TechTalk, for the uninitiated, is a monthly technology seminar hosted by KAT-O (Kick-Ass-Tech, Obviously) that highlights extraordinary developments in local science and technology and is presented by industry specialists.
August’s seminar, which was hosted on Wednesday the 19th at 75 Harrington Street, Cape Town, revolved around the theme of Makers & Innovators, and highlighted several prominent figures in the maker scene just ahead of the Cape Town Maker Faire, which runs from the 21st to the 23rd of the month.
The first speaker of the evening was Omar Soubra, a former president of the French-American chamber of commerce and an honorary Master Maker at Maker Stations, who introduced the concept of 3D printing to the audience and elaborated on how the developing maker community offers a critical chance for skills exchange and development between members of society – particularly, the ability for the young and elderly to engage and create their own projects.
The second speaker was Bertier Luyt, a French entrepreneur and maker heavily involved in arranging the Cape Town Maker Faire. Luyt outlined his own personal journey from early work and his tenure as CEO of his self-founded company, Le FabShop, which offers fabricated solutions to clients through technologies such as 3D printing.
The third and final speaker of the evening was Sebastian Stent, who offered a fascinating look a brand new industrial revolution pillared by developments such as Uber and AirBNB that will shift the control of industries from major corporations and back into the hands of individuals. The crux of the move, Stent argued, was the ability and accessibility of developments such as 3D printing which would allow communities, families and individuals to pioneer their own products into market-spaces.
The next monthly #TechTalk will take place in September, under the topic How to survive the the Robot Uprising, and will deal with the implications of creating artificial intelligence and avoiding a situation straight out of the Terminator films.
Tickets to both September’s #TechTalk and the Cape Town Maker Faire will be available from Quicket. For more information on #TechTalk, be sure to visit KAT-O!
