Things That Think, See, Feel and Do
November 10-11, 1998
in Los Angeles, CA

conference overview
Until recently our computers have been suffering sensory deprivation, and excommunication. Two fingers typing at a maximum of 100 words per minute is not much of an input mechanism. Without a truly networked environment, the ability for machines to be intelligent, and also capable of decision and action, has been strictly limited. This is all changing with the development of a wide range of low cost sensory devices and true global network connectivity. Trends in embedded computing towards "smaller", "linked" and "smarter" are being augmented by advances of artificial intelligence and artificial life. Computers and networks will then enter a new phase where they will be afforded more responsibility than ever before. The deep human connection with things that process becomes increasingly important. Just as with printing, photography and publishing, there are likely to be many startling "killer apps" once this capability reaches the masses.

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speakers
Gordon Bell, Senior Researcher, Microsoft Corporation and TTI/Vanguard Advisory Board Member
Oliver Brand, Project Leader, Physical Electronics Laboratory, ETH Zurich
Peter Cochrane, Head of Advanced Research, BT Laboratories and TTI/Vanguard Advisory Board Member and Mr. Ian Neild, BT Laboratories
Richard R. Gillen, Director of Technical Development, Medtronic, Inc.
William J. Kaiser, Professor and Chairman, Electrical Engineering Department, University of California, Los Angeles
Glen G. Kephart, Vice President, Marketing Display Products, Kopin Corporation
Sundaresan Jayaraman, Professor, School of Textile & Fiber Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology
Christopher Langton, Chief Technology Officer, Swarm Corporation
Robert Lucky, Corporate Vice President, Applied Research, Bellcore and TTI/Vanguard Advisory Board Member
Paul B. MacCready, Chairman, AeroVironment, Inc.
Mike M. Paull, Managing Director, Intelligent Home Systems Group, Microsoft Corporation
Mitchel Resnick, Associate Professor, MIT Media Laboratory
James Sachs, Co-founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, SoftBook Press, Inc.
Kevin Warwick, Professor of Cybernetics, University of Reading

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