A developer of Google Glass, the hugely anticipated augmented reality glasses, will give the keynote speech at a major arts summit next week.
Hayes Raffle, an award-winning production and interaction designer, will discuss ‘Technologies for Creative Expression’ at the 6th World Summit on Arts & Culture.
Taking place from 13-16 January in Santiago, Chile, the summit is expected to attract around 400 delegates from 80 countries, and will analyse the future of arts and culture in an increasingly digital world.
Raffle is currently staff interaction designer at Google X, the corporation’s secret development lab, where he is working on Project Glass. His previous work includes the invention of new technology for artistic and musical composition, which he completed whilst studying at MIT.
Speaking to IAM, programme director Magdalena Moreno Mujica said: ‘Raffle’s interest and experience are the perfect fusion between artistic and creative sensitivity and innovation. Today’s concept of who is a creator is so much more inclusive and broader. It takes creative practice into areas where historically they were not being considered.’
Raffle’s talk will be streamed live on 15 January.
The summit will also provide a platform for a diverse range of international voices – the programme includes speakers from Jenin in occupied Palestine, Fogo Island (Newfoundland, Canada), Rwanda, South Korea, New Zealand and Fiji.
‘Each presenter, whether keynote, on a general panel, or a parallel session, has an important story to tell,’ said Mujica.
Adding a national element to the event, delegates also received a recipe book featuring the best of Chilean cuisine as part of the ‘gastronomy programme’.
Commenting on the event’s wider significance, Mujica said: ‘The summit comes at a pivotal time in the revision of the UN’s post-2015 Development Agenda and will help further establish the need for culture to become one of the Millennium Development Goals.
‘We trust the World Summit will be fertile ground for discussion considering the active participation of the UNPD in the programme.’
Photo: Raffle © Mark Ikels