Vision

Adding values to ideas, creativity and interaction in the knowledge society. In the new scenario of enlarged Europe there is a need to catalyse a common understanding both censuring and promoting cultural diversities and sharing a common vision of the European Society. Young people and their potential creativity could play a relevant role in such a scenario particularly if supported by digital technologies. One of our aims is to promote creativity maximising the cultural and educational potential of new technologies. Digital technology is affecting our full life not only in health, security, safety, work and similar fields, but mainly cultural interests, creativity, entertainment, communication and relationship.

Digital media have dramatically increased the possibilities open to the artist, either by creating new forms or by bringing the costs of production within reach of individuals. As well as specifically digital media, music, still images and video are three significant areas where the costs of producing a finished work have dropped so radically that new young talents are emerging. Digital technology, and in particular the Internet, has completely overturned traditional ideas about distribution. Any work that can take a digital form can be infinitely reproduced at minimal cost. Young people especially will be galvanised if they feel that others will see their efforts. The instant global network of the Internet has made the building of special-interest groups unprecedented easy. These spaces are where artists talk, and are excellent places to gauge the state of a scene. Peer to peer technology enables on the fly exchange of content unleashing incredible opportunities to share personal content and activate added value chains of cooperation.

Creativity has to be encouraged, new interactive cultural expressions must be stimulated. Knowledge is not about circulation of information. It is about adding value to ideas. A knowledge society must provide people with opportunities to think in new ways. Up until now looking to some technologies we are still facing a “library without books”, ICT companies are still looking for the so called “killer applications”, on the opposite side there are some applications and technologies that let the user foresee some useful service but are not yet well focussed or developed at the moment.

Availability of software is very patchy. The least widely available software includes video/audio author ware, programmes for music composition, computer graphics and 3D modelling.