 |
 |
|
|
AT THE CENTER
Past copies of Newsletters and Directions to the Center are available on the Web site. All programs are held at the Center unless otherwise noted. To join our community, click on this link: http://center.infopoint.com/join.php ***************************** POWER PUB TONIGHT!!!: TUESDAY,
APRIL 27, 2004 ******** THINK TANK SESSION: TUESDAY,
MAY 25, 2004 ******** SUMMARY POWER PUB:
TUESDAY, APRIL 27, 2004 ******** SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: "ARCHSTONE
CONSULTING JOINS THE CENTER AS ITS NEWEST CORPORATE SPONSOR" ******** OF SPECIAL NOTE…
**************************** POWER PUB: TUESDAY,
APRIL 27, 2004 The buzz around nanotechnology in Silicon Valley has not dried up, in spite of delays and debates over definitions and timing. Does nanotechnology offer the truly ultimate Bio-IT interface? If so, when will this all come to pass? Nanotechnology has been described as offering the ultimate interface between biology and information technologies. Visionaries imagine a pervasive computing environment in which everything, wet and dry, has sensing, computation, and communication capabilities built into it. Many questions exist about how sensors made with nanotechnology will be built and what kind of new capabilities they will offer. In previous World Internet Center sessions, the value of having wireless sensor networks built on nano or any other technology have been discussed and debated. Advanced biological-computer interfaces may also be desirable, but questions exist over what is technically possible and commercially feasible within the timeframe of an attractive investment cycle. However, the potential creative nano-links with the Valley's biotechnology, electronics, and IT strengths have only wetted the appetites. Even so, many investors are struggling to find value in paying for science projects to discover the links between nanoparticles and biological organisms or the interface between the nano, the bio, and the macro. Most of the new investments in nano appear to be going into lowering the cost of nanoparticle production methods, new tools to figure out where all those nanoparticles are and to manipulate them, sensors built from nanoparticles that are highly sensitive and specific as to which other particles or biological organisms they detect, and simulation and design software tools. The debate over what happens when nanoparticles are introduced into the human biological system and the environment is just beginning. At this Power Pub, come discuss these questions with Mr. Hinzmann, the Pub Master for the evening:
ABOUT BROCK HINZMANN Brock Hinzmann is the technology navigator and a principal consultant with SRI Consulting Business Intelligence. Over the past 25 years, Mr. Hinzmann has worked with hundreds of clients to conduct future scanning exercises, create future scenarios, conduct business opportunity searches, and to draw technology road maps. Over the past few years, his projects have dealt with nanotechnology, fuel cells, advanced interfaces, robotics, and pervasive computing. ABOUT SRI CONSULTING BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE SRI Consulting Business Intelligence (http://www.sric-bi.com) was formed originally as the Long-Range Planning Service for the Stanford Research Institute. SRIC-BI specializes in making sense of the future for its large corporate and government clients around the world. SRIC-BI is able to customize its consulting projects by leveraging off the knowledge gained from several syndicated research programs. Scan® is a subscription-based program that alerts participants to potential major business impacts that might result from today's early weak signals of change and works with clients to customize those implications into actionable ideas. Explorer® is a technology mapping service that tracks nearly 40 technology areas in nanotechnology, biotechnology, electronics, IT, energy, and so forth. VALS® is a consumer market segmentation system that predicts purchasing behavior based on psychological motivations on end-users. REGISTRATION & SPECIAL INFORMATION Pre-registration is highly recommended. There is a $15 fee (cash or check only) which will be collected at the door. Please make checks payable to Silicon Valley World Internet Center. To pre-register, please send your name, title, company name, telephone number, and email address to: Ms. Claire Kahrobaie ** Special Note: As a special welcome to the Center's Pub attendees, the Cabaña Hotel is extending a discount for post-Pub networking! Please ask to receive a coupon for a 10% discount off of beverages at the Crowne Plaza Cabaña Palo Alto's bar applicable the night of the Pub. DIRECTIONS TO THE CROWNE PLAZA CABANA HOTEL From Highway 101 - North or South
From Highway 280 - North or South
**************************** THINK TANK SESSION:
TUESDAY, MAY 25, 2004 The Silicon Valley World Internet Center is conducting a Think Tank Session on May 25, 2004, to understand the issues and principles involved in adapting and engineering enterprise-level software products for different cultures. This invitation-only session will focus on considerations for cross-cultural adaptation of software to Asian markets. The specific focus will be on enterprise-level software solutions including Employee Self Service applications (ESS), payroll, timesheets, and other human resource functions. This session is being sponsored by SAP Research. The objectives of this session are:
This is an invitation-only Think Tank Session limited to 20 participants. If you are an expert in the cross-cultural adaptation of enterprise-level software (including user-interface) and would like to be considered for participation in this 4-hour, afternoon session on May 25, please submit your name, title, company affiliation, and bio for consideration to: Ms. Claire Kahrobaie **Please note that the World Internet Center is not in a position to accept all interested participants. **************************** SUMMARY POWER PUB:
TUESDAY, APRIL 27, 2004 At the April 27 Power Pub, the Center welcomed 66 participants to the Crowne Plaza Cabana hotel to discuss the issues surrounding nano-bio-IT convergence with Pub Master Mr. Brock Hinzmann, Technology Navigator & Principal Consultant, SRI Consulting Business Intelligence. The main questions of the evening revolved around whether to use nanotechnology to extend Moore's Law or to use some nano-bio approach to create a new paradigm of information technology, and who would fund either effort. Participants envisioned small companies being better able to try new approaches than large IT companies because small companies do not have large financial commitments to Moore's Law. In addition, since no one knows which of the current research areas will evolve into major new markets, small companies are more likely to hit on successes than the big companies seeking guaranteed, multi-billion-dollar opportunities in existing markets. However, since most of truly new nanotechnology is a 10- to 15-year investment, it will be difficult to get venture capitalists to invest in this area. Small companies that take new, interdisciplinary approaches to solving current problems or making current processes less costly and/or more efficient are more likely to receive funding. Rather than "fabs and labs," it was suggested that the investment value of nanotechnology will be based on intellectual property. Although "What's the Killer App?" is always the question that never seems to get answered, the Pub participants had several ideas for nano-bio-IT products:
To view Brock Hinzmann's presentation from the April 27, 2004 Power Pub on "Nano-Bio-IT Convergence: Does Nanotechnology Offer the Truly Ultimate Bio-IT Interface?":
**************************** SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT:
"ARCHSTONE CONSULTING BOLSTERS QUEST FOR BUSINESS INNOVATION AS
SILICON VALLEY WORLD INTERNET CENTER SPONSOR" Archstone Consulting's Strategic View Supports Reinvigoration Of Technology And Business Communities Archstone Consulting (www.archstoneconsulting.com) has announced its commitment to support innovation in the technology and business communities through corporate sponsorship of the Silicon Valley World Internet Center (www.worldinternetcenter.com). Archstone Consulting joins the eight-year-old, Palo Alto-based innovation platform as a management consulting industry representative to the Center's corporate sponsorship program. Archstone Consulting intends, through its sponsorship of the World Internet Center, to contribute to the vitality of Silicon Valley's technology community by leveraging its deep expertise in business issues that influence innovation in today's economic environment. "Archstone Consulting believes that the Internet will be a major factor in the economic recovery, and how businesses advance their interests," said Eric Schlumpf, principal and global manufacturing practice leader for Archstone Consulting in San Francisco. "The Internet is fundamental to success of the Northern California business community and we look forward to contributing, with our World Internet Center partners, to its growth as a tool for delivering value to the business community as a whole." "Archstone Consulting brings to the World Internet Center a unique understanding of the business issues that influence innovation," said Dr. Susan Duggan, CEO of the Silicon Valley World Internet Center. "Technologic advancement is intrinsically linked to business success -- you cannot have one without the other. For that reason, we are especially pleased to welcome Archstone Consulting and its contributions to the Center's innovation dialogue." Archstone Consulting is an independent business strategy and operations consulting firm specializing in manufacturing, consumer packaged goods, life sciences and business and consumer services sectors. Focused on innovation, growth and value, Archstone Consulting's expertise includes product development, complex manufacturing and supply chain operations, strategic sourcing and information technology effectiveness. Headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut, the company has offices in New York, Chicago and San Francisco. For additional information, visit the company's Website at www.archstoneconsulting.com. **************************** OF SPECIAL NOTE… On Sunday, April 18, 2004, our Knowledge Network Partner, the Crowne Plaza Cabana Hotel (http://www.cppaloalto.crowneplaza.com), hosted the Indian Ambassador-at-Large to the U.S., Dr. Bhishma K. Agnihotri, for a fascinating discussion of the future development of India and its high tech sector. Dr. Agnihotri called for individuals from the Silicon Valley to submit suggestions for how best to develop the capabilities of the Indian technology economy in the near future. The Center's CEO, Dr. Susan Duggan, committed to continuing a dialogue with the ambassador, is looking at what technology sectors in India could best benefit from an intense exchange of strategic intelligence with Valley counterparts. Several attendees called for a serious focus on biotech and nanotechnology markets, noting that India was well-prepared to "leap frog" into a position of intellectual and market leadership. The event was highly supported by India Post (http://www.indiapost.com) and by TechBiz Radio (http://www.tech-biz-radio.com). Any suggestions for the development of the Indian technology economy may be submitted through the World Internet Center (mailto:info@worldinternetcenter.com). Or for further information, please access the Ambassador-at-Large's website: (http://www.indianambatlarge.com). To view a photo of Center CEO Dr. Susan Duggan with Dr. Bhishma Agnihotri, visit: (http://www.worldinternetcenter.com/Photo_Album/index.html). **************************** For further information on the Center's Sponsors and Knowledge Network Partners, visit their Websites: CORPORATE
SPONSORS KNOWLEDGE
NETWORK PARTNERS **************************** To join our community, click on this link: http://center.infopoint.com/join.php
|
|