The relationship between the human experience and technology is hotly debated and constantly evolving. While some people unyieldingly charge forward on a mission to make the tech-human experience seamless, others are skeptical about the ramifications of allowing our tech to become part of us.
Digitally Rendered Mind, a new video program being screened at the Northwest Film Forum, examines these issues.
The film, which will be shown Saturday, July 12, weaves together video art from local, national, and international artists. Organizers promises an abstract exploration of the digital-human relationship in which “twisting architecture, an overgrown Tasmanian landscape, shamanistic virtual tours and green screens, an iPhone app commercial for the new age, Bart Simpson at his most spiritually psychedelic, and Rihanna’s seapunk prank are gathered together in this sketchbook of the digitally rendered mind.”
Tickets for this screening can be purchased here for $11.
That’s one of our selections from the GeekWire Calendar, our list of the Pacific Northwest’s top tech events. Continue reading and check out the calendar for more.
The Internet’s Own Boy
Digitally Rendered Mind isn’t the only upcoming film that packs powerful commentary on the tech world. The night before, on July 11, The Internet’s Own Boy will be screened at the same venue. This documentary traces the tragic story of internet activist Aaron Swartz. Swartz illegally downloaded thousands of academic articles, as part of his idealistic vision for the internet. He saw the web as “an equalizing force of democratic information sharing” according to the event organizers.
The legal fall-out from his pirating culminated in Swartz’s suicide when facing a potential sentence of up to 35 years in prison. The documentary weaves together interviews with Swartz’s loved ones and the history of intellectual property rights. Tickets for this screening are available here.
When & Where: July 11 – July 17, 8:00pm. Northwest Film Forum
11 Feet: WeWork Gallery Night
There are even more options for art lovers in the Seattle tech community. WeWork is hosting a gallery night in South Lake Union, which will feature the unveilling of an 11-foot mural painted by Alexander Mostov. The event will also have live music, three floors of local art, and refreshments. This gallery night is free, but attendees are encouraged to RSVP here.
When & Where: July 10, 6:00pm – 9:00pm. WeWork — South Lake Union
Seattle Tech Meetup
Tuesday, July 8, is the latest installment of the Seattle Tech Meetup, a monthly event that brings together members of the community for refreshments and guest speakers. This month’s agenda will feature talks from execs of PicMonkey, Shippable, Google Kubernetes Project and more.
Tickets can be purchased for $10 here.
When & Where: July 8, 5:30-8:15pm. Cornish Playhouse at Seattle Center
Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference 2014
Finally, keep an eye out for Microsoft’s Worldwide Partner Conference coming up. WPC is an annual networking event in Washington DC. The conference will focus on 5 main areas — cloud, big data, enterprise social, leadership/Sales & marketing, and mobility & devices. The event strives to “drive business growth and identify new profitability opportunities.”
When & Where: July 13 – July 17. Walter E. Washington Convention Center (District of Columbia)
Contact GeekWire’s Monica Nickelsburg at monica@geekwire.com. Listings for this feature are picked from the GeekWire Calendar, where you can submit free listings for technology-related events in the Pacific Northwest.