A conversation with Rebecca MacKinnon to celebrate the release of Consent of the Networked: The Worldwide Struggle for Internet Freedom. This video features Steve Coll, President and CEO, New America Foundation talks with Rebecca MacKinnon about her new book and the evolving state of internet freedom.
George Poste gave the keynote address at a forum on military technology and robotics. Afterward, panelists talked about emerging technologies developed for and used by the military and the potential impact of robotics on civilian life. They also responded to questions from the audience.
Humans have long been fixated on Mars, first as a metaphor of what lies beyond our reach, and now, increasingly, as a destination - for our probes, and ourselves, and perhaps even for our first base in deep space. Still, fulfilling our Mars yearnings in the next few decades requires enormous technological advancement. Can we now build a spacecraft capable of sustaining prolonged human travel in deep space? What are the remaining logistical hurdles to solve in finally launching our first mission to Mars?
The creation of new global industries, companies, organizations, and partnerships has long been dominated by American innovators. In today's challenging world, the US is often playing catch up to new innovators in India, China and Europe. Is it too late for America to retain the lead? Has our entrepreneurial edge dulled? Will China and India "out innovate" us at our own game?
Featuring Michael M. Crow, President, Arizona State University; Santokh S.
There have been numerous reports and dialogs in recent years on the United States' shifting position as a leader in science, technology, and engineering. Yet our true status as a global leader at present and in the future remains unclear. Some have argued that we have already lost our edge while others suggest our situation is not as bad as it seems. What must we do now to ensure that we retain our position as a global leader in science and tech in an increasingly competitive sphere?
Attention-grabbing advances in robotics and neurotechnology have caused many to rethink the concept of human disability. A paraplegic man in a robotic suit took the first kick at the 2014 World Cup, for instance, and the FDA has approved a bionic arm controlled with signals from the brain. It's not hard to imagine that soon these advances may allow people to run, lift, and even think better than what is currently considered "normal"-challenging what it means to be human.
When today's toddlers are parents themselves, they will face an agricultural crisis. The world population will reach 9 billion. A growing global middle class will demand more food. And climate change will leave farmers holding seeds that won't sprout. By 2050, will our global appetite outgrow our agricultural capacity? Join us to find out how everyone-growers, technologists, governments, business leaders, and carbon-conscious consumers-will be part of the solution.
New technologies are making it easier than ever to turn an idea into a reality. 3D printers, open-source software, hackable products, and collaborative communities have turned traditional tinkering into a full-scale "maker movement" that allows -- and encourages -- everyone to tap into their inner entrepreneur. Can this movement usher in a new age of innovation? Will hackers have a profound impact on the economy? And if so, are we prepared for it?
In this keynote discussion, the speakers discuss the importance of exploring all our energy options. Featuring Craig Venter, founder, Celera Genomics, The Institute for Genomic Research, and the J. Craig Venter Institute; Steve Coll, President and CEO, New America Foundation.
Humans have had a complex relationship with technologies since prehistoric times, when tool-making and meat-eating coincided with brain development and greater social complexity. Nowadays, in this age of enhanced body parts and neurochemical mood modulators, humans are flirting with using technologies to transform ourselves from the inside out, as well as the entire planet. The boundaries between human and technology are eroding, rendering concepts such as "natural" and "artificial" increasingly obsolete.