Spend a day in the Highlands and Islands of the future

How we'll live, work, learn and do business using new science and technology, will be the theme of a one-day conference in Aviemore next month entitled The Digital Future - creativity without boundaries.

Organised by Highlands and Islands Enterprise the event, at the Aviemore Highland Resort conference centre on May 11, is attracting interest from companies, education professionals and economists keen to see a showcase of some of the most innovative tools with which to do business now and in the future.

Keynote speakers will include HIE chairman Willy Roe who will talk on '2020 Vision - the Highlands and Islands of the Future' and Walter Bender, president of One Laptop per Child - a not-for-profit association that is developing technologies set to revolutionise how the world's children engage in learning.

The event will include an inter-active exhibition in the morning that will see students from the Massachusetts Information Technology (MIT), local companies and researchers from the Highlands and Islands demonstrating projects in a range of areas including voice analysis techniques, approaches to learning, health applications, music and fashion.

Running in parallel will be a Young People's Conference providing workshops for children aged 3-5; 9-10 and 14-15 years old. These targeted groups, together with their teachers, will embark on workshops with MIT Media Lab students and local companies devoted to musical composition, robotic pets, smart textiles, sound production and editing, design and creative writing and many other subjects.

Jackie Wright, HIE's director of business growth and research, said, "Since 2001, the Highlands and Islands has developed close working links with MIT, one of the world's top technology and business universities.  To date our relationship with MIT is delivering real value to both local companies and UHI Millennium Institute, with collaborative projects in areas ranging from life sciences to tourism and culture."

 "The Digital Future conference is our opportunity to showcase this work to everyone in the area who wants to be creative in growing their business, developing new ideas and breaking down barriers of distance in the region and internationally."

The event's organisers are keen to give priority to companies and individuals living in the Highlands and Islands.

The conference programme and registration form are online at www.hie.co.uk/digitalfuture and further details can be obtained by phoning 0800 0328080.