WIKITOPIA: Keynote & Panel Discussion
-Topics on Open City, Materializing Information, Civic Startups

In January 2013, Wikitopia brings presents 3 compelling Keynotes, and 3 insightful Panel Discussion to share their insights and knowledge on themes related to the current and future use of open source, information technology, materializing information. The discussions will touch upon how collaborating across different platforms and creative realms will enable revolutionize the way we think, work and live.

Date and Time:
19 Jan 2013 (Sat) 2 pm – 5:30 pm
20 Jan 2013 (Sun) 10 am-5:30 pm
Venue:
The Goodlab, L1, The Sparkle, 500 Tung Chau Street, Cheung Sha Wan, Kowloon

Panel Discussion Topics
Topic 1: Open City
How will an open flow of information and knowledge shape the practice of art, the community and the city?

Topic 2: Open source and Materializing Information-Moderated by Mr. Isaac Leung
Is materializing information revolutionizing our everyday life?

Topic 3: Civic Startup-Moderated by Mr. Au Yeung-Shing
Can Civic Startups mobilize communities and create a positive impact in our profit-driven society?

Keynote Speakers:
Stephen Kovats
Media researcher and architect Stephen Kovats is the initiator of the ‘McLuhan in Europe 2011′network which examined the impact of the Canadian media philosopher’s work on contemporary art and culture in Europe. He was artistic director of transmediale, Berlin’s festival for art and digital culture 2008 – 2011, previously chief program curator at V2_Institute for the Unstable Media, Rotterdam and initiator of the Bauhaus Dessau Foundation’s Electronic Media Interpretation Studio.

Robert Ree
Robert Ree holds a Master of Information from the University of Toronto, where he was actively involved in the Critical Making Lab. His research synthesized concepts and techniques from his background in architecture and design with the challenges, problems and opportunities posed by contemporary digital information systems. Robert’s ongoing work has explored ‘tactile’ data visualization using open source hardware and software, programming parametric virtual sculptural forms in Processing, as well as examining the physical and social dimensions of desktop 3D fabrication technologies. Robert is now a faculty member in the School of Animation, Arts and Design at Sheridan College in Oakville, Ontario, where he teaches courses in drawing, 3D design, and digital media. Based on his experience in the Critical Making Lab, he founded Sheridan Makers, a campus club that encourages students to engage emerging technologies in hands-on creative work.

Yuk Hui
Yuk Hui is currently a postdoctoral researcher at Leuphana University, Germany, before he was a postdoctoral fellow at the Institute of Research and Innovation of Centre Pompidou in Paris. He obtained his PhD in philosophy from Goldsmiths University, London. He was trained in computer engineering, philosophy and cultural theory, he published widely on media philosophy, cultural theories.

Panel Discussion Speakers:

Ada Wong – Co-founder of the Good Lab,

Conor Roche – Computer Scientist ,
Daniel Howe – Artist, Writer, Hacker, Musician, Educator,
Haggen So – Former Project Manager of Creative Commons Hong Kong,
Isaac Mao – Venture Capitalist, blogger, software architect, entrepreneur,
Jane Prophet – Visual Artist and Academic ,
Jonathan Buford – Co-founder of Makible Ltd.,
Keith Lam – New Media Artist,
Liu Yan – CEO/Co-founder of Xindanwei,
TH Schee – Open Data Evangelist,
Tobias Klein – Archtect / artist

Registration:

Language: The Keynote and Panel Discussion will mainly be conducted in English (Cantonese Supplemented). Limited Seats Available.

To Register: Free Admission-Register by sending your name and email to info@videotage.org.hk or call 2573-1869 before the 18th January 2013.

About Wikitopia:
WIKITOPIA is a festival on collaborative Futures initiated by Videotage in 2010 in Hong Kong. Wikitopia aims to facilitate various concepts in the expanded Free Culture movement such as knowledge -sharing, crowd-sourcing creativity, technology-driven social interventions and information arts. Sharing the impulse of the open source movement that grows from the technological world, Wikitopia comes out from the creative realm and envisions a collaborative utopia that can be built and shared. Together with academics, professionals, amateurs, DIY-doers and makers, we explore new possibilities in all sectors and demand collaboration across platforms to revolutionize the way we create, work and live.
For more information on Wikitopia : www.wikitopia.hk

Credits:

Venue Support: The Good Lab

Supported by: Hong Kong Arts Development Council