FutureEverything's annual festival of art and technology opens tomorrow in Manchester. It's a huge event that takes in design, music, performance and some of the most exciting technology around. The EyeWriter, above, will be the recipient of this year's design Award from the organisation...

Running from 12 to 15 May, FutureEverything aims to bring together thinkers, artists and musicians to, the organisers say, "celebrate the creativity and innovation being used to drive social change in the digital age." The programme explores five strands – Art, Music, Conference, PlayEverything and Showcase – details of which are listed in the press release as including:

The launch of GloNet, a new way to interact globally, extends the festival via live events in five cities in different time zones. It was developed to respond to needs for festivals to find new ways to be globally connected and reduce air miles.

The Conference, where 500 opinion-formers, artists, technologists and scientists take part in lectures, forums and panel discussions on the way people and organisations operate, innovate and interact.

Visionary thinker Adam Greenfield curates iPhone and Android Apps in his exhibition, Serendipity City.

Agents of Change transform a secret urban location using spray-cans and perception altering art, streamed live across the city as clues gradually reveal their location.

Cutting-edge music performances including acclaimed Japanese artist and composer Ryoji Ikeda's audio-visual work inspired by his fascination with data, sound and light, and legendary Konono No. 1's distinctive, raw sounds taken from traditional Bazombo trance.

Presentation of the inaugural £10,000 FutureEverything Award to this year's winner, The EyeWriter, a pair of low-cost eye-tracking glasses that allow artists and graffiti writers with paralysis to draw using only their eyes.

FutureEverything works in a range of fields including mass engagement, awards, international network, local advocacy, training and thought leadership, on theme including innovation, technology, art, society and the environment.

The festival programme, ticket info and schedules can be found at futureeverything.org.

From System Ghostvillage by Richard Kenworthy