The Digital Future is an opportunity for businesses, academia and others interested in the development of the Highlands and Islands economy, to attend a major conference which will showcase some of the most exciting developments in innovation, science, technology and learning - to find out how they will impact on how we live, work, learn and undertake business now and in the future.
The conference will feature Walter Bender, president of One Laptop per Child - a not-for-profit association that is developing and deploying technologies that will revolutionise how the world's children engage in learning.
Previously, Walter was a founding member and executive director of the MIT Media Laboratory where he worked on the development of new technologies that affect people ranging from electronic publishing and personalised interactive media to technologies that impact on the aging population.
Supporting Walter will be David Cavallo, co-head of the MIT Media Lab's Future of Learning research group.
David will share his experience in working with communities around the world to design new technologies that will change the way we think about 'learning' and 'school'.
Interactive exhibition
There will be an interactive exhibition running from 11.00 - 19.00 with students from the MIT Media Lab, local companies and researchers from the Highlands and Islands demonstrating projects in a range of areas including voice analysis techniques, innovative approaches to learning, health applications, music and fashion.
Young people's conference
Running in parallel is the Young People's Conference, with an emphasis on education workshops open to young people from the ages of 3-5, 9-10 and 14-15 years old. These targeted groups from all around the Highlands and Islands, together with their teachers, will participate in workshops led by MIT Media Lab students, local researchers and local companies - including introductions to musical composition, robotic pets, smart textiles, sound production and editing, design and creative writing and many other subjects.
* Please note: Due to limitations in delegate numbers, and where possible, we will be giving booking priority to companies and individuals resident in the Highlands and Islands area.
Register by phoning 0800 032 80 80 or at http://www.hie.co.uk/digitalfuture-conference-registration-form.html
