Revolutions

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December 6–7, 2012
Seattle, Washington

Conference schedule
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venue
Grand Hyatt Seattle
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for Hotel information

conference overview
This conference will take on surprising new ideas, discoveries, technological advances, and startups that may be coming to a future near you. We'll introduce them, and then explore their implications for organizations and society in the next five, ten, even 20 years. We'll ferret out hidden technologies and examine their promise and their potential.

New technology breakthroughs radiate from one area to the next, often in noncontiguous ways. Disparate technological discoveries, while seemingly narrow and isolated, often affect new developments systemically, altering policy, culture, existing organizations, investments, and entrenched business models. Is it feasible to think that organizations will become their own Y combinators?

Could graphene be the one material that affords extraordinary energy storage, helps sequence DNA, and makes a computer out of water? Could we see chips without wires using flashing lasers that transmit data via infrared light? As information technology gradually shifts its focus from computing capabilities to energy efficiency, we'll get better MEMS-based, energy-harvesting devices for wireless sensors and other applications.

Small and smaller leads to bigger, better, and faster. New semiconductor nanowire lasers will lead to denser optical disc storage. Tiny magnets might run super-energy-efficient computers. In ten years, will your computer be totally flexible and bendable, and made of interactive paper? It's as difficult as ever to pick the winners from the vast array of technological possibilities. Often, the "best" technology doesn't always prevail in the marketplace. Yet, the paradigm-shifting power of new technologies—the power to transform not only business, but also human relationships and entire societies—could factor significantly into your long-term strategic plans.

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