Human Networks Colloquium WHAT: Luke Hughes (Research Director, Accenture Technology Labs, Palo Alto): "From Crib to Wardrobe: Reality Online and the Socialization of Devices" WHEN: Friday, March 18, 2005, 1:00-2:00 PM EST WHERE: Bartos Theatre, MIT Media Lab (E15) HOSTED BY: Judith Donath, Assistant Professor of Media Arts and Sciences, MIT Media Lab Alex (Sandy) Pentland, Toshiba Professor of Media Arts and Sciences, MIT Media Lab SUMMARY: The advent of networked sensors—epitomized in the consumer context by the camera phone and in the business context by "Smart Dust"—is bringing our personal and business realities online. Co-mingled with that trend, internet social technologies like instant messaging, audio, and video are turning hitherto isolated devices into channels of reality sharing and socialization. For example, far-flung families may, in the future, socialize around a new infant brought online via a Web-enabled crib ("Online Playroom" wardrobe). Individuals may capture and share their personal realities through unobtrusive wearable systems (only sporting an earplug and a cell phone) like the Personal Awareness Assistant (PAA). Hughes will illustrate the trends, not only with these prototypes, but with a variety of prototypes that have received widespread national and international attention (for example, the PAA was accorded a full article in The New York Times circuit section). Drawing on Accenture Technology Lab's expertise in business technology innovation and deployment, Hughes will discuss not only the technological and social implications, but also the business implications of these changes. BIO: Dr. Hughes's lab is charged with analyzing and applying emerging technology solutions to the strategic business problems of Accenture's clients. Hughes is much in demand, and has been extensively featured by business and technology news and broadcast media around the world, including Forbes, ABC Nightly News, and The New York Times. Hughes has also been a keynote speaker at several large conferences. He has specialized in development of technology-based business strategy throughout his career. Prior to his role as research director, he was a co-founder and vice president of product development for one of the firm's start-ups. He also frequently leads client workshops for Fortune 500 companies. Hughes graduated from Yale University with a PhD in computer science. MIT Media Laboratory Home Page | Events Main Index