ABOUTThinking Digital University 2010
Tuesday 25th May 2010
2.30pm until 5.30pm - Thinking Digital University
Five pre-conference workshops
Web Video Workshop
Led by web media super-practitioner, Christian Payne aka @Documentally, you will learn how to shoot video for the web to enhance your online presence and bring a powerful new dimension to your communications activities. Including features on which devices to use, the creative process for capturing your video and how to upload to multiples platforms simultaneously, this group based workshop will provide practical tips & advice that you can apply directly to your life & business immediately. You can learn more about Christian Payne at http://ourmaninside.com/.
Visual Communication and Collaboration
Have you ever wanted to be able to communicate your message or facilitate the communication of messages of others through the use of pictures, symbols & objects instead of just text, numbers & bulletpoints? This powerful & practical class will give you insights and some basic tools to do just this.
Renowned thought-leader and award winning innovator, Tom Wujec of Autodesk, will provide a session that guides delegates through the three principles of visual collaboration to enhance team creativity and design thinking – 1) representing information visually to increase understanding; 2) building prototypes that promote conversation, interaction and choice; 3) applying persistent panoramic frameworks to improve memory. You can read more about Tom Wujec at his website.
Introduction to Origami
If you like to be hands-on this is definitely a class to consider. A star speaker at TED2008, Robert Lang is one of the world's foremost authorities on origami and an all-around nice guy. His workshop will definitely test your lateral thinking and get the creative juices flowing. During this class, you will learn to fold 2-3 different origami figures. No prior experience needed but be prepared to have alot of fun. You can read more about Robert Lang at http://www.langorigami.com/.
Arduino Power
In 2009, we hosted the GADGET DIY class, which was a showcase of some of the wonderful new homebrew gadgets being created using an Arduino board. In 2010, we're taking the next step in ARDUINO POWER by giving students a chance to actually build simple Arduino-based devices.
Hosted by Jamie Allen of Culture Lab at Newcastle University & Daniel Soltis of Tinker, students in this class will learn the basics of using Arduino and then build some simple devices to show them the potential of what they can do at home or at work. ARDUINO POWER is going to be fun, interactive, creative and very much a hands-on session.
The Startup Pitching Competition
The startup company has a special place in the hearts of the digital generation. Hewlett Packard, perhaps the company most responsible for what has since become known as Silicon Valley, started their company up in a Palo Alto garage in 1939 and garages have never been the same since.
The latest North East England initiative to hothouse promising startups from around the world is the Difference Engine. It is a full time 13 week seed accelerator programme which combines investment capital of £20,000 (for 8% of the business) with intensive mentoring and coaching. At the conclusion of the programme the businesses will be expected to be investor ready, and will have to present their businesses and products to a group of venture capitalists and angel investors at a demo day.
The Difference Engine is comparable to Y Combinator (Silicon Valley), TechStars (Boulder, Boston & Seattle) and Seedcamp (London).
This session will pit against each other the 9 startup companies currently being incubated by the Difference Engine as they all seek the top prize. The company pitches will be judged by.
- Paul Callaghan, the Leighton Group
- Alasdair Greig, North Star Equity Investors
- Colin Willis, Hotspur Capital Partners
- Duncan Lowery, the IP Group
Come and see the great new startups coming out of the Difference Engine initiative.
Registered Thinking Digital Conference Delegate
If you are a registered Thinking Digital Conference delegate and would like to book a place on one of the University workshops, please contact Marissa Mulvena on 0191 556 1122 or email marissa@thinkingdigital.co.uk.
Non-Registered Thinking Digital Conference Delegate
Please use the ticketing system below to book your place.
Online Event Registration with amiando
