THURSDAY MORNING LECTURE SERIES
Information Technology and Its Effects on Us
The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Michigan,
Ann Arbor recently presented a fascinating six-part lecture series.
The topics included:
Intelligent Assistive Technology: The Present and the Future
– Martha E. Pollack, MSE, Ph.D. An expert in the area of artificial
intelligence, Dr. Pollack has conducted research on automated plan
generation, temporal reasoning, adaptive interfaces, and natural language
processing. Currently her primary research interest is in the design
and exploration of assistive technology for people with cognitive
impairment, a topic about which she testified before the US Senate
Subcommittee on Aging.
Technology Advancements Providing a New Model for Medical
Education – Pamela B. Andreatta, Ed.D, MFA, MA. Technology
advancements have provided a new model for medical education that
benefits patients and clinicians alike. The use of robotic patients,
computerized models, and virtual reality all provide life-like contextual
learning environments for novice physicians and other healthcare providers
to practice and hone skills prior to interacting with live patients.
This is an area of tremendous growth that has radically altered the
way clinicians train and are assessed in the practice of medicine.
Personal Identity: Elements, Use, Theft, and Protection
– Virginia Rezmiersi, Ph.D. Dr. Rezmierski will speak on the
topic of identity theft and include information about current law,
identification, authentication, authorization, incidents of identity
theft, means to protecting oneself, RFID tags, and other emerging
technologies that have privacy implications.
Virtual Reality: The Technology and its Applications –
Klaus-Peter Beier, Ph.D. Dr. Beier will illustrate the development
and current technologies of virtual reality and explain the fascination
that surrounds these computer-generated virtual worlds. The many applications
of virtual reality in areas like business, research, education, training,
and entertainment will be demonstrated by showing selected examples.
Pixels vs. Pixies: Information Technology and its Influence
on the Creative Process in Entertainment – Jerry H.
Bilik. During the past few decades, emerging information and digital
technology has greatly influenced and reshaped the production and
performance process of most entertainment media – films, TV,
direct-to-video, recorded and live musical performances, stage plays,
circuses, ice shows, etc. Using as an example the creation of the
annual edition of “Disney on Ice,” which he has written
and directed for many years, Mr. Bilik will describe the changes that
have occurred and their impact on both preparation and performance
of the shows. He will also outline the changes he foresees within
the next decade and discuss the implication of information technology
in terms of “live performance” and entertainment in general.
How Information Technology is Changing Learning at the University
of Michigan – John L. King Ph.D. Dr. King has played
a vital role in the use of information technology at the University.
He has authored over 150 books and papers based on his research in
this field.
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