The Festival of the Future City in Bristol is holding a range of technology talks in October ahead of the latest VentureFest innovation festival.

‘New Cities, Smart Cities’ on 18 October looks at various aspects of city technology, from information models through 3D printing to the impact of driverless cars. Over 180 speakers across three days are looking at all aspects of the Future City, from sustainability and equality to city planning and development.

“3D printing promises unprecedented control over the form and distribution of matter, while the blockchain stands to revolutionise everything from the recording and exchange of value to the way we organise the mundane realities of the day to day,” said Adam Greenfield, writer, lecturer and former design developer of digital information technologies (pictured above).

“All the while, complex algorithms are operating quietly in the background, reshaping the economy, transforming the fundamental terms of our politics and even redefining what it means to be human. What challenges do they present to us, as individuals and societies? Who benefits from their adoption? And what do they mean for the future of cities?”

A panel of four researchers and analysts are looking at the question “Will Driverless Cars Liberate Cities?”, while the Future Cities Catapult is examining new approaches to urban mobility as a result of the development of technology. The session on 19 October will also debate the potential convergence of business models in transport, ICT and urban development and the role UK firms can have in helping to build a more intelligent and efficient mobility system.

The programme for the Festival of Future Cities is here and runs from 18 to 20 October, followed by VentureFest Bristol and Bath 2017

Autonomous Vehicles Bristol Innovation Smart cities Venturefest