You are viewing your 1 free article this month. Login to read more articles.
Sony has become the first consumer electronics sponsor of the Guardian Hay Festival, and will host a discussion on the 'digital future' at the 10-day long festival, which takes place from 21st May. Festival-goers will also have the chance to experience the Reader for themselves, which will be demonstrated onsite and available to buy. Festival director Peter Florence descibed the device as "the most exciting development in years for those who love reading".
A panel discussion hosted by Sony entitled "Brave New World—Rights and Wrongs in the Digital Future" will take place on 29th May as part of the collaboration. The debate will focus on the power and management of online content and digital reading devices.
Those taking part include Steve Haber, president of digital reading business division of Sony electronics, Jamie Byng, m.d. of Canongate and PFD agent Caroline Michel. Jessica Powell of Google and Tom Berwick of Creative & Cultural Skills are also taking part.
Sony is also sponsoring a venue, the "Sony Screen", which will host events.
Gail Rebuck, chair and c.e.o. of Random House UK said: "I am terrifically excited about the impact of digital advances on the future landscape of publishing and I am already a convert to reading all our manuscripts on my Sony Reader."
Hay attracts a huge range of people united by their passion for books and Sony’s presence at the Festival will be a good opportunity for fans of the written word to experience first-hand this new dimension to the reading experience.
Florence said: "Hay is the world's greatest book town and the Reader from Sony is the most exciting development in years for those who love reading. It's a natural fit here and a really great thing for writers . . . Everyone I work with who uses one loves it—it's changed the way we work, and is a pleasure to use."
He added: "Hay is the most exciting literary and arts festival in the UK and taking part in the 'Brave New World—Rights and Wrongs in the Digital Future' debate will allow us to communicate directly with the heart of the literary establishment."