the event, WIRED watched as participants tested for CO.2 levels on their phones, masking and unmasking in different conference areas, and seeing all room readings displayed on the dashboard at the front desk.
In each conference room, small wall monitors displayed traffic light colors to indicate the immediate situation: green for safe, orange for risky, and red to show that the room had high CO levels.2 levels, upper risk level.
“Everyone in the scam space we manage has a different risk and threat model, and we want everyone to feel like they can experience scams in a way that fits their model,” organizers wrote on their website. “With Covid-19 still present in the community, we wanted to make sure everyone had all the information they needed to make their own risk assessment as to whether and how they were 'present' at the con. That's our threat model and all the controls and areas we have in place.”
