Here are a few observations from the CM Pros and Gilbane Conferences last week.

• Steve Powers (Forrester Research gave a very good presentation to open the CM Pros Summit, His key point was that CMS vendors need to significantly improve support for user-generated content and other information derived from interactive social networks. Steve did not identify any particular leaders here.
• Summit participants were interested in how to integrate blogs and social networks into conventional web sites. However, the consensus was that the resources and commitment were missing in most organizations. The only realistic tactic discussed was to recruit an individual willing to put in the time and effort required to generate interesting content.
• Udi Manber (Google) provided an interesting keynote to the Gilbane Conference. His wide-ranging talk focused on user-driven innovation in search.
• Enterprise search continues to be a vibrant sector of content management. The most interesting vendors were Baynote and Connotate. (I will look at each of these in subsequent posts.)
• WCMS vendors offered nothing new. I think 'mature' does not capture this, perhaps 'moribund' is a better description.
• The newer WCMS products are predominantly built on the .NET platform.
• "Web 2.0" and other superlatives were found in shocking abundance.
• I enjoyed participating in the sesssion on XML Strategies for Content Mangement with Bill Trippe, Jake Sorofman (Just System), and Eric Severson (Flatirons Systems). We each addressed an aspect of the evolution of XML – emergence of XML standards such as DITA, convergence of ECM and WCMS, and the use of XML as a general integration technology.
• San Francisco remains one of the best cities in the US for visitors. My pick for dinner outside is still Cafe Tiramisu. I first went to this Belden Place restaurant in 1988, and it's still a great place in the middle of the city.

I have posted my presentatiion on XML Architecture and Design Patterns on the Technology Presentations page in the Technical Resources section.