Features
Northside Festival Director Brian Quinn On ‘Future Making’
– Northside Festival
Forget psychics and crystal balls, for insight into your future hit Brooklyn’s Northside Festival. Its 2018 Innovation component is focused on the theme of “Future Making” with speakers like Union Square Ventures’ Albert Wenger, Wired’s Erin Griffith and Jalak Jobanputra of FuturePerfect Venture, among others forecasting on what the next five years hold. Pollstar caught up with fest director Brian Quinn on the eve of the 10th annual confab to find out what lies ahead.
So Bright, Gotta Wear Shades
“We’re in a really interesting time because a lot of developments are coalescing in a way that will help define the 21st century.”
Futurist Faves
“People should not miss Catarina Fake of yes.vc. She’s the cofounder of flickr and seen monumental changes in the internet. She’s really excited about blockchain and the various platforms affecting the way companies are created and the way industries are operating and how technology is impacting so many different spheres.
“And then I’m personally really excited about this talk around engineering happiness. Former Google CBO [Mo Gawdat] is dedicating his life to tasking this idea – how can this world be a happier place? Machines, in a sense, are learning from us, so how can we use engineering tools and the strategies Google uses to make the world a happier place and secure our future?”
Think Human
“There’s some Buddhist principles as well [from Thupten Phuntsok]. We’ll talk with a sound therapist. In this day and age, as technology becomes more and more pervasive and affects everything we’re doing and we have the stress of all of this around us, people are looking at ways they can be more human.”
Change Is Gonna Come – Differently
“People inherently overestimate the rate of change and underestimate the extent of change. What is really interesting is what’s happening right now will signal massive changes across the next century.”
“People inherently overestimate the rate of change and underestimate the extent of change. What is really interesting is what’s happening right now will signal massive changes across the next century.”
Back To The Future (Festivalgoer)
“The festivalgoer is still key in how we have to continue to evolve to make sure we’re not only showcasing the best of what’s happening in music and tech but also doing it in a way that our attendees are having an optimum experience and hopefully benefits them overall in their lives.”