Digital Futures gets off to a flying start

DIGITAL FUTURES BEGINS

A new training scheme, Digital Futures got off to a flying start this month with two regional conferences in Manchester and Blackburn kicking off the programme designed to combine the finest Northwest talent with established production companies and agencies.

Devised by North West Vision’s merger partner, Media Training North West, the conferences included a range of presentations about current media opportunities and emerging trends of the digital age.

Interesting points were raised at the Blackburn conference by Magic Lanterns CEO, Anthony Lilley who concluded that despite technological advances and changes in the way creative business develops: “Stories and ideas will last forever and these will always be needed to develop strong content.”

A session followed that focused on the world of the ‘Digital Native’ - demonstrating how young people currently use technology and consume media products. This provided some thought provoking comments and opinions such as: “I don’t have a television” and: “Young consumers are a limited target market because overall they have very little disposable income”.

David Crowther, Managing Director of Melandra, explained how a company could generate success from the new media revolution by embracing the range of converging media available via the web. He insisted that new ideas do not necessarily have to rely for example, on sourcing funds in the style that is seen on BBC2’s Dragons Den.

David commented: “It is much more beneficial to develop your idea as firmly as possible and generate income for yourself rather than relying on venture capital which will often and inevitably change the shape of your plans.”

In the afternoon a demonstration was made on the Internet platform ‘Second Life’ (www.secondlife.com) which uses virtual reality worlds to connect businesses and organisations in an engaging and interactive social context. Jude Ower, Senior Consultant at NMP, showed delegates some of the unique features of this new way of doing business in a 3D environment created specifically for Digital Futures.

The eventful day was wrapped up by an introduction to Mind Candy’s Alternate Reality Game, PeplexCity (www.perplexcity.com), a rapidly expanding concept that is using old ideas to engage people on an extremely innovative gaming platform.

Digital Futures will soon provide seminars and academies for successful applicants to the scheme. Please check www.mtnw.co.uk and the training pages of this website for further details.