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