A sea of white men in corporate suits met to invest in computer technology. I decided to talk to a woman but she was representing Ernst and Young. So I went to the second floor where an avatar on a screen was mimicking a person moving round with a motion sensor suit; an intriguing design by Colin Curwen and New Machine Studios.

Most of the booths at the 12th annual Innovate Calgary were improving already existing technologies. There was NexTeq Navigation upgrading the accuracy of GPS equipment through the Geomatics Department as well as iconnectivity Midi systems enhancing the interfacing of phones and pianos. Accountants, investors and creators drank wine for United Way and flung cards for a better day.

One of the companies promised to speed up the ability of the military and police to respond to emergencies through a technical upgrade. Do half of their profits go to supporting the prosperity of communities and reducing the possibility of emergency? I asked this question and got laughed down the line. So I talked to an organizer of Innovate Calgary who was wearing a “support the troops“ ribbon. Are racism and theft of resources the real reasons we are bombing Afghanistan? I asked this question and was told no.

By far the most beautiful and worthwhile part of Innovate Calgary was Green T Design, promoted by Kelly Ross. This is a company that creates and maintains rooftop gardens. LEED accredited and a member of Canada Green Building Council as well as the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada. This was a breath of fresh air for sure. Why is the concrete of Calgary so naked? Why isn't the grey covered in vines and holding full wall gardens inside?

This event promoted the strengthening and integrating of existing technology, not intent about actually making life better for people. Like making inexpensive hockey equipment for kids; or letting every single student lead their own enterprises; or all of us living by Native shamanic ways; listening to and respecting the earth’s songlines. If we lived in peace and quiet there’d be a symphony of recognition beyond our atmosphere that we could actually connect with, without computers.