So I made it to the Digital Futures conference at the Museum of Science and Industry yesterday.

It was a mixed bag. Constant sound problems (yes, at a technology conference) were annoying, but the buffet lunch just about made up for them.

Content-wise, the usual problem occured: company directors decided to use their entire time (and then some) to talk about their product or service.

This kind of thing quickly becomes tedious, and even more so after 30 minutes of non-stop sales spiel. There were several guilty parties yesterday.

There was a decent panel session hosted by Mike Ryan from Manchester’s Idaho web agency, however. They invited three ‘digital natives’ (aka students) to talk about their technology habits.

Except that the three panelists weren’t particularly native. They each used Myspace and Hotmail… and very little else. It quickly became apparent that they were far from early adopters.

Particularly concerning was that they spent little or no money online. One used Amazon voucher he’d been given, while another had spent 99p on an episode of Desperate Housewives for his mother.

Pesonally, I wasn’t too concerned – the panelists just seemed a normal bunch of students, desperate to avoid paying for anything if possible.

I’m just a few years older and I’d estimate my yearly online spending at £2-3k. Mike, who is probably in his 40s, worked his own out at £8-9k.

No, stop, don’t call the men in white suits. If I did (and for your information I don’t) I’d just be one of 100,000 people in Greater Manchester:

Psychologists have launched a study to find out why some people who hear voices in their head consider it a positive experience while others find it distressing.

The University of Manchester investigation- announced on World Hearing Voices Day (Thursday, 14 September)- comes after Dutch researchers found that many healthy members of the population there regularly hear voices.

Although hearing voices has traditionally been viewed as ‘abnormal’ and a symptom of mental illness, the Dutch findings suggest it is more widespread than previously thought, estimating that about 4% of the population hear voices. That would be equivalent to 100,000 people in Greater Manchester.

I almost glossed over this news, only to be reminded of it by a performance next week at Contact Theatre: I Hear Voices.

I hear you can support the cause by purchasing a World Hearing Voices Day tshirt for £6.99.

If only I had £45 and next Friday off…

Social Technologies Summit
The Futuresonic 2006 Conference
Museum of Science and Industry Manchester

Keynote talk & exhibition private view Thurs 20 July, 4.30pm
Conference Fri 21 & Saty 22 July, 10am-5pm
Delegate Pass 45 GBP

Futuresonic 2006 sees the launch of a major new conference strand, bringing together leading figures to explore “a whole new way of doing things in the air”, presented in association with PLAN, The Pervasive and Locative Arts Network.

Full details here »

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