- Conference Speakers
Topics:
- Technology & Futurology
Ian Pearson
IAN PEARSON, BT's Futurologist, presents his insights into the future of many aspects of our daily lives - from work to leisure, and from capitalism to the care economy.
Ian graduated in 1981 in Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics from Queens University, Belfast. He spent four years in Shorts Missile Systems, in many different disciplines from mechanical engineering to battelefield strategy simulation. He joined BT Laboratories in 1985, analysing the performance of computer networks and protocols (especially OSI). After two years he moved to the Local Access Division where he helped develop ATM transmission over optical networks and invented Addressed Time Slicing.
In 1990 he moved to the Network Studies Unit, where he worked on evolution of broadband networks and services (and invented the Active Contact Lens and 3D Wand computer interfaces). Since 1992, he has worked in the Advanced Research Department, in the Cybernetics, Networks and Mobile Systems groups. He now concentrates on mapping the progress of new developments throughout information technology, considering both technological and social implications. He currently works as BT's futurologist in C2G, BT's Communications Consultancy Group.
He was awarded the Best Paper award at the FITCE Conference for his first externally published paper and has since received seven other awards for published papers, including the IEEE Benefactors premium and the IBTE Journal Best Paper Award.
