Digifest is an annual conference that brings top influencers in technology, gaming, science, design, business, and education to Toronto to share inspirational stories on how they use tech, ideas and learning to innovate and affect positive social change.
The conference keeps you busy all day with back-to-back speakers, a career forum, Tilt Brush workshop, advertising tech 101 workshop, studio tours, a special Meet the Media Guru series, plus an Interactive Zone that features experts involved with virtual and augmented reality and artificial intelligence. Also on-site a “Game Lounge” where emerging and independent game studios showcased their latest games. An ideal opportunity to connect, meet and interact with creators. As well as George Brown College’s Interactive Media Management’s interactive kindergarten project and the Interaction Design and Development’s project featuring an augmented reality pong experience where the world of computer generated and real-world environment collide.
Speaker Highlights & Top Takeaways from Digifest
There were about a dozen speakers at Digifest – here are highlights from a few of the talks:
Corey Timpson, Canadian Museum for Human Rights
Timpson focused on the importance of crafting inclusive, rich stories using technology and design. His key takeaway: strike a balance between active, passive and interactive design. Your audience will inform how you present your brand’s message and content.
Nik Nieuwenhuijs, CODE D’AZUR
Nieuwenhuijs said disruption is dead. The average person doesn’t want to be disrupted. Brands need to find new ways to stand out and fit in digitally.
Andrew Low Ah Kee, GoDaddy
Low Ah Kee was a wealth of knowledge about emerging mobile markets. Top tip: mobile opportunities from emerging and developing economies will change the game. Watch and learn from industry innovators go-jek, Skype Lite, wechat, and Kangpe.
Grant Owens, Critical Mass
Owens blew up his talk with advancements in voice technology. As audio interfaces progress, clicks, taps, boxes and arrows are going to be thing of the past when it comes to digital search. Search is moving from being all thumbs to being all about voice. The search battle is back on, and key players to watch include Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri, Cortana, and Hound. Top takeaway: the company that can answer your verbal queries will own your search. A career in audio design is going to be hot!
Event Highlight: CEO, author, and one of the world’s leading authorities on the impact of technology on business and society, Don Tapscott, is the 2017 Digital Pioneer Award Recipient. You might want to check out Tapscott’s latest book, Blockchain Revolution, to find out how technology can be applied to help society.
The conference took place at Corus Quay (right near Sugar Beach on the lakeshore). The building is ideal for a tech event – the main event space is high-tech, open concept, with a wonderful view of the lake through a glass wall.
Missed the event? Track conversations for tech related takeaways — search #digifestTO hashtag.
To learn more about this annual event please visit: www.torontodigifest.ca
The 2017 event was from April 27 to 29, and was organized by George Brown College.
