Extreme Interfaces
September 14-15, 2005 in
Geneva, Switzerland

Mike Hawley previews
the Geneva Conference (MP3).

special members' field trip
CERN
Friday, September 16, 2006
8:30 am - 12:30 pm

conference overview
It wasn’t long ago that the keyboard was our one and only computer input device, followed by the mouse, voice commands, touch screens, and electronic pens. As useful as these devices are, these now older interfaces don’t come close to performing the functions we associate with true ease-of-use between humans and machines. It seems that we constantly adapt to new and changing interfaces, whether intuitive or not, since no viable alternatives exist.

Technologies are well under development that will allow machines to correctly accept and respond to gestures, motions, speech, and facial expressions for input. Human brain machine interfaces will allow humans to control artificial devices designed to restore lost sensory and motor functions (think pacemaker for the brain or the ability to walk at 30 miles per hour). Intelligent user interfaces will enhance the interaction of humans with technology through the use of artificial intelligence and cognitive science. Persuasive interactive technologies will revolutionize business, commerce, health, workplace safety, training, and education.

This conference will examine new possibilities where people and technology might and will meet, ranging from the seemingly simple to the extremely complex, all with the goal of making the interaction between humans and technology more natural, ubiquitous, and joyful.

The ramifications in the way people connect to each other through technology are profound. What are the economics of interfaces and how can we exploit these to reduce costs and improve efficiencies? One answer is to improve methods for remote monitoring, self-diagnosis, and home-based care. What will be the impact of electronic interfaces on trust, secrecy, perception, reality, social relationships, and human communications? We just might find that new interfaces positively affect the way to do business.

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speakers
Mr. Alexandre Colot, Project and Services Manager, K-Team, S.A.
Dr. John P. Donoghue, Professor of Neuroscience, Brown University and Founder, Cyberkinetics Neurotechnology Systems
Mr. Scott Fisher, Chair, Interactive Media Division, USC School of Cinema-Television
Dr. Hugh Herr, Director, Biomechatronics Group, MIT Media Lab
Dr. Martin Illsley, Director of Research, Accenture Technology Labs Europe
Dr. Mary Lou Jepsen, Founder, Jepsen Optical Engineering
Dr. Henry Markram, Co-director, Brain Mind Institute, Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne
Mr. Georg Michelitsch, Co-founder and CEO, CONANTE Advanced Interface Solutions
Dr. Sile O'Modhrain, Lecturer, Sonic Arts Research Centre, Queens University
Dr. Pengkai Pan, CEO and Founder, Saybot
Mr. Michael Robinson, Founder, Pool Entertainment
Dr. John Underkoffler, Science and Technology Advisor, Treadle and Loam
Mr. Wolfgang Von Rüden, Head, IT Department, CERN

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field trip description
CERN is the European Organization for Nuclear Research, the world's largest particle physics centre. Physicists come to explore what matter is made of and what forces hold it together. CERN exists primarily to provide them with the necessary tools. These are accelerators, which accelerate particles to almost the speed of light and detectors to make the particles visible. Founded in 1954, the laboratory was one of Europe's first joint ventures and includes now 20 member states. http://public.web.cern.ch/Public/Welcome.html

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