Michael WilkinsThere has been an entire raft of astonishing statistics floating around the general consciousness for a while now that highlight the dramatic impact that technology has had on our lives. For example, in 2009 the top 10 most sort after jobs did not exist in 2004. The rate of technology is moving so fast now that students who are undertaking a three year long technical course are being taught how to use technology in their first year that will be obsolete by the time they graduate. It is probable that in the next couple of years is it possible that a super computer will be designed that will be capable to exceed the computational abilities of the human brain. There is even a belief that by 2049 there will be affordable computers capable of performing more computations than the entire human species! A thrilling and ever so slightly unnerving thought.
Still, we needn’t view the plot of Terminator with any serious prophet tendencies just yet, not while my own laptop insists turning blue and suddenly wailing at me on occasion. What we can do is ask some very exciting and probing questions into how to use this wealth of technology. That is the exact purpose of ‘Shift Happens’.
This year ‘Shift Happens – Episode IV – A New Hope’ comes to York’s own Theatre Royal on 5 June. The day is established as a means of bringing the movers and shakers in technology and the arts together to discuss how one might interact with the other. It is framed around a series of speakers who deliver lectures based on the inspirational style of the nonprofits organisation ‘TED – Ideas Worth Spreading’. The speakers are intended to provide provocations, debates, discussions and hands on opportunities to discover how the emerging technologies can help the artistic and creative community to develop.
Pilot Theatre, YTR’s resident company with a reputation of technological endeavour, is hosting the events with Marcus Romer their Artistic Director opening proceedings. Other speakers will include; Mariann Hardey – Associate Director for the Centre for Communications at the University of Durham, Dick Penny – Chair of Bristol Old Vic and pioneer of technological artists collaboration, Rachel Coldicutt – Co-founder of Caper, and previously Head of Digital Media at the Royal Opera House, Lyn Gardner – eminent and influence blogger and reviewer for the Guardian, and many many more.
It promises to more than just a day of speeches however. Pilot Theatre have promised, in their own words, “ to provide the best locally sourced food for you from Henshallwood’s Delicatessen and Manjit’s kitchen, we promise to provide the most amazing coffee that is roasted right here in this beautiful city of York, as well as Betty’s tea and one or two surprises during the day…”
So even if your interest in tech is not much above that of enthusiastic ammeter, you do have the delights of a Columbian bean well crushed to look forward to, (and maybe even so decent Yorkshire Parkin). So, get yourself down to YTR on 05/06/12 (10am to 10pm) to learn about the plethora of opportunities that new technologies are offering up. Be quick, tickets are in demand. And besides, we better get our money’s worth out of these computers before 2049 when they will undoubtedly go all ‘hasta la vista baby’ on us.
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