Females in IT and Telecommunications (FITT), Australia’s largest tech-focused women’s organisation, together with global leader in virtualisation and cloud infrastructure VMWare, have announced plans to host their ICT Trends event series to explore and discuss the latest technology trends and the implications for the sector in the year ahead.
For the first time, the events will focus on the practical uses of bleeding edge technologies such as 3D printing and artificial intelligence computing – and their impact in the home and at work.
Now in its 12th year, the ICT Trends event series brings together a diverse group of women and men for networking and learning and demonstrates the wide range of world leading careers and opportunities available to women in the ICT industry. This year’s events will take place in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane throughout the month of October.
The 2014 ICT Trends topics will include:
- Cognitive computing – and the ways in which this innovative, futuristic technology is used today to drive businesses across a wide range of industries, with cognitive computing systems like IBM Watson now able to process natural language, interact with people, propose and evaluate hypotheses… and learn along the way.
- Advances in 3D printing – and the implications that printing body parts and organs, food, makeup, weapons and machinery can have – socially, morally and economically.
- Emerging technologies that can affect our privacy and security – and the numerous ways in which they are starting to challenge and impact privacy on both an individual and organisational level. With the sci-fi technology that was previously reserved for blockbuster movies already a reality, it’s time to raise our risk awareness.
Industry leaders from Optus, IBM, Market Clarity and CSIRO will showcase these progressive technologies and share insights into future possibilities. Of particular note will be IBM’s Watson computer that thinks and learns for itself, giving attendees a sense of what can be achieved with sophisticated artificial intelligence.
VMWare and FITT are proud to be joined by Lia Timson, Technology Editor at Fairfax Media who will MC all the events and the Hon. Gordon Rich-Phillips, Minister for Technology, Victorian State Government who will deliver the welcome address at ICT Trends in Melbourne.
Other lead presenters and key innovations will include:
Sydney – 9 October, Shangri-La Hotel
- Belinda Tee, IBM – What is Watson?
- Jorgen Collinson, Optus – 3D Printing: What is it and why should I care?
- Sarah Evans, Market Clarity – Emerging Technologies & How They Will Impact Your: Security & Privacy.
Brisbane – 22 October, The Pullman Brisbane, King George Square
- Belinda Tee, IBM – What is Watson?
- Sam Canning, Queensland College of Art – 3D Printing – A Disruptive Technology.
- Sarah Evans, Market Clarity – Emerging Technologies & How They Will Impact Your: Security & Privacy.
Melbourne – Thursday 30 October The RACV Club
- Hon. Gordon Rich-Phillips, Minister for Technology, Victorian State Government – Welcome Address.
- John Barnes, CSIRO – The Future of 3D Printing.
- Melanie Roberts, IBM – Healthcare Transformations through Cognitive Computing.
- Shara Evans, Market Clarity – Emerging Technologies & How They Will Impact Your: Security & Privacy.
Early bird pricing closes Friday 12 September 2014. To register to be part of the 2014 ICT Trends Series, please visit here.
