Gene (Eugene) Dolgoff
Gene Dolgoff was educated, and later taught a holography course he authored, at the City University of New York, where he majored in Physics, Mathematics, and Electrical Engineering, and minored in physiological-psychology. Mr. Dolgoff has made enormous contributions in the fields of science and science fiction. To many he is best known as the man who invented the world's very first LCD projector. However, for science-fiction fans, he is undoubtedly and spectacularly known as the man who put the idea of Holodeck into the minds of the Star Trek creators. His journey was filled with numerous momentous achievements, such as building the first holography laboratory in New York City (1964) and inventing holographic transfer printing, used for security on credit cards, before founding Projectavision, the world's first dedicated digital projection company in 1988 (listed on NASDAQ in 1990), and working on such prestigious projects as the development of the U.S. HDTV system. On route, he founded and became CEO/CTO of The 3D Source, Inc. (which created 3-D moving imagery for advertising, promotions, medical imaging, etc) and 3-D Vision, Inc. (which develops 3-D TV technologies, and holographic video projection systems). His life can be seen as an embodiment of TIE'17s central theme, creativity and innovation (science and science-fiction) and as a form of proof of the value of the ever-evolving affiliation between technology, innovation, entrepreneurship, and education.
Talk Synopsis - The Holodeck and other stories
In this talk I will trace the events that lead to the birth of the Holodeck concept. My story includes the creation of the first holography laboratory in New York City (in 1964), where I invented holographic transfer printing, founding Projectavision, the world's first dedicated digital projection company in 1988, and setting up two cutting edge high-tech companies, The 3D Source, Inc. and 3-D Vision, Inc. As a good friend of science fiction writer Isaac Asimov, I was introduced to Arthur C. Clarke and had the opportunity to influence his science fiction writing. I will, of course describe the Holodeck story, which began when I was delivering a technical paper on my holographic model of the universe and the human brain in 1973, first at a conference in New York and then in Prague. There, I met Dr. Anrija Puharich and his collaborator, Melanie Toyofuku, who introduced me to her close friend Gene Roddenberry (screenwriter/producer of the original Star Trek television series). I demonstrated many holograms to him, explaining theories of "matter holograms", which refer to the holographic nature of the universe, and the holographic nature of the human brain. I emphasized the importance holography will play in the future and that if Roddenberry wanted to be accurate he should introduce holography into his Star Trek scripts, including the concept of a holographic "room" for the crew to use for amusement, training, and other purposes. The rest can be considered as well-known history. Of course, these ideas are now starting to be realised in innovations such as HoloLens, Augmented/Mixed Reality (AR/MR), Virtual Reality (VR), Holosuites, and HumaGrams – which can be traced back to the original Holodeck idea. I will also discuss my newest advances in my theories of our holographic universe and how various other current science fiction concepts will become science fact in the future.
Conference note: Within this conference, we are openly focusing on a workshop on the co-evolutionary spiral of science fiction and fact relating to Holodeck, for which we expect creative contributions that take the form of 'holonovels' or papers looking at the many-sided aspects of the development of "holodecks" to concerns about their societal or ethical use.
Prof Richard Scase
Richard Scase is an Emeritus Professor of Organisational Change at the University of Kent and visiting professor at the University of London, Beijing University, Auckland (New Zealand) and Monash University (Australia). As an entrepreneur, Professor Scase has co-founded and sold two successful media businesses: a major radio station serving the south-east of England, and an on-line provider of learning materials for corporate management development programmes. For many years he has advised men and women on business start-up and growth strategies. He therefore has an affinity with business audiences, reflected in the high volume of practical, useful advice he packs into each engagement. As a journalist, author and public-speaker, Professor Scase combines ideas from his various areas of expertise to create "future scenarios" for his audiences, incorporating how political, social and economic ‘risk factors’ will shape the future business environment. He is a contributor of feature articles to newspapers, professional magazines and programmes on radio and television. He has written regular columns for Business Voice (the official monthly publication of the CBI) and the Observer newspaper. Furthermore, he has been commissioned to write policy-focused, official reports for government and other statutory bodies. These include Fit and Fifty for an all-party committee of MPs representing older workers in the UK, Europe in 2010 for the European parliament, Regional Futures 2003 for the UK's National Housing Federation and Business Futures 2014 for the ICAEW (Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales). He is the author of over 24 books, including Britain in 2010: The Changing Business Landscape, which painted such a vivid picture of the future that it influenced a swathe of UK government policy, as well as being critically acclaimed worldwide. He has also written extensively on how to stimulate entrepreneurialism in large organisations; manage creativity; motivate and lead; and leverage corporate intelligence. In his most recent work, Global Remix; The Fight for Competitive Advantage he explores the impact of incipient global trends - technological, economic, demographic, cultural, political and social - on both businesses and individuals. Professor Scase was recently voted one of the Top Ten most influential people in Britain on personnel/human resource management issues by Personnel Today magazine. In addition, he is a former winner of the prestigious European Business Speaker of the Year Award.
Talk Synopsis - Future technologies, entrepreneurship and the coming age of personal liberation
Societies will be undergoing fundamental change as a result of demographic, economic and technological revolutions. As the world approaches 10 million people by 2050 ( only 30 years' time) this will impact upon food supplies, health care, education and environmental management. Smart cities will be needed to cope with the 80 per cent of this population increase that will live in cities. Transport systems will need to be revolutionized as will home and workplace conditions. The solutions to these challenges will be largely provided by agencies, governmental and non-governmental, through their utilization of AI/Robotics, VR (virtual Reality) and the Internet of Things (IoT) technologies. Many observers are frightened by these trends. However, Professor Scase creates a highly optimistic scenario in which he sees a world of self- managed work, education and health systems living in smart cities where inter- connectivity and driverless transportation systems absolves the world of pollution and environmental hazards. He see s 2050 as the beginning of the Age of Great Personal Liberation. All these future trends offer huge opportunities for entrepreneurship as enterprising men and women utilise the new technologies for carving out global market niches for business opportunities.
Mohammed-Asif Akhmad
Mohammed-Asif Akhmad is a Principal Research Scientist at BAE Systems Applied Intelligence Laboratories. His role includes the rapid prototyping and experimental testing of novel communications, sensors and optical based technologies.
One of the technologies he has helped to develop at BAE Systems is bone conduction technology for transmitting sound (Mohammed-Asif Akhmad is shown in the picture above, demonstrating the 'bone conductor' invention to the Duchess of Cambridge). In particular, this technology is aimed at helping soldiers to receive clear audio communications in loud environments, where standard military headphones are not as effective.
Talk Synopsis - How BAE innovates; from a product ideas to prototypes and market commercialisation (The Bone Conductor)
Mohammed will provide a talk giving some insight into the process of developing technologies in industry from idea to working product, with an overview of the BAE Systems Bone Conduction system. He will also have a prototype system available for conference attendees to try out and experience a different method of hearing.
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