As computers have become smaller and more powerful, they have moved beyond black boxes to everyday objects. Things around us- from cars and microwave ovens to shoes and walls- are getting smarter. We, too, are getting smarter, as we are able to access and carry around increasingly more information and processing capability. In addition, these smarter things and smarter people are connecting to each other, creating a powerful new level of exchange.
What happens next? Millions of connected computers create the foundation for a complex digital ecosystem that will define computing well into the next century. These systems may evolve closer to biological systems and exhibit patterns in computing and communicating beyond our dreams.
What will it mean to be plugged into this more intelligent, interconnected world? For instance, what if the environment can sense your presence and needs and act accordingly? What if your company has detailed knowledge of individual customers, wherever they are, so it can cater to a market of one? What are the privacy issues of living in such a wired world?
This conference will address these and other topics, including:
- Intelligence in things in the environment .
- Prosthesis of the human mind and body .
- Clothes and fashion accessories that help broker information .
- Tools, toys and the power of networked objects .
Field Trip