This week, King Jigme Khesar Wangchuck and Queen Jetsun Pema visited the Innovation Forum held at the Dungkar Dzong. For three days, the greatest tech geniuses gathered in Bhutan to present their innovations. The King and Queen of Bhutan attended the event with their two sons, Crown Prince Jigme Namgyel and Prince Jigme Ugyen.
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Bhutan, between traditions and technologies, hosts an important innovation forum
From October 1 to 3, 2024, innovation specialists gathered in Bhutan, at the Dungkar Dzong cultural center, to exchange and present their technologies. Discussion panels, presentations, conferences, seminars and exhibitions were organized over three days during the Bhutan Innovation Forum (BIF). King Jigme Khesar Wangchuck granted his patronage to this international event. “Bhutan is in an enviable position”explains the sovereign. “We can capitalize on the inherent strengths of small nations to be more flexible and agile. »
Queen Jetsun Pema arrives at the Dungkar Dzong cultural center with her two sons (Photo: Royal Office for Media)
As their parents attend panel discussions, the heir to the Bhutanese throne and his younger brother play in the courtyard (Photo: Royal Office for Media)
“Above all, we are fortunate to benefit from the harmony and trust between the king, the government and the people, which unites us all around a single vision », Proudly explains the King, who made an appearance with his family at this forum. King Jigme Khesar Wangchuck visited the site this Wednesday, October 2, accompanied by Queen Jetsun Pema and their two sons, Dragon Prince Jigme Namgyel, 8 years old, and Prince Jigme Ugyen, 4 years old.
King Jigme Khesar Wangchucl attends a networking event, here in discussion with Anil Dhirubhai Ambani, an Indian businessman who owns one of India’s largest telecommunications conglomerates (Photo: Royal Office for Media)
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The dragon prince and his little brother test the glasses Snapchat Shows
The forum took place in Bhutan, a country which has the ambition to create the first “mindful” city. King Jigme Khesar launched the construction of a sustainable, peaceful and happy city, in total agreement with the principle of Gross National Happiness established by his father. It will be called Gelephu and will have the status of Special Administrative Region. The laws that will govern the daily lives of residents, the infrastructure, the constructions, the energy consumed, everything will be designed to make life happy, sustainable and peaceful.
Evan Spiegel, founder of Snapchat, presents the new version of his Spectacles glasses to the royal family (Photo: Royal Office for Media)
King Jigme Khesar Wangchuck tests the operation of Spectacles enhanced reality glasses, following instructions from Evan Spiegel (Photo: Royal Office for Media)
During the royal visit to the forum, the King and Queen participated in a panel discussion and stopped by exhibitors who were showcasing their technologies. King Jigme Khesar Wangchuck and Queen Jetsun Pema met Evan Spiegel, the American tech genius, who co-founded the Snapchat application and today runs the company Snap Inc. The two young princes were able to wear the glasses of augmented reality to have a first virtual experience. The company Snap has developed Spectacles, its own range of augmented reality glasses.
Le prince dragon Jigme Namgyel teste les lunettes Spectacles (Photo : Royal Office for Media)
Prince Ugyen appears to be enjoying the experience (Photo: Royal Office for Media)
The Spectacles were launched in 2016, a derivative product which was a continuation of what Snapchat offered, namely filters which are embedded on films. Augmented or enhanced reality glasses have not really met with the expected success. Snapchat has just announced the release of this new version which allows you to interact by voice and hand gestures. The augmented reality effects are even more immersive.
A monk from the school of astronomy at Pangrizampa Monastery demonstrates his traditional art of weaving namkha, fabric shapes representing endless crossed knots, which bring harmony through the interweaving of colors (Photo: Royal Office for Media)
Bhutan takes advantage of this international event to present its culture, in particular by inviting yak herders, who present their ancestral way of life (Photo: Royal Office for Media)
This royal visit offered futuristic images that contrast with the protected traditions of the Himalayan kingdom. The organizers took advantage of this international forum to introduce Bhutanese culture to international visitors. Traditional yak herder tents were pitched around the building and monks demonstrated their traditional crafts to visitors.
Nicolas Fontaine
Editor-in-chief
Nicolas Fontaine has been a designer-editor and author for numerous Belgian and French brands and media. A specialist in royal family news, Nicolas founded the site Histoires royales of which he is the editor-in-chief. nicolas@histoiresroyales.fr
