#au2013: What was that music?

Opening General Session

As you entered the keynote presentation, a.k.a. the cattle drive, you were treated to some tasty music. At lunch afterwards, some of you asked me what it was. Well Director of Strategic Innovation, Maurice Conti, was our musical curator again this year. Here is what he chose:

• "Blew My Mind" by Supervision
  
  
  
• "Crystallize" by Lindsey Stirling
  
  
  
• "Ghosts 'n' Stuff" by Deadmau5
  
  
  
• "Galvanize" by The Chemical Brothers
  
  
  

For last year's walk-in one of Maurice's choices was:

• "I Can't Stop" by Flux Pavilion
  

It was the first time I had ever heard it. I was so captivated that I sought out Maurice to find out what it was. And then, even though I am a Spotify user, I splurged the 99 cents to buy the song from iTunes. I love it. So when it was time to select the music for Bot & Dolly's IRIS robot performance, though Shaan Hurley suggested "We Built This City" by Starship, I lobbied for "I Can't Stop," and my wish was granted. Now did any of you at AU this year watch IRIS' performance and say to yourself, "Hey I heard this last year." I doubt it. The robot movements were so captivating that perhaps you did not even hear anything? If a robot moves but no one hears it, does it make a sound?

For the walk out, Maurice selected:

• "High Rez" by PhuturePrimitive
  
  
  

Closing General Session

"Closing time
 Time for you to go out to the places you will be from
 Closing time
 This room won't be open till your brothers or your sisters come
 So gather up your jackets, move it to the exits
 I hope you have found a friend
 Closing time
 Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end"
— "Closing Time," Feeling Strangely Fine, Semisonic, 1998.

Speaking of closing time, the Closing General Session is today at 4:30 pm. Don't miss it. It will include:

• Autodesk VP, Amar Hanspal (from the Autodesk division that brings you AutoCAD and many other products) will talk about historic preservation, going to the moon, and everything in between.
• Moon Express CEO, Dr. Robert (Bob) Richards, will talk about the challenges of a small private company putting a lander on the moon.
• Though we just saw a one-trick teaser prior to the opening keynote address, Penn & Teller will perform a show just for us.
• And of course we'll adjourn from the closing general session to the party!

Be there or be square, man.

"Taking it home" is alive in the lab.