Date: September 22, 2010

Registration: 18:00-18:45 Salle Richemond

Welcome drink: 18:00-18:45 Salle Richemond

Presentation: Panel Discussion: 19:00 followed by a Buffet Cocktail


Place/Directions: Hôtel Lausanne Palace

In today’s fast-paced, technologically-driven world, our panel of experts will lead the discussion on how new technology is likely to affect our professional and personal lives over the coming years.

For better or for worse?


Are the latest technology trends likely to enhance or consume our lives?


A stimulating debate in store!

Our Panellists:

- Mr. Massimo CUNGI, Managing Director and Founding Partner 3Tmanagement, Milan

- Mr. Pascal EICHENBERGER, former Head LOGITECH Incubator, EPFL

- Mrs. Anja JACQUIN LANGER, Director Business Innovation, CISCO Systems GmbH, Rolle

- Mr. Frédéric NÖDL, Global Business Manager – Microsoft Global Accounts, Microsoft Switzerland , Geneva

With our discussions ably moderated by:

Dr. Trevor JOHNSON, former Dean BSL (Business School Lausanne)

Technology is moving at breakneck speed and nobody can deny technology has brought a good degree of comfort to our lives. While we might not be smarter because of recent technological innovations, these certainly appear to be pioneering the way to shaping our future and to eventually creating a Smart Universe.

Everything we do is somehow connected with technology. The latest trends affect the way we work and live - from genius software innovations that allow us to communicate and perform our business tasks more efficiently, to fascinating touchscreen devices making their way into the mainstream - and which could well herald the end of the physical button as we know it. Then there are all kinds of amazing innovations in medical technology. The very concept of time and distance have been totally revolutionised by innovations in the multi-media and the Internet. A world of information is now available at our fingertips - although sometimes the maze is such that perhaps it is time someone invented a GPS for data navigation!

While new and improved technologies allow us do more, quicker, they invariably accelerate the pace of our lives stressing us out even more than we already are. Is the ultimate really to be reachable 24/7 or is all this connectivity likely to consume our lives even to the extent of affecting our personal relationships? Is all this multitasking (be it phone, IM, music, tweet, web browse) not eventually to our detriment? Now on the threshold of the 4G era, our lives are likely to be even more solicited by the must-have constant-on-line mania. As more time becomes available to us with the efficiency of technology, does the demand not become greater? Are we not heading for a catch-22 scenario?

In the business world, lack of “face time” with working colleagues and counterparts can often lead to major misunderstandings, friction and huge problems. Children growing up today may be smarter than we are but while they may be proficient tweeters and generally techno-savvy, what are the repercussions of too little interaction with the real world?

There was a time when futuristic robot cars that communicate with each other and drive themselves were relegated to sci-fi movies or dream-prototypes. Now, after electric cars, these could be next on the technological horizon. Other, literally mind-blowing innovations, such as brain-reading are also starting to make the headlines with technology which could restore the sight of the blind or communicate with people who are completely paralysed. Other inventions such as subcutaneous radio-frequency I.D. (RFID)chips implanted in human beings appear a lot scarier.

So. how are new technologies and those in-the-making likely to improve the quality of life and transform our existences over the coming years? We look forward to the views of our panel of experts as they look into the great technological crystal ball, and also to your questions and input.

We are delighted to bring this event to you in collaboration with

Executives International

 

 

To reserve, please click here or go to to Executives International website here.