Robotic toys such as this chimp are being developed

Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) organised The Digital Future event to probe how people and businesses will use new science and technologies.

It will take place at the Highland Resort conference centre on 11 May at the same time as one for children.

Speakers include HIE chairman William Roe who will talk on 2020 Vision - the Highlands and Islands of the Future.

Children's learning

Also, Walter Bender, president of One Laptop per Child - a not-for-profit association that is developing technologies to help children's learning.

The event will include an interactive exhibition in the morning that will see students from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Highland companies and researchers demonstrate projects in education, health, music and fashion.

There will also be a young people's conference with workshops for children aged 3-5, 9-10 and 14-15 years old.

These targeted groups, together with their teachers, will embark on workshops with MIT media lab students and local companies involved with musical composition, robotic pets, textiles and sound production.

The programme and booking is online at www.hie.co.uk/digitalfuture or call 0800 0328080 for more details.