SUMMIT 2011: What CTOs Should Learn from Gaming

Over the past six months, you may have noticed an uptick of coverage in technology media of a new trend – Gamification. Wikipedia defines it as “The use of game play mechanics for non-game applications.” Game theory is beginning to be widely used to influence customer engagement, behavior and even employee productivity. Click here for a BusinessWeek article with examples of use of game theory at a broad range of companies: SAP, Hilton, Siemens, UPS, Nissan, Target, etc. Gartner has recognized the trend and issued a bold statement: “over half of innovation will be gamified by 2015.” Click here for a ZDnet story covering Gartners’ report in detail. Gartner is advising that “Enterprise architects, CIOs and IT planners must be aware of, and lead, the business trend of gamification, educate their business counterparts and collaborate in the evaluation of opportunities within the organization”. In addition, Venture Capitalists are beginning to fuel the trend. For example, on June 13th it was reported that: “Bunchball has raised a round of $6.5 million to expand its investments in gamification”. The CTO Roundtable sensed the trend early and is organizing our next Summit on “What CTOs should learn from Gaming?” This year’s CTO Summit features two leaders in the emerging field of gaming and entertainment technology, Don Marinelli and Alan Gershenfeld.

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
Don Marinelli
Executive Producer, Entertainment Technology Center, Carnegie Mellon University

Donald Marinelli is a tenured Professor of Drama and Arts Management at Carnegie Mellon University and is also the Executive Producer of the Entertainment Technology Center. Professor Marinelli is currently leading the expansion of the Entertainment Technology Center internationally with ETC branch campuses in Adelaide, Australia; Silicon Valley, California; and Osaka, Japan. Here is an interesting bog-post about Marinelli’s “Mini-Museum”

Alan Gershenfeld
Founder, President of E-Line Media

Alan has spent the last twenty years at the intersection of entertainment, technology and social entrepreneurship. He is currently Founder and President of E-Line Media, a publisher of digital entertainment that engages, educates and empowers, with a core focus on computer/video games. E-Line works with leading foundations, academics, non-profits and government agencies to harness the power of games for learning, health, and social impact.

WHEN: September 15, 2011 from 4 PM - 7:30 PM

WHERE: Center for Innovative Technologies (CIT)
2214 Rock Hill Road, Auditorium
Herndon, Virginia 20170-4228

SPONSORS
AT&T
EAI
FIS Global
Harris
LB3
Parature
Sphere of Influence

PARTNERS
Cvent
Center for Innovative Technology (CIT)