I was lucky enough to be asked to compère the Parliamentary Internet, Communications, and Technology Forum summer reception. PICTFOR is an all-party group that helps to shape policy by ensuring that MPs and Lords are well informed.
I was particularly honoured to be able to introduce Carly Kind, the new director of the Ada Lovelace Institute. A human rights lawyer specialising in privacy and digital rights, she is an all round kick ass person!
I also got to play with some amazing VR surgery training tools. I remember seeing some talks about the very earliest stages of combining haptics and VR back in my PhD days (the early 2000s.) It was a humbling experience. Feeling every vibration, every change in elasticity and plasticity, I found it hard to hold on to the idea that I was standing at a drinks reception, rather than wrist deep in someone’s body. It made me want to reread The Butchering Art, just thinking of how far we’ve come.
And somewhat delightfully, I got to be part of the fancy hair colour squad with Lady Neville-Rolfe!
A busy day on #intellectualproperty #APPG for London’s Planning &Built Environment on protecting #Music venues @RupaHuq @TheEalingClub & @PICTFOR summer reception @techUK @MattHancock pic.twitter.com/uSZ5ozsdTK
— Lady Neville-Rolfe (@LNevilleRolfe) July 16, 2019
Damn fun day all around!
Emma Byrne, Science Writer and Broadcaster 