Cybergeneration

2005

On the “cybergeneration” level, you can marvel at the amazing projects singled out for recognition by “u19 – freestyle computing” and even try your own hand at high-tech creativity. In the Animation Studio, it’s easy to shoot your own animated film. Or head over to the Robolab, a multifunctional exhibition and workshop space, where you can get initiated into the secret world of sensors.

Interactive stations offer an ideal setting to showcase the all-time greatest hits (and this year's prizewinners) in “u19 – freestyle computing,” Austria's largest computer competition for young people that’s been held annually since 1998 in conjunction with the Prix Ars Electronica. Young people age 19 and under who are permanent residents of Austria are eligible to take part. Entrants can follow their creativity wherever it takes them—in animated films, Internet applications, games, or even home-brew hardware and software. You can draw inspiration from some very talented members of the cybergeneration and then turn out your own film sequences in the Animation Studio.

“Sensors” is this year's theme in Robolab. Here, kids age 8 and up can attend briefings and get hands-on experience with high-tech at workshops led by experts in the field. These early encounters with sensor technology and instruction in programming LEGO robots foster young people’s creativity as well as analytical, problem-oriented thinking. Topping off the lineup is a whole array of very imaginative robot components by ELEKIT.

The Robolab takes a playful approach to R&D hotspots like image and speech recognition, man-machine interaction possibilities, as well as the gathering of information via sensors and the processing of this material using special microchips and flexible software. Development and deployment of intelligent systems make robotics one of the most fascinating high-tech fields.