Our Mutual Friend the Machine

Want to become the modern day Dickens, but need a little help? Come along to this event exploring how story-generating computer programmes could be the answer. Through flash talks and poetry performances discover how the computer has learnt to say more than ‘no’. Then turn your hand (or typing fingers) to writing poetry. Enter a handful of words and phrases into the programme and see what masterpiece the machine helps you create.

Flash talks will cover the digital possibilities, from asking online communities to crack Dickens’ unsolved murder mystery, to seeing whether the Victorians’ futuristic ideas about talking books came true. However, don’t forget the old-fashioned human author as throughout the night a poet will give spoken word performances and go up against the machine to create a brand new work. In the second part of the evening mingle amongst our interactive stalls to generate your own stories, join the ‘Save the Author’ protest and become an online detective.