Keynote: Surviving in a Digital Life World
(or in other words, how to avoid digital death)

Dr. Andrew Lippman is the associate director of MIT's internationally influential Media Laboratory. In his more than 30 years at MIT, he has created research programs on entertainment, interactivity, networking, radio communications, personal computers, and graphics. As the creator and head of the Lab's Viral Communications program and co-director of MIT's interdisciplinary Communications Futures program, he is one of the world's foremost authorities on viral communication and how this explosive new development will transform the communications industry and business in general. He established and directs the Digital Life consortium, a $3 Million/year exploration of the impact of bits on personal, social and economic expression. He is co-principal investigator of the Television of Tomorrow research program and principal investigator of the Media Bank Program. His highly animated tours of technological possibilities and their unexplored impact on business, lifestyle and human understanding never fail to make a lasting impact.

Visual Communications: Turning today's hype into tomorrow's reality

Telepresence and HD have impacted the entire video industry, but not always in the intended ways. This session will look at the announcements and market trends of the past 18 months and discuss how vendors and customers are adjusting to new technologies, new market players, and new emphasis on using all resources wisely, including IT investments, human resources, and carbon footprint.

Andrew W. Davis is a founder, senior analyst, and managing partner at Wainhouse Research. His current focus is on visual communications markets and technologies. He has published numerous reports on videoconferencing and telepresence markets and strategies and is the analyst responsible for Wainhouse Research's quarterly SpotCheck reports that track developments in the worldwide videoconferencing industry. He holds two degrees in engineering from Cornell University and an MBA from Harvard Business School. More about Andrew.

The Challenge of Implementing UC

With new software players entering the arena; many are wondering, "do traditional hardware vendors face a threat in their market place"? Is UC the ultimate "airline magazine" article read by CxOs, that now causes their management team a nightmare to justify an ROI. This session will look at the reality of implementing Unified Communications in the enterprise, give an overview of the key players and ideas on creating a business case, and include a practical top-ten guide to moving towards a successful deployment.

Jon Neville is a Practice Consultant with Wainhouse Research with more than 25 years experience in the IT industry, the last 10 at a UK-based multinational company where he specialized in the deployment of IP networks, IP Telephony and Unified Communications. Jon helped this company deploy its global MPLS network and wrote the RFP and business case documents for its worldwide IP telephony upgrade initiative. He has considerable commercial experience negotiating contracts with large telecommunications and IT vendors. More about Jon.

Centralized Damage Appraisal Using Video Technology

Gerber Collision & Glass has implemented a high technology solution into its low technology business and is in the process of completely transforming its business model, lowering costs and improving customer service and top line revenues at the same time. This presentation will discuss how visual communications and remote expert domains can change the automotive claims industry, how Gerber conducted a test and overcame the challenges presented, detail the benefits derived, and describe how the company is using the technology as it moves forward.

Tim O'Day is the President of Gerber Collision & Glass, a company that currently operates 50 collision and glass repair centers in eight states as well as an auto-glass network.

Telepresence and Telepsychiatry: When the very best is finally good enough

In no medical specialty is it more important to establish a solid doctor-patient connection than in psychiatry. So when rural patients' only access to care is through a tele-video connection, it has to be as lifelike as possible, including the all-important dimension of solid eye-contact and proper depth to the image on each display. This presentation describes the experience of patients in rural Washington State who are receiving their care remotely through the medium of 3D telepresence videoconferencing display units.

Jess Jamison / Advances in Technology. Until recently, Jess Jamison, Ph.D. was president and CEO of Compass Health in Everett, Washington where he was involved in a variety of telemedicine programs. His experiences with videoconferencing technology have demonstrated where the technology is most effective and what some of the critical issues are in establishing patient-doctor trust and effective remote consultations.

The Power of Being There: Videoconferencing at the Federal Reserve Bank

The Federal Reserve Bank has been through two generations of videoconferencing solutions and is undergoing studies for a phase three that will encompass unified communications and desktop video as well as telepresence.

Anthony Scafide is responsible for the Customer Relations Department at the Federal Reserve Bank, including business development, the depository institutions outreach program, and videoconferencing on behalf of the Federal Reserve System.

Implementing a Successful Telework Program

The 200-year-old United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), with over 7,000 full-time staff, is at the cutting edge of the Nation's technological progress and achievements. The USPTO implemented a telework program in 1997 and currently has over 4,000 teleworkers. Telework is a key part of USPTO's strategic approach to timely, quality processing of patent and trademark applications with an extensive program that reflects a commitment from the Under Secretary to retaining employees and giving them the flexibility and tools they need to do their jobs. The USPTO's decision to incorporate telework as a corporate business strategy is helping reduce traffic congestion in the National Capital region and also enabling the USPTO to hire the highest quality employees while reducing real estate, recruitment, and retention costs. This presentation will discuss how the USPTO has gone about implementing a successful telework program, challenges overcome, benefits derived, and plans for moving forward.

Danette Campbell, Senior Advisor - Telework, United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)

Conferencing Services: Is this a new peak, the plateau, or just the beginning?

Consolidation in the industry suggests that this is the peak in the market for hosted audio and data conferencing and that future growth will continue, but at a slower pace. The growth of customer premise equipment (72% audio port growth in 2006) also suggests we are at a plateau for services as clients bring services in-house. In addition, emerging VoIP, UC, and mobile services may represent a new beginning for new services. This session will explore the current and emerging industry trends for hosted audio and data conferencing and offer potential scenarios for the future of the industry.

Marc Beattie is a founder and CSP Practice Manager at Wainhouse Research. He is the company's principle analyst for collaboration & conferencing services. Marc focuses on local market knowledge and currently tracks over 100 facilities-based CSPs operating in 21 local markets. He has authored numerous public and private studies on collaboration and is a featured speaker at both company and industry events. Prior to joining Wainhouse Research Marc was an early member of PictureTel and Polycom - holding positions in product management, business development and sales management. More about Marc.

Conferencing, Collaboration, and UC: What's happening today in China?

Conferencing, collaboration, and UC are in a state of flux in China. This short presentation will review what's happening the market, how the recent actions of the Chinese government are affecting the industry, and what to look forward to in the coming years.

Stacy Austin-Li Stacy Austin-Li specializes in market research and consulting related to Asia and China. Based in Beijing and fluent in Chinese, Stacy has worked more than ten years with the Asian marketplace accumulating expertise in localization of sales & marketing strategies, cross-cultural communication, and training. More about Stacy.

Mashup or Crashup? The Intersection of Video, Audio, and Data with VLE's, LMS's, Whiteboards, Lecture Capture, Mobile Devices, and Life in General

New collaborative technologies are blurring the lines between the classical "synchronous/asynchronous" distinctions and creating new models for educator/learner interactions. Many Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) / Learning Management System (LMS) platforms now support external 3rd-party real-time teaching capabilities. New developments in videoconferencing, web conferencing, and lecture capture systems are transforming education and training. This session will explore why this mashup is taking place, which tools make sense and which are more likely to remain extraneous, and how vendors and service providers can position themselves to support distance educators and trainers.

Alan D. Greenberg is a senior analyst and partner with Wainhouse Research, focusing on distance education and e-Learning, web conferencing, and mobile applications. He is primary author of the 3-volume Distance Education and e-Learning Landscape, co-author of Personal Mobile Video Communications at the Launchpad, and co-lead analyst on WR's WebMetrics program. A Burke-trained focus group moderator and interviewer, he holds a BA from Hampshire College and an MA from the University of Texas at Austin, TX, USA. More about Alan.

People, Products, and Applications…Oh the Places You'll Go

The State of Arkansas has deployed a multi-protocol interactive video network (supporting H.320 and H.323) that supports approximately 530 video systems and averages 20,000 conference hours a month. A majority of the usage of the State of Arkansas Interactive video network is educational (K-12 and higher education); however the network also supports Telemedicine, Criminal Justice, and Administrative conferencing. This presentation will discuss the politics, technology, applications, and business issues that are behind the scenes in a large scale deployment.

Enhancing Distance Education with Multimedia: Lessons for Building a Results-Oriented, Successful Business Model for Adult Distance Education

Drexel University's School of Education is one of the most successful adult-learner-oriented programs, currently offering over 70 courses online each quarter. The school strives to utilize synchronous and asynchronous multimedia technologies including audio, video, podcasts, and interactive simulations throughout course design. As enrollments continue to grow, the School faces new challenges and new opportunities. This presentation will discuss which business models make sense, how various applications are used to enhance course content, issues that have been encountered, and plans for the future.

Why Should I Use YOUR Technology for Distance Education? The Catbird's View of Technologies and User-Vendor Partnerships

This presentation will provide insight into what's happening in the trenches of one of the largest markets for conferencing and collaboration technologies: K-20. We'll discuss the classrooms, labs, content providers, hot technologies, and programs that are making K-20 the most dynamic arena for distance learning. CILC and its heavily used web portal sit at the crossroads between corporate benefactors, educators, and content providers, and we'll explore what works, what's needed, and the opportunities that many of today's vendors and service providers may be missing.

Chaos, Clouds, and University Computing: Why Both OCS and Sametime Make Sense for Collaboration and Data

The University of Kentucky has deployed Microsoft OCS and SharePoint Lotus Sametime, Cisco VoIP, Broadsoft, videoconferencing, web alerts, and a whole lot more to serve the needs of 14,000 faculty & staff and 27,000 students. The University recognizes it need to recruit the best students and hire the most distinguished faculty to be successful. Traditional university methods of communications are no longer effective and collaboration tools are the foundation for the future. Addressing the needs of a university is similar to serving a city of disparate users, with the need for order and efficiency at odds with chaos and entropy. Hear how one university - with teaching, healthcare, and learner needs - makes order out of chaos.

Secrets of the Temple - What Vendors are Missing for Today's Teaching and Learning Markets

The public sector can "get it" with or without vendor help. This session will explore the top ten things you need to know about succeeding with education and government for the next five years. Consider a future funded the old fashioned way; through advertising. Oregon's path to 21st century success has come about through a homegrown mashup of online applications, collaboration and communication tool tools, instructional Content, and yes, corporate advertising.

From Second Life to the Next Wave: Online Learning and Conferencing
the Sloan-C Way

How does a 1,500-member consortium navigate the waters of online learning? This talk will cover the mission and goals of the Sloan Consortium - and discuss the questions Sloan-C explores every day, from how online learning improves on face-to-face education to how synchronous vehicles like Elluminate and Second Life - along with asynchronous methodologies - aid and abet our workshops, conferences and symposia. Online learning has reached the cusp of mainstream education and training, and we'll discuss the ways in which Sloan-C members and the organization itself are adapting to change.

Social Networking: Ready or Not, It is Coming to the Enterprise - and School - and Training Lab

Social Networking is a rapidly growing phenomenon in the consumer online world. Although many enterprises may not realize it, this technology will have some profound implications for businesses of all types. This session will provide a brief overview of social networking functionality and how it can be used in an enterprise. Then we will examine the longer-term implications, the non-trivial risks, and what plans enterprises should be putting in place.

Panel: The Great Big 2008 Boston Summit Mashup

Does anybody besides the media and analysts care about social networking? Are OCS and Sametime really supportable in one organization? Is there really any future for today's content providers? Should adult learners just get back to work? This session will mix it up and let the day's speakers and audience decide if we've crashed up -- or mashed up -- these technologies successfully.