Stanford Media X Ten Innovation Trends: Robotics, Aging, Clean Tech, Brain, Gaming, Science and More

The goal of Stanford University Media X is tothe Stanford Center on Longevity, explained how
foster collaborations between industry andTechnology & Science has been improving Biology
academia. The 5th Annual Media X Conference onfor the last 150 years, and now we need to
Research, Collaboration, Innovation andfocus on how to help people remain physically fit
Productivity, which I was fortunate to attend,and mentally sharp as we age. We need to
served its purpose well. Let me share the 10 Keyredefine "aging". Nowadays, there are many role
Innovation Trends that every business executivemodels in their 70s and 80s that show how age is
and innovator should be paying attention to.not an obstacle for being active contributors in
Copyright (c) 2007 SharpBrainssociety.
The goal of Stanford University Media X is to5) Virtual Simulations for medical education. Dr.
foster collaborations between industry andLeRoy Heinrichs showed how simulations work
academia. The 5th Annual Media X Conference onvery well to train surgeons and other medical
Research, Collaboration, Innovation andprofessionals learn how to perform their jobs.
Productivity, which I was fortunate to attend,Virtual simulations (in a simulated virtual
served its purpose well. Let me share the 10 Keyenvironment) can work as well as physical ones
Trends that every business executive and(which typically are more expensive and less
innovator should be paying attention to:scalable).
1) Personal Robotics is poised to explode soon6) Green Building and Green Cars. Prof. Gilbert M.
(predicted by Paul Saffo). It usually takes 20Masters recommended reading the article "It's the
years science basic science exists until applicationsArchitecture, Stupid!" to understand how buildings
reach inflection point and take the world byaccount for 35-45% carbon emissions in the US,
storm-and we are about to see that happen.more than transportation and industry.
Some indicators: DARPA sponsored first robotics7) Friends not Email: Prof. B.J. Fogg claimed that
attempts in mid-80s, and now we haveemail "cheapens our lives" and insisted that
applications such as the Roomba vacuum-cleaner,maintaining close relationships is critical for
and a fully automated racing car. Prof. Kennethhappiness. Email is a very bad tool to manage
Salisbury showed how there are robots todayclose relationships. Wise words.
with great motor skills-i.e., they can unload a8) Science Videos: Prof. Roy D. Pea made the
dishwasher!case that there is an increasing need for DIY
2) Brain Computer Interfaces. Prof. Krishnavideos in protocol sharing among scientists, so
Shenoy explained how, for many people whothey can better replicate experiments. His Lab is
can't move/ communicate well, new systemscreating new ways to enable people create
enable the translation of brain signals into controlconversations about video to enhance diversity of
signals, by implanting electrodes in brain thatviews and connections.
measure signals and help predict behaviors based9) Games for Learning: Prof. Dan Schwartz
on response pattern recognition There are alreadyshowcased new methods for learning outside the
applications today that help people move cursorsclassroom. Games can help merge formal &
based on their thoughts.informal learning. Teachable agents are computer
3) Clean Technology: Scott Z. Burns, co-producerprograms created by students to make their
of An Inconvenient Truth, explained how Al Goreknowledge explicit, and can be used as part of
was reluctant to make the movie, but he wasgames to motivate students do their homework.
convinced to participate given the increasing10) 3D Scientific Imaging. Prof. Paul Brown
threat of global warming. Al Gore saw an analogydisplayed some of the new imaging and software
between the movie and a bio-feedback devicepackages that allow doctors navigate virtually into
that her daughter used to treat her migraines. Inthe bodies of patients, in a non-invasive way The
biofeedback, one learns how to manage vital bodyimages are simply spectacular. They used these
variables in order to reach a goal (preventingtechnologies to see in detail the interiors of an
migraines, managing stress...). Similarly, GoreEgyptian mummy.
wanted each viewer to find his or her ownWhich of these trends is more relevant to your
"levers" or "muscles" and ways to act -not justbusiness? What can you do to start preparing for
be told what to do.the future, today?
4) Reinventing Aging: Prof. Laura L. Carstensen, of