Two key events are taking place this week for children’s app developers. First is the Dust or Magic App Camp on the Monterey Peninsula, where a variety of experts share best practices for making interactive media. Kicking off with a “State of the App” panel on trends and news, the conference continued into case studies about building apps for kids. Many of the highlights were tweeted out in the #dustormagic stream. If you are an aspiring app developer and want to learn from industry leaders, here are the people to watch: http://dustormagic.com/appcamp/appcamp-2013-speakers/.

This photo was taken in Merrill Hall at the Asilomar Conference Center, which is where App Camp takes place annually each May.

Meanwhile, another group of app developers headed to Washington DC to discuss immigration, STEM and privacy issues with policy makers. Hosted by the Association for Competitive Technology, 50 app developers and tech entrepreneurs met with state senators and local representatives. They visited the White House Office of Science and Technology whose staff advises the President about the internet, innovation and privacy. They also met with the Federal Trade Commission to discuss children’s online privacy and best practices.

Here are some photos of Ann Adair, the mom-with-app from Thinkamingo, on her trip to the White House and Capitol Hill (with Senator Marco Rubio!).

By speaking up and collaborating with others, app developers can make a difference in their industry. The challenging trifecta of ever-changing technology, crowded app stores, and increased regulation are tough problems to solve. But these issues are not impossible with a community dedicated to sorting it all out. Thanks for the photos Ann!

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