Wednesday, Apr 12, 2017

Abu Dhabi: Technology and its place in today’s world as a force to change perspectives was a hot topic at the Culture Summit 2017 on Wednesday.

The experts from the world of gaming, virtual reality technology, artificial intelligence and arts got together and discussed the pros and cons of the fast evolving technology.

While everyone agreed that the negative aspects, evolving around the storage of mass amounts of data, was worrisome, the benefits were far too great, namely facilitating cultural exchanges between people on huge scales.

“It (technology) extends the opportunity for many people to experience art,” Horacio Lecona, creative director, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, told the audience.

Lecona sat with Gulf News to explain in more detail how he saw technology playing a part in changing the world and bringing more people together.

“I am a huge fan of diversity … we are a very diverse world. I see it as a wonderful asset. It’s a magnificent wealth for humanity,” Lecona said.

“Technology is a magnificent opportunity now to see life from the eyes of others. I’m sure all conflicts and problems come about because we cannot put ourselves in the shoes of the other person,” he went onto say.

Lecona, whose company works with performers in Mexico to make them more accessible using technology, such as virtual reality, and bring their art to as many people as possible, in as many locations as possible in the country, said he saw the growth of technology as one of the main keys in understanding one another.

He said during his visit to the Summit, which is his first trip to the Middle East, all conversations and events that he has witnessed have been based around love, a far reality from the stereotype scene of conflict zones portrayed about the Middle East in the West. Lecona emphasised that technology could play a major role in allowing people to learn more about the region and change hearts.

“If we use technology to put all these perspectives available for anybody who is interested to learn about others … teach the youth to be curious and understand others, I think conflict will diminish if not disappear,” he said. “Culture is the only way because it’s the connection from heart to heart, it’s not just mind to mind. We are in a moment that it could happen,” he added.

by Sarvy Geranpayeh Staff Reporter

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