Thinking Digital returns

THINKING DIGITAL, the UK's answer to American-based 'technology & ideas conferences' such as TED and Pop!Tech, has announced it will return on 14 & 15 May 2009 following a hugely successful inaugural event last May.

And Codeworks Connect members can claim an exclusive, cheaper-than-Early Bird rate by booking with a special promotional code.

Already a host of fascinating names have signed up to speak at the conference.

Among them will be Alex Hunter, the man in charge of online marketing for one of the world's biggest brands, Virgin, and Hans Rosling, the creator of Trendalyzer, which turns boring statistics into animations and interactive graphics (and which was acquired by Google in 2007).

Thinking Digital is an annual conference where 25 of the world's greatest thinkers and innovators gather to give inspiring, entertaining talks, and to discuss the latest ideas and technologies.

An audience of 400 people are expected to attend the event, which will take place at The Sage Gateshead – a stunning 'sail-shaped' venue, designed by Foster and Partners, which sits on the banks of the River Tyne – on 14-15 May next year.

Also speaking at the conference will be:

• Caleb Chung, the creator of the wildly successful Furby toy and now this year's must-have Xmas gift – recently launched robotic dinosaur, the Pleo.
• Alex Hunter, Head of Online Marketing at Virgin
• Dan Lyons, tech columnist at Newsweek and creator of hilarious satirical blog, The Secret Diary of Fake Steve Jobs. Dan returns as Thinking Digital’s top rated speaker from 2008.
• Johnny Chung Lee, a human-computer interaction researcher who shot to fame on YouTube by making a white board (and other amazing things) from a Wii remote control.
• And Michael Shermer, the founding publisher of Skeptic magazine and columnist for Scientific American.

Herb Kim, Thinking Digital Director, said: "We took a risk in attempting the first Thinking Digital back in May and the feedback has been incredibly positive and warm.

"The delegates, sponsors and speakers created a vital community of insight, inspiration and energy, I’m still getting people today telling me Thinking Digital was the best conference they have ever attended. So, we’ve got a very high bar this year to reach but I can’t wait to try and top what we did in 2008."

All Codeworks Connect members have been emailed with the code they need in order to claim their extra cheap rate. Any members who do not have the code can ask for it by emailing lewis@thinkingdigital.co.uk