The digital world in the next decade

Some impressive achievements have changed our digital world in the first decade of the 21st century, but few can be certain of what’s ahead in the next 10 years.

An answer is one mission of the two-day Seoul Digital Forum, which began yesterday. Experts in attendance will assess digital advances over the last ten years and guess at what’s in store for humanity from 2011 to 2020.

The forum chose “renaissance” as its theme this year, after the digital renaissance that organizers believe will trigger a further flowering of innovation and technology.

“A new digital era has dawned, with smartphones, 3-D technology and the convergence of various industries like broadcasting, communications, medicine and energy. I believe Korea will use this as an opportunity to solidify its status as IT powerhouse,” said Korea Communications Commission Chairman Choi See-joong at the forum’s opening ceremony.

Prime Minister Chung Un-chan echoed Choi in the need to be ready for change, saying, “Yesterday’s new things are today’s old things, and things that used to be inconceivable are actually taking place. Smartphones and 3-D technology are just small instances of revolutionary changes to come. We must prepare in advance for new challenges.”

Now in its seventh year, the Seoul Digital Forum has sought to become “the Davos Forum of the digital world,” hosting renowned experts such as Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates, Google CEO Eric Schmidt and former U.S. Vice President Al Gore in the past.

This year’s forum features as keynote speakers film director James Cameron, Walt Disney International Chairman Andy Bird, Samsung Electronics Senior Vice President Kang Tae-jin, DreamWorks Animation director of photography Jhun Yong-duk and John Underkoffler, chief scientist and co-founder of Oblong Industries, which was responsible for the special effects in the famous data interface scene in the Hollywood film “Minority Report.”

By Kim Hyung-eun [hkim@joongang.co.kr]