| Copyright (c) 2007 SharpBrains | | | | and mentally sharp as we age. We need to |
| The goal of Stanford University Media X is to | | | | redefine "aging". Nowadays, there are many role |
| foster collaborations between industry and | | | | models in their 70s and 80s that show how age is |
| academia. The 5th Annual Media X Conference on | | | | not an obstacle for being active contributors in |
| Research, Collaboration, Innovation and | | | | society. |
| Productivity, which I was fortunate to attend, | | | | 5) Virtual Simulations for medical education. Dr. |
| served its purpose well. Let me share the 10 Key | | | | LeRoy Heinrichs showed how simulations work |
| Trends that every business executive and | | | | very well to train surgeons and other medical |
| innovator should be paying attention to: | | | | professionals learn how to perform their jobs. |
| 1) Personal Robotics is poised to explode soon | | | | Virtual simulations (in a simulated virtual |
| (predicted by Paul Saffo). It usually takes 20 | | | | environment) can work as well as physical ones |
| years science basic science exists until applications | | | | (which typically are more expensive and less |
| reach inflection point and take the world by | | | | scalable). |
| storm-and we are about to see that happen. | | | | 6) Green Building and Green Cars. Prof. Gilbert M. |
| Some indicators: DARPA sponsored first robotics | | | | Masters recommended reading the article "It's the |
| attempts in mid-80s, and now we have | | | | Architecture, Stupid!" to understand how buildings |
| applications such as the Roomba vacuum-cleaner, | | | | account for 35-45% carbon emissions in the US, |
| and a fully automated racing car. Prof. Kenneth | | | | more than transportation and industry. |
| Salisbury showed how there are robots today | | | | 7) Friends not Email: Prof. B.J. Fogg claimed that |
| with great motor skills-i.e., they can unload a | | | | email "cheapens our lives" and insisted that |
| dishwasher! | | | | maintaining close relationships is critical for |
| 2) Brain Computer Interfaces. Prof. Krishna | | | | happiness. Email is a very bad tool to manage |
| Shenoy explained how, for many people who | | | | close relationships. Wise words. |
| can't move/ communicate well, new systems | | | | 8) Science Videos: Prof. Roy D. Pea made the |
| enable the translation of brain signals into control | | | | case that there is an increasing need for DIY |
| signals, by implanting electrodes in brain that | | | | videos in protocol sharing among scientists, so |
| measure signals and help predict behaviors based | | | | they can better replicate experiments. His Lab is |
| on response pattern recognition There are already | | | | creating new ways to enable people create |
| applications today that help people move cursors | | | | conversations about video to enhance diversity of |
| based on their thoughts. | | | | views and connections. |
| 3) Clean Technology: Scott Z. Burns, co-producer | | | | 9) Games for Learning: Prof. Dan Schwartz |
| of An Inconvenient Truth, explained how Al Gore | | | | showcased new methods for learning outside the |
| was reluctant to make the movie, but he was | | | | classroom. Games can help merge formal & |
| convinced to participate given the increasing | | | | informal learning. Teachable agents are computer |
| threat of global warming. Al Gore saw an analogy | | | | programs created by students to make their |
| between the movie and a bio-feedback device | | | | knowledge explicit, and can be used as part of |
| that her daughter used to treat her migraines. In | | | | games to motivate students do their homework. |
| biofeedback, one learns how to manage vital body | | | | 10) 3D Scientific Imaging. Prof. Paul Brown |
| variables in order to reach a goal (preventing | | | | displayed some of the new imaging and software |
| migraines, managing stress...). Similarly, Gore | | | | packages that allow doctors navigate virtually into |
| wanted each viewer to find his or her own | | | | the bodies of patients, in a non-invasive way The |
| "levers" or "muscles" and ways to act -not just | | | | images are simply spectacular. They used these |
| be told what to do. | | | | technologies to see in detail the interiors of an |
| 4) Reinventing Aging: Prof. Laura L. Carstensen, of | | | | Egyptian mummy. |
| the Stanford Center on Longevity, explained how | | | | Which of these trends is more relevant to your |
| Technology & Science has been improving Biology | | | | business? What can you do to start preparing for |
| for the last 150 years, and now we need to | | | | the future, today? |
| focus on how to help people remain physically fit | | | | |