Partner Article

Thinking Digital conference 2014 – the event to experience

Last week we attended Thinking Digital conference, which we proudly sponsored, held at Sage Gateshead, just 10 minutes away from Newcastle Central Station. Thinking Digital, one of the most prominent technology, ideas and innovation conferences in Europe, is a truly inspiring experience, packed with high quality speakers, who share some fascinating stories about digital innovation. The conference had a vibrant and informal atmosphere, encouraging to talk freely to other participants and network. However, it was the speakers, who mostly attracted the crowd.

The speakers included local MP Chi Onwurah, disruptive designer Aral Balkan, who is creating a phone that empowers mere mortals to own their own data, and a real change agent, Sean Carasso, who campaigns for peace in Congo. With such a great spectrum of presenters, there is no wonder why they call it “UK’s answer to TED”.

It is definitely hard to choose one favourite talk. There were simply too many equally captivating, content rich presentations. From emerging themes, such as digital feudalism to entrepreneurial governments, the conference proves one point, though. We are living in the era of digital innovation, where everything is possible. Xavier De Kestelier, the architect from Foster + Partners, wants to build 3D printed houses on the Moon, Conrad Bodman, curator from Barbican Centre in London, creates a digital rain installation, and Dale Lane shares IBM’s plans to improve a question answering computer system, which uses a combination of machine learning and natural language technologies to read and understand massive amounts of text.

The big impact was also put on the youth from the North East region. There are loads of young, talented and digitally skilled young people, but they often lack the expertise of transferring their skills into a workplace. On one hand, they have a proper education background and skillset, but on the other, don’t know how to develop them in line with specific roles in the real world. The good point is that we can now point them the right direction and help them develop suitable professional qualities we currently lack in today’s workplace.

As Thinking Digital conference sponsor, we are proud to be a part of such a creative, inspiring hub of knowledge, driving digital innovation to the North East region and UK as a whole. It is one of these events, which everyone should experience at least once.

Have you attended Thinking Digital yourself? Share your views in the comments below.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by My Digital Biz .