Negroponte and MIT Media Lab Scholars Preview Future for Congressional Internet Caucus

7/19/2002

From: Megan Kinnaird of the Internet Education Foundation, 202-638-4370 or megan@netcaucus.org

News Advisory:

WHAT: Nicholas Negroponte and other MIT scholars will demonstrate many of the MIT Media Lab's cutting-edge technologies for the Congressional Internet Caucus on Capitol Hill on Wednesday, July 24. In addition to Professor Negroponte, the event will include the distinguished professors Walter Bender and Andrew Lippman. Negropante will speak to Members of Congress, Congressional staff and the press about the technologies of tomorrow and how they will affect the future of the Internet. Negropoonte and his scholars will also provide a peak at the digital future by demonstration some of the projects in development at the illustrious Media Lab. The Digital Future Series looks past the near future with speakers that try to predict and develop what the distant future may look like for technology. This glimpse into the future is important for policymakers who attempt to develop flexible policy frameworks that can nurture such technologies. The Congressional Internet Caucus Advisory Committee, in conjunction with the Internet Caucus and its Co-Chairs, Senators Leahy and Burns, and Congressmen Goodlatte and Boucher, will host this event.

WHO: The event will open with comments from both Senator Conrad Burns, co-chair of the Congressional Internet Caucus, and Congressman Mike Capuano, whose district includes MIT. Nicholas Negroponte will then address Members of Congress and Congressional staff. Negroponte, co-founder and director of the MIT Media Laboratory, was a pioneer in the field of computer-aided design. Author of the 1995 best-seller, Being Digital, Negroponte has long time been a luminary in the Internet world. Walter Bender, executive director of the MIT Media Laboratory, also directs the Electronic Publishing group and is a member of the laboratory's News in the Future consortium. Andrew Lippman is currently Associate Director of the Media Laboratory and lecturer. Lippman is co-principal investigator of the Television of Tomorrow research program, and principal investigator of the Media Bank Program. The MIT Media Laboratory was formed in 1980 and grew out of the many disciplines of MIT faculty members, from cognition and learning to electronic music and holography.

WHEN: Wednesday, July 24, 2002, beginning at noon. Lunch will be served.

WHERE: Reserve Officers Association First and Constitution Ave. NE Washington, D.C.

RSVP: For those planning to attend this event send an email to rsvp@netcaucus.org or call Danielle at 202-638-4370. Press welcome.

The Congressional Internet Caucus Advisory Committee hosts this event. For more information, please contact Megan Kinnaird or Catherine Parsons at 202-638-4370, http://www.netcaucus.org.