WorkTech is the annual conference that looks at key trends in work, the workplace, technology and innovation. Last year’s themes included the expectations of the next generation and immersive technology and digital space, part of which was covered in Jerry Fishenden's talk.
Papers from the conference are now available online (as are early-bird bookings for this year), including the text of 'Zeroes and Ones', a 15-minute performance commissioned especially by Unwired Ventures, the organisers of WorkTech '07. In front of a stunned audience, performance poet, Tony Walsh, delivered an extraordinary review of human progress and our relationship with technology, from the Big Bang - "...the domain with no name.."; right through to a future "...when machines we can't see have thoughts we don't understand..."; and a comprehensive comment on everything in between.
If you've ever reflected uncertainly on the way technology is infiltrating our lives; if you've moved from optimism to deep gloom (and back again) about our species' ability to hold it all together for another couple of generations or so; if you've ever wondered if your greatest work achievements in experience design, usability or product improvement are doing little more than binding us more tightly and irretrievably to our technology - then this poem is essential reading.
And even if none of the above is true, Zeroes and Ones is worth reading purely for its thoughtfulness, depth and complexity. It might be a little discomfitting at times, but it's not bleak. It's even quite funny in places.
EXCERPT FROM 'ZEROES AND ONES'
By TONY WALSH
"...So what are we doing with 15 billion years of research and development?
Of biological evolution and digital revolution?
"Well…You can rip and zip and microchip it
Crop and chop and Photoshop it
Upload, download Fruity Loop it
Loot it, shoot it then re-boot it
"And you can watch your latest dvd
on your jvc fst tv
Through the usb on your new pc
But your vhs (remember?) .…. can RIP
"And we’ve got
Facebook, Myspace, Bebo baby
Text me ’bout your sex life baby
Ebay makes it easy baby
Real life gets the heave-ho….Maybe?
"And we’ve got…
Techno-techno-techno-tronics
Phonics, sonics, electronics
Hi-fi, wi-fi supersonics
Big TV … fffff, not much on it!
"And we can…
Happy slap until we blister
Shake it like a digital picture sister
Post it up on YouTube mister
Have we struck gold!?…. Or all that glisters?"
A regeneration professional by trade, Tony is also a freelance writer and spoken word artist and is available for commissions, events and performances. Tony can be contacted on 0161 798 4833 and by email at tonywalsh03@aol.com.
Read more about Tony.
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Zeroes and Ones by Tony Walsh