Technology festival Wuthering Bytes announces full line-up
Monday 22 July 2024
More speakers have been revealed for Wuthering Bytes, a technology festival which has been running in Hebden Bridge for more than a decade. The week-long event will kick off with Festival Day on August 23rd and bring together hobbyists, engineers, creators and anyone who has a passion for technology.
Nearly a dozen speakers will join Festival Day to deliver a diverse mix of talks, demos and workshops. Speakers include:
- Professor Simon Lavington, an emeritus professor of Computer Science at the University of Essex, will deliver a talk on the life and work of Dina St Johnston who founded the UK's first software house.
- Dr Rain Ashford will discuss the history of wearable technology and discuss some of her own experiences of prototyping sensory devices.
- Loula Yorke will chart the evolution of modular synthesis – an early form of music technology – and share her journey in demystifying this 'dark art' and making music of her own.
- Dr Michelle Kasprzak, a curator, educator, writer and artist will join to discuss human creativity in the age of AI.
- Dr Herbert Daly, a Senior Lecturer in Computer Science based at the University of Hertfordshire, will delve into the world of mainframes and uncover how this tech platform keeps the global economy moving.
Attendees will also be treated to a chat with Rafatar the Robot – a DIY robot created by engineer Rod Moody – who uses facial recognition to engage in verbal conversation.
Dr Laura James, a specialist in engineering new technologies to help people and society, will return to this year's Festival Day as compère.
Andrew Back, Wuthering Bytes co-founder, said: ''From live particle accelerating to rocket engine demonstrations, Wuthering Bytes has established a reputation for unique experiences. This year's event will continue to be bigger and better and we're incredibly excited to welcome attendees to the historic Birchcliffe Centre for the first time.''
As the week progresses, attendees can participate in a variety of partner events including the annual conference of the Open Source Hardware User Group, featuring talks and hands-on workshops.
As with previous years, Festival Day will close with a social in the evening, with full details to be announced soon.
Tickets are £12 and are available here.
Launched in 2013, Wuthering Bytes is the brainchild of Andrew Back and Tim Harbour and is produced by AB Open, an open source engineering consultancy which specialises in embedded and wireless systems. The festival brings interesting and inspiring technology to the idyllic setting of Hebden Bridge in West Yorkshire, and over the years has played host to numerous international technology conferences, with speakers and delegates from across the globe.