Conference News: What I learned this week – May 26
Want to receive my weekly conference news updates via email? Sign up at www.speakerstrategies.com
Virtually Artistic: As Virtual Reality continues to intrigue a wider variety of people, more events are popping up to focus on the technology’s many applications. The Art of Virtual Reality at Sotheby’s is a new event created to showcase the content validity of VR and how it is being used by artists and content creators. While Sotheby’s has done technology installations in the past, this is the first time they are hosting an event of this scale in New York. The two-day conference and festival (22 – 23 June) presented by the VR Society of Hollywood, will include three floors of films, demos, panel sessions and (of course) art. These virtual reality experiences will encompass applications for museums, dance, theater, film and travel.
Back to Barcelona: The HIMSS Europe Conference and Exhibition will not happen this fall but will return to Barcelona in the spring of 2018. According to the conference mangers, “the event will build on its success from previous editions, featuring WoHIT and hosted in collaboration with HIMSS-CHIME International, and will encompass a Cybersecurity, Genomics and CIO Summit.” And beginning in 2018, a Patient Summit will be added to the programme to address topics around obesity, cancer, eMental health and ageing.
So Happy Together: Last week the Association of Event Organisers (AEO) and The Society of Independent Show Organisers (SISO) entered into a reciprocity agreement that will encourage both groups to provide each other with information exchange, research insight and mutual discounts each other’s events. They also formed a new special interest group called ION (Independent Organiser Network) which will encourage for-profit organizations “to share experiences, opportunities and challenges for the benefit of all parties and the industry at large.” The goal of these new groups will be to further extend collaborations with other associations throughout the world and to deliver more value to members.
Speaking Opportunity: RSA Abu Dhabi, one of the leading information security events in the Middle East, will take place from 7 – 8 November at the Emirates Palace. The conference has opened its Call for Speakers, which will close on 22 June. The conference organizers welcome topic abstracts from “independent consultants, security professionals from a small company, bloggers, expert security testers at a large software company” and even “senior developers at a company that is not exhibiting” at the event. Competition for speaking spots is fierce so be sure to review the tips for submission before getting started!
Lunchtime Learning: Last week in New York Techonomy gathered group of leaders to explore technologies such as blockchain, AR/VR, artificial intelligence and machine learning, robotics, genomics and the Internet of Things. Hear innovative ideas about how tech can improve business and the world from the CEOs and founders of AirMap, Case, General Assembly, JPMorgan Chase Institute, and WeWork.
Coming up Next: From 30 May – 1 June, Computex will gather “executives from leading high-tech companies and pioneers of innovative service providers” in Taipei to learn about future technology trends. On those same dates, Michelle Obama, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Adam Grant and other big names will take the stage at the Globoforce Work Human Conference to share insights that will help senior leaders in HR and business “unlock the energy of their workforce.” Next week will mark Walt Mossberg’s final Re/code CodeCon, which returns to Rancho Palos Verdes on 30 May, bringing together “a global community of the biggest names in the business, executive leaders and startups.” And in Berlin, the IOT Tech Expo Europe (co-located with Blockchain Expo and AI Expo) will take place from 1 – 2 June.