The Multipurpose Cultural and Exhibition Center has been transformed into a digital village, as businesses from across the twin island state prepare to present their latest work in upstream Information Communication Technology (ICT) at the seventh annual ICTFEST.

This year the ICTFEST will be bigger and better and is being held under the theme “ICTFEST 2011 - Empowering the Nation, Improving Lives”.

Held from October 12-13th starting at 9am and ending at 9pm each day, the ICTFEST consists of two days of Interactive Exhibitions, Technology Competitions, and Interactive Seminars. The 7th annual ICTFEST will also feature a new 15,000 square ft. outdoor exhibition space featuring an arcade, and a range of dynamic exhibitions. 

The FEST aims at creating a platform for students, academia and businesses to get together in a digital community that offers a myriad of exhibits and interactive activities for people of all ages.

Over the years, individuals participating in the FEST have included ICT companies, public authorities and non-profit organisations. This year over thirty exhibitors will be participating in the FEST.  Additionally the official launch of the Technology for Education 20/20 component of the Connect Antigua and Barbuda Initiative will be held during the 2011 ICTFEST.

One hundred registered principals and teachers will receive their laptops on Wednesday, October 12, and the remaining 300 on Thursday, October 13.

The Technology for Education 20/20 program, a collaborative effort between the Government of Antigua and Barbuda and Telecoms Provider LIME, aims to empower educators by supplying them with high speed computers and Internet.

This year, ICTFEST will also offer seven hands on and content-oriented seminars in areas such as Careers in ICT, Systems Development Life Cycle in Software Engineering, Digital Broadcasting, ICT Solutions for Business Managers, Mathematics web-based application, Notesmaster a tool for ICT in Education, and Using Movie Maker as an ICT Tool in Education.

Additionally APUA imobile has partnered with the Antigua & Barbuda Investment Authority (ABIA) and the Bright Path Foundation, to offer a seminar titled “Introduction to Mobile Application Development”.

This two-day workshop will take participants through topics such as user interface design andconstruction, input methods, data handling, network techniques and URL loading. Participants will work on a project that will produce a professional-quality mobile application.

Open to all schools and community youth organizations a number of Technology Competitions will be held at the FEST.  These include the ACT ICTFEST 2011 Computer Assembly Race, the Digicel ICTFEST 2011 ICTHunt (WebSearch), the DMS Speed Typing competition, and the newly added Graphic Design Competiton. Registration Forms for the competitions are available at www.ictfest.ag.

For more information on ICTFEST 2011 contact 268-468-4610, email ictfestantigua@gmail.com, or visit www.ictfest.ag.