Ingenuity, innovation, inspiration
Josh Barker of MaxAmp.com, right, uses a headset to navigate a drone Saturday during the Think Big Festival Experience Day at the Innovation Den in downtown Coeur d’Alene. Photos by DEVIN HEILMAN/Press
U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Lorin Selby gestures to informational slides projected on the wall Saturday during the Think Big Festival in Schuler Performing Arts Center at North Idaho College. Selby spoke of the importance of using technology to solve problems that are already having a global impact.
DEVIN HEILMAN/Press Robotics coach Michelle Fansler, center, wearing the lightbulb hat, shares an exciting moment with curious kids Saturday as she shows them how to control miniature robots on a table in the Innovation Den.
By DEVIN HEILMAN
Staff Writer
COEUR d’ALENE — Clean water shortages, student population retention, renewable energy crises.
These are just a few of the issues that field experts believe technology can and will play a powerful role in solving.
"The future of humanity is about people," said MK Khan, entrepreneur in residence at Itron Idea Labs in the greater Atlanta area. "Technology is just the vehicle."
Khan was one of several innovation leaders who spoke during Think Big Festival seminars in Schuler Performing Arts Center on the North Idaho College campus Saturday.
Sessions were geared toward the future of several areas: Mobility, humanity, education, money, health and robotics.
During the "Future of Humanity" seminar, U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Lorin Selby said the global community has to work together to solve problems and utilize the technology that is and will be available to combat negative effects of draught, climate change and inevitable mass migration.
"We don't want mass chaos," he said. "There's a great saying, 'A rising tide raises all boats.' There is becoming a greater divide in the 'has' and the 'hasn'ts.'
"The one thing they look at is connection to the internet," he said, explaining that once those in struggling communities finally get connected, "there will be great recognition that they're in a world of hurt."
Presenters included 18-year-old Bitcoin millionaire Eric Finman, Think Big founder Nick Smoot, Scaled Composites founder Burt Rutan and many more as they explored the applications of technology and artificial intelligence.
"We all know that education and innovation is inextricably tied," said Blossom Johnston, J.A. and Kathryn Albertson Family Foundation program officer, as she introduced the education segment.
"We need to figure out what this thing called 'innovation' looks like in education so it really begins to spur personalization," she said. "That is really the future, when we have children and everyone who are learning in a way that makes sense for them that is relevant."
The fourth annual Think Big Festival drew representatives from companies such as Microsoft, General Electric Digital, Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory and more to educate and empower entrepreneurs while celebrating all things tech.
The two-day festival included think tank sessions, seminars, social time and demonstrations during Experience Day, which took place at the Innovation Den (the former Elks building). Demonstrations featured self-driving cars, 3-D printing, robotics and drones.
Josh Barker, public relations and marketing manager of battery company MaxAmp.com, wore a headset to navigate a drone through the Den. A group of youngsters surrounded his table to ask questions and try their hand at drone control.
"It all boils down about the love of flight that a lot of us didn't even realize we had," he said. "Once you experience what it was like to be a pilot of your own aircraft it changes a lot of things."
Info: www.thinkbigfestival.com