Amplified Leicester

Andy Miah: Mashing-Up Computing & Biology: From Digital Bodies to Enhanced Humans

This presentation discusses the emerging era of human enhancement as an interface between cultures of computing and biology. It argues how the future of humanity will depend largely on its ability to accumulate biocultural capital, while faced with the environmental imperative to ensure sustainable adaptation.

Professor Andy Miah, BA, MPhil, PhD, is Chair of Ethics and Emerging Technologies in the Faculty of Business & Creative Industries at the University of the West of Scotland, Fellow of the Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies, USA and Fellow at FACT, the Foundation for Art and Creative Technology, UK. http://www.andymiah.net

One of a series of private events for Amplified Leicester participants.

J.P. Rangaswami: Preventing path pollution

We live in an age of information overload, and we have to find ways of simplifying our access to information, of assessing the quality of the information and of passing the information on. There are many constraints and assumptions - physical, economic and social - that tend to prevent information from flowing freely; and many battles to be fought and won to keep our information pathways free from pollution and accessible to everyone.

JP Rangaswami is the Chief Scientist for BT, reporting to Al-Noor Ramji the CEO of BT Innovate & Design. He has extensive international experience in IT and financial services companies and is passionate about innovation, information and how it is used, and education. He is a fervent blogger www.confusedofcalcutta.com, tweeter www.twitter.com/jobsworth and a regular speaker at industry events, particularly on innovation and opensource.

One of a series of private events for Amplified Leicester participants.

Keith Perch: Writing for news-based social media

Keith Perch, who took over as Acting Editor of the Leicester Mercury in February 2009, has spent more than 30 years working in the media industry.

He began his career as a trainee reporter on the Grimsby Evening Telegraph in June 1978 and then worked on the Derby Evening Telegraph as a political reporter before moving to the Birmingham Post and Mail where he worked on special investigations. He then returned to Derby as, firstly, news editor and then deputy editor, with a stint as assistant editor at the Hull Daily Mail in between.

Keith became Editor of the South Wales Echo in Cardiff in the early 1990s before returning yet again to Derby as Editor in 1997.

From October 2000, he spent eight years involved in the digital businesses of Northcliffe Media Group (publishers of papers such as the Leicester Mercury, Nottingham Post and Derby Telegraph) and Associated Newspapers (the Daily Mail, London Evening Standard and Metro).  He was Editor and Managing Director of Northcliffe Electronic Publishing before moving on to be MD of the Digital Publishing division of the newly formed joint business Associated Northcliffe Digital.

Keith is married and has three children.  His other interests include football, access to information and social media.

Twitter  Blog

Keith will speak to Amplified Leicester participants about writing for news-based social media.

Duncan Wilson: Thinking like a Futurist

How do designers explore the potential impacts of the changing world around them? Can we predict the future? Duncan will introduce how Arup think about shaping a better world through their ‘Drivers of Change’ research programme, their ‘STEEP’ approach to exploring the diverse factors impacting our cities and the tools they use to create ‘Plausible Futures’.

As part of the Foresight Innovation and Incubation team at Arup, Duncan is responsible for researching medium and long term futures with a focus on social and technology factors. He develops foresight and innovation capability within Arup, co-created the Drivers of Change concept and programme manages a series of workshops on the future of the built environment.

Twitter

One of a series of private events for Amplified Leicester participants.