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FutureMidwest Wraps Up With Big Crowd

Once again, hundreds of high-tech workers, would-be entrepreneurs and the folks just in general responsible for the high-tech future of Michgian gathered at Eastern Market Friday for the second and concluding day of FutureMidwest 2011.

Started by a couple of young entrepreneurs two years ago as a simple evening of networking, this conference now looks to be a high-end regular on the Detroit-area tech event circuit.

Friday's speakers included David Norris, CEO of security consultants BlueCava, on the future of the privacy wars when it comes to online applications and devices, and Roque Versace, vice president of sales at San Francisco-based Mashery Inc., which helps clients move to the increasingly diverse assortment of devices and platforms that are supplanting the traditional Web.

"Is your Web site dead?" Versace asked. "That's a good question to ask yourself. But if people like your content, you're not dead, you just have to figure out a way to get it out there more effectively for them."

FutureMidwest also featured displays from several sponsoring companies, including ride-and-drives of new Buick cars, displays of fascinating online mapping technology from Verizon Wireless, software development from Grand Rapids-based Atomic Object LLC, and fascinating examples of mobile apps for smartphone and tablets from Ann Arbor-based Logic Solutions Inc.

The only non-tech exhibitor was Mallory Brown, whose World Clothes Line offers buy-one, give-one clothing. When you buy an American-made T-shirt, sweatshirt or sweatpants, at prices from $28 to $56, an identical item to what you bought is donated to those less fortunate -- either in the United States, Peru or Indonesia.

Brown, an Albion College business graduate, said she got the idea for the company during her overseas travels to Peru and Indonesia.

"I went backpacking and was constantly asked literally for the clothes off my back," Brown said. "That inspired me to create the company."

Brown's online store, WorldClothesLine.com, is based in Farmington Hills. She's done two deliveries so far -- to homeless people in Detroit and to a Peruvian village in the Andes mountains.

Her clothing is designed by To Create My Tee, a screen printing company in Ann Arbor.

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