For the third consecutive year, top executives, investors, entrepreneurs and academics will converge in Atlanta next week to discuss the rapidly changing media landscape and the trends driving that change.
The gathering is due to FutureMedia Fest 2011, a three-day conference packed with panel discussions, workshops, keynote speeches and research demos all focused on “exploring the media’s disruptive power on people and business.” Organized by the Georgia Tech Institute for People and Technology, the event runs from Nov. 15-17 at the Georgia Tech Hotel and Conference Center. This year, a number of ATDC employees and member companies will participate in the discussion.
“It’s wonderful to see that FutureMedia has acknowledged the role of startups and the power they yield in the media space,” said Nina Sawczuk, Director of Startup Services and General Manager of ATDC. “This event is a great networking opportunity for many of our members and provides a global glimpse of some of the trends impacting the media environment.”
Throughout the Fest, startup companies and researchers will present demonstrations of the latest technologies from Georgia Tech students and outside businesses. Among the speakers will be representatives from ESPN, Turner Broadcasting System, Twitter, Mashable, The Coca-Cola Company and Cox Media Group. Panel topics will range from sports entertainment and civic engagement to emergency response, entrepreneurship, advertising, gaming, television, computational journalism and the Georgia film industry.
Sawczuk will join several other industry leaders in a discussion about Entrepreneurship in a Noisy World, while ATDC Entrepreneur-in-Residence Hezi Moore leads a “Birds of a Feather” discussion on content integrity. In addition, current and graduate ATDC member companies including Scoutmob, OpenStudy, PlayON! Sports, Preparis, IdeaString, BLiNQ Media, CodeGuard, CubeVibe, Cooleaf, Digital Assent, Jigsaw Meeting, LiquidTest, Merlin Mobility, Mogley, Proximus Mobility, Regator.com, Social Fortress, Soket, TripLingo, Whisper Communications, Xsporture and Zooz Mobile will all be featured in various aspects of the event.
Last year’s FutureMedia Fest drew more than 750 attendees and was viewed online by thousands of people from nearly 80 different countries. Organizers say this year’s event is expected to be even bigger.
“There is really something for everyone in the digital, social or multimedia industry, whether student age or CEO level,” said Erin Dowdy, a spokesperson for FutureMedia. “The quality of the speakers giving the keynotes and the people on the panels is outstanding. One of the best things about it is the price point. For only $150, you can get inside the minds of these incredible innovative thinkers and businesspeople.”
To learn more about FutureMedia Fest 2011, view the schedule, and register, visit http://futuremediafest.gatech.edu/.