Wednesday, February 19, 2003
Hewlett Packard Auditorium, 306 Soda Hall
4:00-5:00 p.m.

Dr. Lucian Hughes

Research Director, Accenture

Reality Online

Abstract:

The advent of increasingly cheap networked sensors, such as Smart Dust, create the potential to bring a high resolution real time digital copy of the world online. Accenture Technology Labs calls this trend "Reality Online." We believe this trend points to a world where businesses and consumers will go online to "surf" -- not the web so much -- as reality for business advantage and individual value. We will illustrate this future through a number of business and consumer "Reality Online" demonstrations (some of which have received a dramatic level of national business and consumer media attention).

Luke Hughes joined Accenture in 1993 and now directs the firm's Research laboratory in Palo Alto, California a unique facility which has earned an enviable reputation for innovation and leading-edge insights into the role of new and emerging technologies in shaping business strategy.

Hughes's researchers are charged with analyzing and applying emerging technology solutions to the challenges posed by the current "electronic economy" to customers, products and services, partners and alliances, enterprises, workers, and intellectual capital. Working closely with the world's leading providers of computing, communication, and content technologies, the group creates visionary application prototypes for the marketplace, extended enterprise, and enterprise of the future.

Dr. Hughes has specialized in development of advance technology-based business strategy throughout his career. Prior to his role as Research Director, he was co-founder and Vice President of Product Development for one of Accenture's start-ups. He also leads interactive sessions for Fortune 500 senior client executives, focusing on the business implications of technology trends and featuring research prototype solutions, through Accenture's Executive Workshop Program.

Dr. Hughes has been extensively featured by business and technology news and broadcast media around the world, including Forbes, ABC Nightly News, The New York Times, Investor's Business Daily, ZDTV, The San Francisco Chronicle, Information Week, and PC Computing. He has been a keynote speaker at large scale conferences such as Web 2000.

Dr. Hughes earned his Ph.D. in Computer Science with a specialization in Artificial Intelligence from Yale University. He lives in Palo Alto, California with his wife, three kids, and three dogs.