Lift is a series of events built around a community of pioneers who get together in Europe and Asia to explore the social implications of new technologies. Each conference is a chance to turn innovation into opportunities by anticipating the major shifts ahead, and meet the people who drive them.

You will be able to experience the conference live this year in Geneva starting today may 5th on www.livestream.com/liftconference

Calendar of Lift events

Lift10 (Geneva, 5-7 May 2010)
Lift France 10 (Marseille, 5-7 Jul. 2010)
Lift Asia 10 (Korea, Oct. 2010)

You will be able to meet Asiance in Lift France and Lift Asia this year.

I have just met my good friend Laurent Haug, founder of LIFT conference who give us more information on the next conference theme “Serious Fun !” that will take place on the beautifull island of Jeju do next month :

Social networks, online games, robots, communicating objects: these technologies and services were originally designed for entertainment purposes. They are now giving birth to a whole new range of opportunities and challenges. Games are used for education. Robots are linking patients and doctors. Social networks are the playground of marketers and recruiters.

Are these “fun” technologies changing as they become more and more “serious”? What new opportunities and challenges are arising from this ecosystem in the making?

Lift Asia 09 will explore these questions, and focus on the examples provided by communicating objects, social networks, design, architecture, storytelling and community engagement. The conference will also feature an open program where members of the audience can present their ideas and projects, and we will have our traditional sessions on sustainable development and inspiring stories.

Link

If you live in South Korea and would like to meet Laurent, don’t hesitate to contact us, he will stay in Seoul until next tuesday.
You can also register to the conference by going directly to the registration page.

This year, Asiance will be main partner and co-organizer of the Lift Conference in Asia.

Lift is an international Conference, originally from Europe (happening in both Geneva and Marseille) and now in Korea, that focuses on future trends and social impacts of new technologies through a mix of presentations and interactive installations. Previous speakers include Vince Cerf (“Father of the Internet”), Florence Devouard (Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Wikimedia Foundation), Jaewoong Lee (Founder of the Korean portal Daum), as well as famous authors like Bruce Sterling, artists, researchers, investors, designers, etc..

This year, Lift Asia will happen on September 3 & 4 in Jeju Island and the conference will be themed “Serious Fun!”

The Internet started as platform for academics, then it became a huge business platform. Now it is an entertainment playground for users. People spend time having fun on the Social Web, access virtual worlds on their cell phones or interact with robots and networked objects. But we believe these services and platforms go far beyond mere leisure: their usage may reveal new social practices that will spread in other contexts (business, education), and the services first targeted at entertainment can lead to original innovations. This year’s Lift Asia will focus on the lessons we can draw for fields such as general innovation, sociology, management, business, design and education.

This year’s Lift Asia will focus on the lessons we can draw for fields such as general innovation, sociology, management, business, design and education.

We think it’s a great opportunity for everyone to get new ideas, inspiration, and to get ready for the changes ahead.

You can find out more on the Lift Asia Website, and you can also contact us if you need more information.

We’ll post some updates about Lift regularly on this blog and we hope to see you in Jeju in September.