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Program Details

In a not-too-distant future, the computing platform of choice for a significant number of consumers will be a hand-held device. Signs of this trend are already apparent in Asia and Scandinavia, and all indicators suggest that this evolution transforms the lives and work of individuals in ways that are both chaotic and enriching. Given the diversity of global communications mechanisms, how can network operators, software vendors, and handset providers accelerate this evolution? The Mobile Future brings together experts from industry and the research community to share and discuss their visions of possible futures, along with technology and business models for achieving them.

With panelists from 25 great companies and two great universities, the discussions around these and related topics promise to be lively and provocative. Join us for an exciting day of interactive discussions that will offer a framework for the mobile future and pointers for creators, investors, and customers on where the best opportunities will be found.

8:30 am – 9:00 am	Breakfast
9:00 am – 9:15 am	Welcome Jim Morris; Dean, Carnegie Mellon West Pradeep Khosla; Dean, College of Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University MORNING THEME: HOW WILL THE NEW MOBILE DEVICES, APPLICATIONS, AND SERVICES CHANGE THE WAY PEOPLE WORK, PLAY, AND RELATE?
9:15 am – 9:45 am	The New Global Mobile Playing Field David Pogue; The New York Times Winning in mobile technology will require innovation in both technical and business areas as service providers, software developers, carriers and device manufacturers all seek to both create and dominate new and existing markets. Where should customers, venture capitalists, software developers, device manufacturers, and researchers focus their attention? Which companies will drive innovation, and which might capitalize on the innovation of others? In either instance, what will make these few stand out? What are the grand challenges that must be resolved as the industry moves forward?
9:50 am – 10:20 am	Mabel and the Cloud Timothy Chou; Plural Contributor As computing has become more ubiquitous, it has moved into our phones, our automobiles, and some even believe our clothes. These developments will change how we work, play, and participate in our community. In addition, even more emphasis will be placed on the cloud that connects these devices. How will it be different, and what will be different about these new applications? Is there another revolution looming?
10:20 am – 10:50 am	Break
10:50 am – 11:45 am	Innovative Mobile Applications Moderator: Martin Griss; Associate Dean for Research, Carnegie Mellon West Panelists: Madeline Duva; President 3rd Eye Consulting Dan Siewiorek; Professor, Director, HCII, Carnegie Mellon Eric Chan, Mobile Evangelist, Mobileslate Thad White; Vice President of Products, 3Jam Yongguang Zhang; Manager, Wireless and Networking, Microsoft Research Asia Entrepreneurs and solution providers are already working to build innovative applications that take advantage of the "connected world" provided by mobile devices. Panelists will discuss several applications in such areas as support of human relationships, energy management, vehicle control, mCommerce, travel, and entertainment. A central focus will be what kind of new or enhanced applications are enabled by emerging technologies, including location awareness, video, voice, and others. We will also surface challenges such as user experience, user interface, and cultural differences.
11:50 am – 12:30 pm	Human Interfaces Ted Selker; Associate Professor, MIT Media Lab Stuart Card; Manager, User Interface Group, Palo Alto Research Center How do mobile devices fit in to the world? Mobile things are by definition used in public and in situations where there is activity besides the actions defined by the mobile device. Mobile device designers must expect users to operate in chaotic and noisy environments. Designers must take surroundings and immediacy into account as they gear up to create the nomadically sophisticated systems of the future. This talk will give examples of aesthetic and functional blunders and successes in the field of mobile devices. We will go further to describe principles and approaches for creating devices that will optimally serve billions of people on the move and in need of technology. The talk will end with a vision of the mobile technology utopias and dystopias that we might be headed toward.
12:30 pm – 1:35 pm	Lunch We’re Just Getting Started: Gearing up for the Mobile Revolution to Come... Keynote Speaker: Bob Iannucci; Senior Vice President, Chief Technology Officer, Nokia The late Arthur C. Clarke once said “Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.” Even with all of the advances in recent years, many believe that we are still only in the first stages of building the mobile communications industry. Mobile devices are becoming computers in their own right, with an astounding amount of processing ability and bandwidth. Combine this power with the expanding ability of these devices to perceive the world around them, and it becomes clear that there are dramatic innovations to be made in the form of products and services. Mobile users of today might almost perceive these advances as the “magic” of which Clarke spoke. Organizations like Nokia, and many others, will certainly play a role in creating these advanced products and services, but where exactly are the opportunities for others to jump in and participate, if not utterly disrupt? And what will that future look like? When we ask what will differentiate this evolution from what has happened in the past, it is possible to look at some of the past shifts in the computer industry to envision how these changes in the mobile space might evolve. For instance, as the laws of economy compel a common platform for innovation to emerge, will companies seeking to innovate compel a higher degree of partnering and collaboration? And will collaboration among would-be competitors compel a shift towards greater openness that will drive a software ecosystem of value? AFTERNOON THEME: HOW CAN WE TURN THE VISION INTO REALITY?
1:35 pm – 2:05 pm	Mobile Platforms and Services Didier Diaz; Senior Vice President, ACCESS Today, there are numerous platforms for mobile devices, as well as many different devices and network operators, making it extremely difficult for solution providers to create applications that will work across devices, communication networks, and national boundaries. From both the developer and the end-user perspective, there is a huge benefit to converging on a small number of platforms, since that common ground will greatly facilitate the ability of all suppliers to provide customers with what’s wanted. In the mobile technology industry, what must be common to everyone? What might the future look like if this transpires (or if it does not)? Will one operating platform win? What kinds of middleware will emerge?
2:10 pm – 3:05 pm	Who Will Provide the Software and Services? Moderator: Tony Wasserman; Director MS Software Management Program, Carnegie Mellon West Panelists: Adam Blum; Vice President of Engineering, Mobio Networks John Bruggeman; Chief Marketing Officer, WindRiver Fabrizio Capobianco; CEO, Funambol Christy Wyatt; Vice President, Ecosystem & Market Development, Mobile Devices, Motorola Device manufacturers, network operators, and industry consortia are all working to encourage developers to build applications that will run on their platform, device, or network. Developing these applications is complicated by the wide-ranging set of characteristics of devices, the differences in network data rates, the problems of internationalization and localization, and the rapidly evolving state of platforms, networks, and development tools. How are solution developers approaching these issues? Are they focusing on a single platform, such as Windows Mobile, Symbian, or the iPhone? How do they test their applications in this complex environment?
3:10 pm – 4:05 pm	The Carriers: How is the US Changing? Moderator: David Farber, Distinguished Career Professor of Computer Science and Public Policy, School of Computer Science, Carnegie Mellon University Panelists: Paul Brigner; Executive Director of Internet and Technology Policy, Verizon John Gilmore; Co-Founder & Board Member, Electronic Frontier Foundation, Entrepreneur Leonard Waverman; Dean, Haskayne School of Business, University of Calgary and Visiting Fellow. Fisher IT Center, Haas Business School, UC Berkley The US wireless industry is dominated by a small number of network operators (AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, Sprint Nextel, and Alltel). The US lags well behind other advanced countries in network speeds, with a strong impact on the set of feasible applications and a potential effect on global competitiveness. What, if anything, can or should be done to improve the situation in the US? Are there lessons to be learned from other countries or foreign network operators? Whose works best and why? Will the US Telcos need to release their grips on the telecommunications business? What will force them? What role will the federal government, specifically the FCC, play?
4:05 pm – 4:35 pm	Break
4:40 pm – 5:35 pm	Business Models and Investments Opportunities Moderator: J. Gerry Purdy; VP & Chief Analyst, Frost & Sullivan Panelists: Nathan Goldhaber; Managing Director, Claremont Creek Ventures Pat Kenealy; Managing Director, IDG Ventures Susan Mason; General Partner, Onset Ventures Matt Murphy; Partner, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers Brewer Stone; Managing Director, East Peak Mobile and wireless products and services are now driving the future of the Internet economy. There are more opportunities for innovation than ever before, resulting from the onset of the 700MHz open networks, the decision of operators to open their networks, and the tremendous innovation in handsets and supporting software. This panel will discuss opportunities for funding new innovations that might lead to the creation of the next Google, eBay or YouTube in the mobile and wireless space.
5:40 pm – 6:00 pm	Closing Summary and Take Aways Jim Morris; Dean, Carnegie Mellon West Len Waverman; Dean, Haskayne School of Business, University of Calgary

 

© 2008 Carnegie Mellon West