Big doings in Mexico City, Mexico from November 12 to 16, as some 35 hundred cyber-techies share concerns, exchange experiences, and carry out activities related to computers, communications and new technologies.

Campus Party, which began in 1997 in Malaga, Spain, will hold workshops, lectures and conferences on the latest developments in digital creativity, robotics, software development and modding video games. 

Modding consists in alternating computer components, integrating new design innovations and internal components allowing computers to become more powerful, so they can carry out different tasks simultaneously.

Modding expert Juan Carlos Lopez has been modifying computers for the past three years.

The engineering student hopes to found a company dedicated to developing and designing computer equipment after he graduates.

[Juan Carlos Lopez, Video Game Modding Expert]:
"There's a lot of brainpower here, a lot of ideas. Maybe someone has an idea, they meet someone else here, they get together later on and new technologies emerge, new companies emerge. Those types of things can happen."

Innovative central processor units (CPUs) were on display at the event.

One CPU uses attractive colorful lights and fans incorporated into a vehicle model.

Others incorporate automotive anti-freeze and distilled water in a cooling system.

20 years ago Tim Berners-Lee came up with a proposal for an information management system at the European Organization for Nuclear Research, CERN.

That proposal eventually led to the creation of the World Wide Web.

Lee says that governments must protect themselves against internet hackers.

[Tim Berners-Lee, Founder, World Wide Web]:
"So I think it's really important that we do need to give the government some powers. You can't just keep the government blindfolded, trying to work in a situation where the terrorists or anyone who is working major crime, is using the internet big time, very, very effectively. They have the ability to encrypt messages. It's a very powerful tool; the Internet can be a very powerful tool for crime, for criminals. So you have to give the government a lot of power too but then you have to put systems to make sure the government uses this power responsibly and designing those systems is really a challenge, I think, for the next few years.”

For Mexican software developer Jose Zavala from Mexico’s southern Tabasco state, it’s all about building community.

[Jose Zavala, Software Developer]:
“…It's difficult to have or form a network of friends dedicated to the same thing that is larger than five people. When you have these types of events that attract everyone who is dedicated to developing and designing software and video games, people who love technology, you come to gain knowledge and meet people in Mexico, interested in the same things."

For this event at least, community presence is hard to ignore – over 36 thousand people have logged on to a Campus Party forum.