IEEE Unveils Details of “Tech for Humanity Series” Held at the Annual SXSW® 2017 Festival
Sessions explore the latest advancements and critical issues in the areas of artificial intelligence, virtual and augmented reality, healthcare, wearables, “hearables,” synthetic biology and advanced human/machine interfaces.
PISCATAWAY, N.J., USA, 16 February 2017 – IEEE, the world’s largest technical professional organization dedicated to advancing technology for humanity, today announced agenda details for the 2017 IEEE “Tech for Humanity Series,” to be held during the annual South by Southwest® (SXSW®) Conference and Festival, 10-19 March, 2017 in Austin, TX. The sixth annual 2017 IEEE “Tech for Humanity Series” features 29 speakers, 12 speaking sessions, 3 meet ups, an experiential trade show booth and an official party.
IEEE’s booth, #1809, features “IEEE UniVRse,” a multi-user, virtual reality (VR) experience that combines VR and physical props to explore technology innovation through the ages. Participants are fully immersed in a futuristic museum environment where they discover “artifacts” and receive informative narration describing how each item represents an IEEE technological milestone that has led to further, and ongoing, technological development.
Two official SXSW Featured Speakers, Vint Cerf, IEEE Life Fellow, chief internet evangelist at Google, and founder of the People-Centered Internet (PCI) and Thad Starner, professor at Georgia Tech and longest-standing technical lead for Google Glass, will headline IEEE’s “Tech for Humanity Series.”
“Once again, we’ve curated a series of thought-provoking SXSW sessions featuring world-changing, ground-breaking scientists, technologists and engineers, and we’re also honored to host Internet founding father Vint Cerf in his first-ever appearance at SXSW,” said Karen Bartleson, IEEE president and CEO. “For IEEE, SXSW is an important venue for reaching next-generation innovators—not only to encourage their engagement in building the technology of the future—but to rally and ensure technologies are developed and advanced for the benefit of humanity.”
The 2017 IEEE “Tech for Humanity Series” speaker sessions include:
- A Developer’s Primer for Coding Human Behavior in Bots
- AI and the Suburbanization of the Mind
- An Internet for and by The People
- AR/VR: The Promise and Danger Behind the Hype
- Beyond Fintech: Blockchain for Every Industry
- Brain Wearables
- Engineering Life – Artificial Genome Synthesis
- Ethically-Aligned Design: Setting Standards for AI
- Euthanizing our Global System of ‘Sick Care’
- Going Beyond Moore’s Law
- Hearables and the Age of Mediated Listening
- Not Your Mama’s Wearables
The 2017 Tech for Humanity Series is hosted in association with the University of Texas and Cognizant, a leader in global business and technology services. The full agenda and session times can be found on the IEEE “Tech for Humanity” Series website. Twitter users can access #ieeesxsw to stay abreast of IEEE activities at SXSW.
Official SXSW Party and Meet Ups
The IEEE “Tech for Humanity” series also includes an Official SXSW party at the historic Driskill Hotel on Sunday 12 March from 8-10 pm, featuring STEAM Carnival Entertainment from Two Bit Circus. In addition, three one-hour meet up and networking events will be hosted, including The IEEE Women in Tech Meet Up with IEEE Women in Engineering and an IEEE Beer and Business Meet Up for entrepreneurs. IEEE and the People Centered Internet will also cohost a dynamic “Future of the Internet Meet Up” with Internet Hall-of-Famer and founding father Vint Cerf. Events are open to all SXSW badge holders.
The IEEE “Tech for Humanity” Party will be preceded by a private, invitation-only VIP/Media preview hour from 7:00-8:00 PM. Interested press can request VIP admission by contacting the IEEE party organizer.
About SXSW
SXSW dedicates itself to helping creative people achieve their goals. Founded in 1987 in Austin, TX, SXSW is best known for its conference and festivals that celebrate the convergence of the interactive, film and music industries. The event, an essential destination for global professionals, features conference programming, showcases, screenings, exhibitions, and a variety of networking opportunities. SXSW proves that the most unexpected discoveries happen when diverse topics and people come together. SXSW 2017 will take place March 10- 19, 2017.
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IEEE Standards Association (IEEE SA) is a collaborative organization where innovators raise the world’s standards for technology. IEEE SA provides a globally open, consensus-building environment and platform that empowers people to work together in the development of leading-edge, market-relevant technology standards, and industry solutions shaping a better, safer and sustainable world. For more information, visit https://standards-qa21.ieee.org.
About IEEE
IEEE is the world’s largest technical professional organization dedicated to advancing technology for the benefit of humanity. Through its highly cited publications, conferences, technology standards, and professional and educational activities, IEEE is the trusted voice in a wide variety of areas ranging from aerospace systems, computers, and telecommunications to biomedical engineering, electric power, and consumer electronics. Learn more at https://www.ieee.org.