The theme for day one of the program is “The Digital Eye”: state of the art technologies being developed to capture and store data that faithfully reproduces the human experience of vision – ultra-high image quality, motion, depth and more.
The program will kick off with a keynote address delivered by John Loiacono, senior vice president, Adobe Creative Solutions Business Unit. Loiacono, who is responsible for the development, delivery and marketing of Adobe’s entire creative software portfolio.
The subsequent sessions will include presentations, technology demonstrations and panel discussions, with several key topics organized into “clusters” that enable bringing different types of approaches to bear on the issues, providing more stimulation and engagement for attendees. These clusters will include:
Resolution, dynamic Range and sensitivity – An exploration of projected developments in these key camera performance areas, with notable speakers such as Bill Crow, principal program Manager, HD Photo, Microsoft Corp.; Chuck Westfall Director, Media & Customer Relationship, Canon; Mike McNamara Executive Technology Editor, Popular Photography magazine; and noted photographer and author Mikkel Aaland.
The Visual Recollection cluster will feature leading-edge research on face detection and identification from across the world, and the latest developments relating to the geo-imaging infrastructure. Speakers will include Marian Stewart Bartlett, Ph.D., Associate Research Professor at the Institute for Neural Computation, UCSD and co-director of the Machine Perception Lab; Ariel Shamir, visiting Scientist at the Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories, Eyal Ofek, Principal Lead Researcher for the Virtual Earth program, Microsoft; Eric Zarakov, Vice President of Marketing, Fotonation and Anthony Fassero, CEO and Founder of Earthmine.
The program for day one will close with 6Sight’s popular Financial Roundtable, where a panel of influential financers moderated by Mark Kalow Managing Directorof the Soquel Group discusses the revenue and profit potential of the technologies presented earlier in the day.
Attendees will then proceed to the private dinner reception and networking event at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, featuring attractions like “Wild About Otters”, “Living Art of the Jellies” and the visiting Great White shark.
The day two program will focus on the concept of Visual Voice – the explosive worldwide mainstreaming and democratization of image-rich communications, driven by miniaturization, decreasing costs and pervasive communication networks.
The leadoff presentation will be a keynote address entitled “Three Billion Cameraphones Later – The Instant Visual Revolution,” by FullPower CEO Philippe Kahn. Widely acknowledged as “the father of the cameraphone”, Kahn, who has been recognized by BYTE Magazine as one of the 20 most important people in the history of the computer industry and one of the true creative geniuses of software technology, is among the most innovative and dynamic leaders in the imaging and wireless businesses.
Kahn’s keynote will be followed by an Analyst Roundtable panel, where the leading imaging analyst firms will debate their views on the most significant opportunity and/or challenge in the industry, with a 2010 horizon. Moderated by Kristy Holch, founder of InfoTrends and independent writer, and analyst, the discussion will feature Steve Hoffenberg, Director, Consumer Imaging Research, Lyra Research Inc; Ed Lee, Director of the U.S. Consumer Services and Director for the Digital Photography Trends Services, InfoTrends; Marion Knoche, Global Manager, GfK Marketing Services; Gary Pageau Publisher, Content Development and Strategic Initiatives, PMA; Ron Glaz Sr. Research Analyst, Digital Cameras and Scanners, International Data Corp (IDC) and Paul Worthington, Lead Analyst for Consumer Markets with Future Image Inc. and Editor of The Future Image Report.
The Visual Storytelling cluster willthen explore new technologies that are enabling average people to easily and inexpensively tell their stories, not just through single images, but in sophisticated narrative forms. Presentations in this cluster will showcase initiatives that teach school-age kids to express themselves in photo book form, and leading-edge use of the Web as a distinct publishing medium for visual documentaries. Speakers, presenters and panelists include multimedia pioneer Katrina Hooper- Woolsey; FusionSpark Media CEO, Russell Sparkman; PhotoWorks CEO, Andy Wood, and Ed Monahan, Worldwide Strategy Director, EastmanKodak Co.
The Mobile Imaging cluster will include new technology demonstrations, the annual “State of the Industry” presentation by Future Image Lead Analyst Tony Henning, Editor of The Mobile Imaging Report, and a panel discussion on the topic of “Mobile Imaging: Feast or Famine?” led by mobile imaging pioneer Pierre Barbeau, formerly of Sprint PCS where he launched the first cameraphone on the U.S. market and Sprint’s revolutionary Picture Mail service – currently CEO of Moblico.
The Rise of the Amateur cluster will examine how improvements in equipment performance brought about by the digital age have enabled a new group of creative and talented amateurs to create high-quality visual content in large quantities, and the significance to the imaging industry. Presentations regarding the historical role of the amateur in driving the imaging industry; and how to build new business models around high-quality amateur content will precede a panel discussion. Speakers include Anthony Bannon, Director, George Eastman House; Paul Cloutier, Editor and Publisher JPG Magazine and Evan Nisselson, Founder and CEO of Digital Railroad.
Throughout both days attendees will see demonstrations of new imaging technologies from some of the industry’s top innovators including ABBYY, DigitalRailroad, FogScreen, Fujifilm, Eastman Kodak, PureDepth, Scalado, Varioptic, and Zoran, and have the opportunity to interact with their creators during breaks at the adjacent 6Sight New Tech Fair.
Attendees will also have the opportunity to contribute their photographic talents in “Two Days At 6Sight”, a limited edition book featuring the best images taken by the participants at the event, and edited by none other than Rick Smolan who pioneered the genre with his best-selling “America 24/7” and most recently “America At Home” book and web site projects, and is also known for his milestone “Day in the Life of” book series. Each attendee will receive a complimentary copy of the book as a memento.
Event corporate supporters include, Adobe, EZPrints, FotoNation, Hewlett-Packard, Microsoft, Nethra Imaging, PhotoWorks and WebShots. Technology presenters include ABBYY, DigitalRailroad, FogScreen, Fujifilm, Eastman Kodak, PureDepth, Scalado, Varioptic, and Zoran. Media and Association supporters include American Photo, DIMA – a PMA member association, International Contact, "IntoTomorrow" with Dave Graveline, JPG Magazine, Popular Photography, Picture Business, PMA magazine, and Popular Photography Magazine.
To obtain more information and to register for the 6Sight – Future of Imaging conference, visit www.6Sight.com. A limited number of sponsorship opportunities remain available, for more information, contact Joe Byrd at JByrd@6Sight.com .
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