April 5, 2002
Contact: Harvey Levenson
(805) 756-1108
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Future of Communication Technology is Focus of Talk April 15
What promise does the future of communication
technology hold? Will it really be possible to embed a device in the
human body that improves health and communication?
Lisa Wellman, a leader in online technology and strategies, will
explore such questions and talk about the breakthroughs, trends and
future of communication technology from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. April 15 in
the Christopher Cohan Center's Philips Hall.
Her talk, "What do Ubiquitous Computing, Neal Stephenson and Steven
Spielberg Have in Common?," kicks off Cal Poly's Liberal Arts Week,
April 15-19. It is also part of the Graphic Communication Department's
Distinguished Scholar Lecture Series 2002, "Communication Technology:
The Next 50 Years."
Wellman is president and CEO of CampusCE Corp., a firm that provides
course and facilities management and online registration services for
higher education institutions and corporate training centers.
"How people adapt and use technologies has always been surprising,"
Wellman said. "At best, we can only state probabilities and explore
possibilities.
"In a basic sense, communication is the process humankind uses to
survive in its quest to satisfy wants, needs and desires," Wellman
said. "Communication is the central issue of the next 50 years, and it
appears crucial that we give it thought if we are to survive our own
best efforts."
Breakthroughs in the past 10 years suggest new tools and applications
that will dwarf all technological progress to date, according to
Wellman.
"The criteria for product design have been smaller, faster, cheaper,
more powerful, with more storage and communication capabilities,"
Wellman said. "How far can we go in meeting these goals? Many suggest
far enough to embed in our environment -- and in ourselves -- devices
that enhance our health and communications capabilities."
Wellman has more than 20 years' experience in the high-tech industry.
She has served as vice president and spokesperson for Apple's worldwide
markets in publishing, entertainment and new media. She was also
director of marketing for Letraset, an early developer of graphic
design software for the Macintosh. She has served on the Cal Poly
Graphic Communication Department's Advisory Board.
A reception will follow Wellman's presentation. The public is invited
to the free talk and reception. For more information, call Cal Poly's
Graphic Communication Department at 756-1108.
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(NOTE TO EDITORS: For an electronic image of Lisa Wellman, please
contact Jo Ann Lloyd at (805) 756-1511 or jlloyd@calpoly.edu.)