In this fast-paced environment, we ask ourselves: have we lost something culturally in the process? Has so much connected time also meant disconnection from what’s authentic and communal?

But let’s look at it from another perspective: technology not only changes the way we consume and share culture, it also revitalizes and expands it in unexpected ways. Technology democratizes culture, too. Through STEAM and similar approaches, culture is finding new avenues to express itself and reach more people. Far from disappearing, culture remains vibrant and evolving, demonstrating an exceptional ability to adapt and thrive in this digital age.

In this issue (our tenth one already!) of BizkaiaTech Magazine, we’ll explore culture in its many forms through a STEAM lens. We’ll cover the standout annual gathering that merges local culture, dive into classic literature, lay out the green tapete for a game of mus, and warm up our voices for some singing.

Spoiler alert: we’re going to propose a theme, a measurement, and a rhyme pattern to both a well known bertsolari and ChatGPT. Who will win?

We’re sharing this ahead of time in case you’re already missing the pure BizkaiaTech spirit!

SCIENCE AS A BACKDROP

We’ll explore the impact of the internet and social media on the music and literary industries and how they’ve also shaped one of the must-attend events of euskal kultura: Durangoko Azoka.

We’ll take a misty morning trip to London to see how cryptography and literature come together and help Sherlock Holmes solve a murder-related mystery.

In its classical sense, culture has a lot to do with mathematics, too; they’re present in the euskal dantzak and can even be part of a game of mus. In traditional dances, math comes into play with the rhythmic adaptation of music, where beats measure sound duration in mathematically organized intervals. And chance—closely tied to the mathematical concept of probability—can help us understand how winning a card game involves calculated, informed decisions.

TECHNOLOGY AS A TOOL

Some games are a fundamental part of our culture in Bizkaia. Think of tabas or txokor batze. With the rise of the internet and the shift from analog to digital, the way these traditions are passed on has evolved. At Estudio Relevo, Jon Cortázar and his team are creating digital games that nod to traditional culture.

Our way of consuming content and entertaining ourselves has changed, too. Many generations were glued to the TV watching cartoons in Basque on those long summer mornings (especially rainy ones, when trips to the beach or outdoor play were less likely). Now, amid the avalanche of content, faster plots, and less available time, binge-watching has taken over, a true sign of our times.

This edition of BizkaiaTech Magazine aims to highlight some of the most rooted aspects of Bizkaia’s culture. We’ll discuss Athletic Club and how this football team uses technology to improve performance (could their latest cup victory have had something to do with it?) as well as the modernization of one of the most traditional and economically impactful professions in our culture: fishing.

Technology can be an excellent ally in creating and disseminating culture in any form, but it will never replace human creativity and sensitivity. Culture is something we build, shape, and keep alive; it reflects our identity and history, something generative artificial intelligence can’t replace. Culture arises from the deepest parts of our essence and our shared experiences.