San Jose Convention Center

150 W San Carlos St, San Jose, CA 95113, USA

Address:	150 W San Carlos St, San Jose, CA 95113, USA
Phone:	+1 408-295-9600
Site:	sanjose.org
Rating:	4.3

Location

Photos 100

Reviews 12

Ortelius Abraham

Worldwide Developers Conference Every year, Apple holds an annual Worldwide Developers Conference, giving thousands of developers from around the world a chance to meet up with Apple engineers and sit in on valuable workshops and software sessions. The event has typically taken place at the Moscone West Convention Center in San Francisco, but the 2017 edition will be held Monday, June 5 through Friday, June 9 at the McEnery Convention Center in San Jose, California. It will be the first time since 2002 that Apple has held WWDC in San Jose. 82歳のおばあちゃんは、Appleが認めた開発者。その人生観が深かった…。「80歳過ぎてからプログラミングをはじめて、アプリを出したらこんなことになっちゃった」そう語るのは、若宮正子さんだ。御年82歳。彼女は、今年2017年からプログラミング言語Swiftを学び始め、アプリをリリースした。そんな実績が評価され、Appleがサンノゼで開催している開発者イベントWWDCに「サプライズスペシャルゲスト」として招待された。目をピカピカ輝かせてハッキリとかわいらしく話す彼女は、「マーちゃん」という愛称で呼ばれる人気者だ。彼女に現地で会い、話を聞いた。どうしてプログラミングをはじめたの——？母の介護をしている最中、出会ったインターネットに「翼をもらった」高校を卒業したマーちゃんは銀行に就職し、定年まで勤め上げた。「私がある程度年齢を重ねてから『女性の社会進出』も好意的になりましたけど、確かに『女は家庭に』という風潮もありました。でも、私は自分に都合の悪いことは耳に入ってこないみたいで（笑）」社交的な彼女にとって、仕事は楽しいものだったのだろう。それと同時に、60歳以降の生活を少し憂鬱に感じていたそうだ。母の介護に専念しなければならなかったため、外部の世界を見られなくなってしまうと思ったからだ。家にこもっているとふと思う。「介護とおしゃべりを両立させたいな」と。そこではじめたのがインターネットだった。シニア向けのサイト「メロウ倶楽部」に参加したのだ。機械音痴だった彼女は、パソコンの使い方すらわからず、接続をするだけで3ヶ月も要した。パソコンがインターネットにつながり、「ようこそ、マーちゃん」という画面上の文字を見た時には、汗と涙で顔を濡らしたそうだ。「私は翼をもらったのです。その翼はパソコンを使う前には知らなかったような広い世界へ私を連れて行ってくれたんです」インターネットやパソコンの可能性を感じたマーちゃんは、その後Excelを使ったイラスト作品（Excel アート）を考案し、一躍有名人となった。「もともと、モノ作りをするのが大好きだったのですが、手芸みたいな作品だと、直接会う人にしか差し上げられないでしょう？でも、友だちだけじゃなく、私と会ったことがない人にも楽しみを与えてみたいなと思ったんです。ロマンを感じちゃうの」そんな理由から、2017年からプログラミングの勉強をはじめ、シニア向けのゲームアプリ「hinadan」を開発した。「多くのアプリは若い人向けで、私と同世代の人にはつまらない。年をとると、目も悪くなるし、指も思うように動かない。そういう人でも楽しめるように配慮した」ゲームだ。もちろん、開発の勉強を始めた当初は、苦労することも多かった。しかし、それでも投げ出さなかった理由はなんなのだろう？「漠然と、なんとかできるんじゃないかなって思ってたんです。気楽に楽しみながら作ってましたから」向上心、野心、負けん気……挑戦するモチベーションとなるような単語は一切出さずに、ゆるやかに話す。「あんまり近くで撮ると、恥ずかしくなっちゃうわ」と照れ笑いするマーちゃん。「あんまり近くで撮ると、恥ずかしくなっちゃうわ」と照れ笑いするマーちゃん。「それにね、何かにトライして失敗しても、無駄になることは絶対にないんです。だって失敗から勉強できるわけだし、経験を積めるので、今後につながっていく。失敗はすごく貴重な体験です。だから、私は、若い人はいっぱい失敗した方がいいと思います」「hinadanアプリもたくさん失敗がありましたよ。海外の方からこんなに反響があるなら別の名前にしたほうがよかったかしら？とかね（笑）。でも、チャレンジすることはすごくいいことだし、うまくいかなくても死んだり怪我したりしないから。大いに失敗を楽しんだほうがいい。いいじゃないですか、失敗したら失敗したで」朗らかに話すマーちゃんは、サンノゼの道を歩いていると、よく声をかけられる。WWDCの基調講演で、彼女は「最年長の開発者」として紹介され、Appleのティム・クックCEOとも面会したことが話題になっていたからだ。「まさか、ティム・クックさんにお会いできるなんて思っていませんでした。すごく優しい方で、シニア向けのアプリを作っていると話したら『大事なこと』と言ってくれました。社長なのに、開発者目線でアプリのアドバイスもくれました。フォントの大きさとか、画像の縦横比はこうした方がいいとか…」世界屈指の「社長」に認められ、瞬く間にスターとなったマーちゃんはシンデレラのようだ。日本から遠く離れた場所に招かれた彼女は、新しい友だちにも出会った。今回参加する中で、最年少の開発者であるリマ・ソエリアント君だ。マーちゃんとは対象的に、今回「最年少」の開発者としてWWDCに参加した、リマ・ソエリアント君。マーちゃんとは対象的に、今回「最年少」の開発者としてWWDCに参加した、リマ・ソエリアント君。「リマ君はオーストラリアに住む10歳の少年です。まさか私より72歳も若くて、南半球に住んでいる友だちができるとは思っていませんでした。英語が得意ではないのですが、楽しくおしゃべりできました」自分でも想像できないことが次々と起きる会場で、マーちゃんはあることを決意した。「基礎からプログラムを学び直して、次の作品も作りたいと思います。あと何年生きられるかわからないけれど」「人間って生物だから、いつかは死ぬ時が来ます。でも、生きているうちに何かを残したい。どこかにいる誰かに、82歳になってもプログラムができるっていう希望を差し上げることができたとしたら、それが遺産になると思っているんです」「私よりも少し下の年齢は老後について楽しいイメージを持っていない方が多いみたい」と、淡々と語る。銀行で働いていたときは、定年後に対して不安を抱えていた。そこから、どんな変化があったのだろうか。最後にこんな質問をしてみた——今の生活は充実していますか？「人生で今が一番楽しいです！メロウ倶楽部に入会した時に、『人生は60になると面白くなる。70になるともっと面白くなる』というメッセージを送ってもらったんです。じゃあ、80を過ぎたら？もっともっと楽しくなりました」 82歳のシンデレラはクスクスと笑いながら、夕方のサンノゼを歩いて行った。

A Private User

For the purpose of the convention center, it was fairly decent to maneuver. However, if you are not a local, you will think that the setting is not at all what it seems. Notes to put up in comparison with other major cities... 1. Parking for the local rate in comparison with other places is not really that bad. Yea, San Jose in general is expensive overall. And like a lot of other downtown places, parking is generally not very accommodating, but the infrastructure is developing, and the trains arent very popular. 2. Since San Jose is mostly a large suburb, the convention building is very large for the size of the city, an since the name of the city is overshadowed by San Francisco, conventions arent nearly as packed as other major cities around the United States. For example, Fanime which is held annually packed over 10,000 guests in the past 3 years. On the other hand, the LA Convention center which holds AX (Anime Expo) had over 100,000 guests last I checked. 3. In concessions, it really depends on the event that is taking place. Some may or may not put up concessions in the convention center.

Charles Bastian

I visited here for NetSuite SuiteWorld 2016. It was a great conference, the staff were very helpful, and stuck by their rules for keeping people out of rooms until it was time. Everyone was very professional, polite, and helpful. The location was very upscale and clean. The decor was nice. Though they could have used a LOT more workstations (tables & chairs with power plugs). That was a prime commodity. They offered food for breakfast and lunch. I tried the breakfast on the first day, and did not return for food. It was honestly a horrible bit of food. Obviously powedered eggs (as you could still taste the powder and feel the grit in your mouth). The bottles OJ was nice. The real downside that I saw over the whole event was the lack of drink options. There were a lot of water coolers, that was nice. But, aside from that you only had disgusting pots of starbucks "coffee" or "tea" to drink. They should have invested in some more options. Or, at least, a coffee that actually tastes like coffee, and not sewer water.

Jason Yount

I attended an eBay Sellers conference here in September of last year. It is in a great location – and easy walking distance around town – the local area is filled with lots of one-of-a-kind restaurants. It is also a short Uber ride away to the Caltrain (which I took to San Francisco during my visit). San Jose McEnery Convention Center is well kept and spacious! It was a good overall experience; and I would be interested in attending other events or functions at this facility in the future. Though I don’t think I would ever attend another eBay event (though they did have decent caterers - the food was better than anticipated - but that didnt stop me from trying some local Thai restaurants while there).

Madison E. Martin

Pretty good convention center. The meeting rooms are little spread out which makes hopping between sessions difficult. It is large, though, and would easily house a big meeting or convention. My main complaint is that the bathrooms (with exception of main set by the big room up front) are not well positioned for easy sight. You have to actively hunt for them. Which also means finding water fountains is frustrating. I wish they had small water stations near the meeting rooms or even in them. The location of this center is great. Easy access from the SJ transit center via a short walk or DASH shuttle. There are plenty of restaurants and hotels within walking distance.

Joe G

Ive attended several events at this mid sized convention center and I can tell you that it is nice. The last event I was at was a political rally and it was crazy. It was in the south hall which is a fabric structure. It was hot in there because the candidate was too cheap to pay for AC, but when the AC is on it is comfortable in there. The main convention halls are normal buildings. Located in downtown, the San Jose Convention center is near hotels, restaurants, museums, trails and other attractions. It is a nice place to hold your event.

Meghan McCann

I went here for comic Con this year, which was a lot of fun but there was nowhere near enough space for everyone who showed up. However, I dont blame the venue for that, its an organizational issue that apparently is going to be taken into account in 2017 which is nice. The venue was clean and well decorated, and parking wasnt too bad. I think if youre there for a big event or conference, you should definitely go early as the good/close by parking seemed to go very fast in the late morning and afternoon

Tony Driggers

Really, really nice convention center! Easy to manage vs NAB or CESAR @ the Las Vegas a convention Center! I prefer this convention center....super easy to get "in & out of." ONLY complaint: their indoor parking garage, while secure, will rape you with their $20 for...like 2-3 hours parking fee. Its ashame such a nice place feels the need to do this. No validation either even as a PAID ATTENDEE if a conference! One would think you drop $300++ on a convention theyd @ least validate your parking!

Liza Blaney

parking san jose website said it was $5 flat in evening (on the interactive map which obviously needs to be updated - they have other pages which do not list it as having evening parking flat rate). It cost $13, refused my credit cards, and had toilet water spilling from the ceiling. Walk a bit further and get a flat rate at san carlos and 2nd. San Jose Performing arts recommends this garage but it is a long walk and too expensive.

Tu Lam

I have mix feelings about this place. The place isnt very big so it holds smaller events. The parking is $20 a day for special events. I find it really pricy, especially when they mark it up for one event that takes a fourth of the convention center. They have bathroom signs posted but when you get there you find out the section is closed. Theres absolutely no seating in the lobby so people are forces to sit on the floor.

Vincent Nguyen

Went to fanime here, and I have to say, one of the best experiences of all the other conventions Ive been to. Holtels are close by, which is very convenient when picking up or dropping people off. Restaurants and stores near the area so you can grab some Boba or steak when chilling with your friends. Public parking is usually on a meter, but you can pay for a spot in a garage for... A pretty hefty fee

Sweety B

Have been to this convention center to attend a Fitness expo and to collect bib for Rock and Roll marathon. It is huge and well lit. Love the interiors and signs are pretty straight forward. There is a parking lot behind the center and its reasonable to find an empty spot here. Never used the restrooms but they are conveniently located from different rooms and halls.