The Future of Retail is about reimaging the fashion store for the 21st century. What are shops for in the age of e-commerce? How can technology improve the experience of visiting a store? How can online and offline be integrated? What can handheld and mobile technologies do to provide a richer instore experience?

The Future of Retail looks at the intersection of art, design, technology and commerce in the context of a rapidly changing communication landscape and the extraordinary challenges and opportunities presented by new and emerging technologies. The symposium looked at social networking, tagging, augmented space, virtual/physical overlays, geolocation and interactive fashion garments.

Speakers included Roberto Sarracco, head of Telecom Italia Future Centre in Venice, Horst Hoertner, head of Ars Electronica Future Lab, Reed Kram, designer of Prada epicentre concept, Sam Baron, head of design at Fabrica, Chris Salter from Concordia University and Sabine Seymour, designer and author of Fashionable Technology. The symposium was introduced by Andy Cameron.

Future of Retail, Ars Electronica Centre, Linz, September 5 2009 14.00pm to 18.00pm

More information at www.aec.at