{"id":267102,"date":"2017-09-07T07:42:50","date_gmt":"2017-09-07T11:42:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/newscenter\/?p=267102"},"modified":"2018-06-01T12:53:03","modified_gmt":"2018-06-01T16:53:03","slug":"conference-expo-puts-spotlight-light-sound-technologies-267102","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/newscenter\/conference-expo-puts-spotlight-light-sound-technologies-267102\/","title":{"rendered":"Conference, expo puts spotlight on light and sound technologies"},"content":{"rendered":"

Drawing on deep expertise in light, music, and optics, a new initiative aims to showcase Rochester\u2019s leadership in the growing fields of imaging and audio technologies.<\/em><\/h3>\n

Rochester has the ingredients to create its own Silicon Valley in emerging imaging and audio technologies.<\/p>\n

The pieces are in place to establish Rochester as a leader\u2014and the next step is to make sure the community realizes that and then to let the world know it, too.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s the vision of the organizers of Light and Sound Interactive<\/a><\/strong>. The new conference and expo, which takes place September 12 to 14, will feature three days of presentations, panel discussions, demonstrations, trade show exhibits, and networking opportunities to showcase how Rochester can play a leading role in such growing fields as augmented and virtual reality (AR\/VR), and interactive games and media.<\/p>\n

\"Mark
AUDIO ENGINEERING: As an engineer, Mark Bocko has developed ways to improve audio technology for applications like flat-screen displays. (University photo \/ Bob Marcotte)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cWe want to help Rochester move up the value chain,\u201d says Mark Bocko, director of the Center for Emerging and Innovative Sciences (CEIS)<\/a><\/strong> and one of the conference organizers. \u201cHistorically, companies like Kodak had a direct connection to consumers. Everyone knew the Kodak brand, and everyone knew the enterprise. We want to spur the growth of high-value enterprises in our region with direct connections to consumers.\u201d<\/p>\n

A partnership between the University and the Rochester Institute of Technology, along with area businesses, trade, and civic organizations, and other groups, the conference is designed to highlight the range and depth of the expertise and talent in the Rochester region. The conference also serves as a segue to the KeyBank Rochester Fringe Festival, an arts and cultural showcase that employs many of the technologies featured in Light and Sound Interactive.<\/p>\n

Scheduled keynote speakers include Academy Award\u2013winning director Ang Lee and Oscar-winning cinematographer Rob Legato. Jeff Lieberman, a scientist, artist, and host of the Discovery Channel series Time Warp<\/em>, and Ainissa Ramirez, a science evangelist who is widely recognized for her campaigns to attract the next generation of scientistsand technologists, are also special guests.<\/p>\n

\"Ainissa
KEYNOTES: Science evangelist Ainissa Ramirez (left) and Academy Award\u2013winning cinematographer Rob Legato are among the keynote speakers for the inaugural conference. (Photos: Alamy, Legato)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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What Rochester offers<\/h4>\n
    \n
  • The largest cluster of optics, imaging and photonics companies in the nation.<\/li>\n
  • Two major universities (University of Rochester and RIT) with world-class expertise and innovative programs in vision science,
    \noptics, music, audio engineering, cinema, animation, and many other related fields.<\/li>\n
  • A rich heritage of innovation and entrepreneurship.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n

    But the real \u201cchemistry\u201d of the event\u2014the interactive part, says conference producer Paul Ballentine of CEIS\u2014will occur at 67 panel discussions and workshops featuring researchers and entrepreneurs from the Rochester area and across the country. They will discuss work in seven key areas: virtual and augmented reality, games and interactive media, cinema, music and audio, imaging, displays and lighting, health care, and optics and photonics.<\/p>\n

    \u201cThe presentations are designed to be accessible to students, technologists, scientists, entrepreneurs, and artists. And they are meant to be thought provoking,\u201d says Bocko, who holds the title of Distinguished University Professor and is chair of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

    \u201cWe want people to appreciate the vastness of the resources that we have in this community, and to get them excited about the potential this holds to build new businesses and enterprises in this area.\u201d<\/p>\n

    Bocko and Ballentine say the inspiration for LSI came from South by Southwest Interactive in Austin, Texas, an offshoot of the renowned music and film festival. The interactive technology showcase there has helped drive the tech sector in that city.<\/p>\n

    \u201cYou go to Austin and the city is full of confidence, with major companies moving in and people of all descriptions starting companies,\u201d Bocko says. \u201cYou go to Silicon Valley, and it\u2019s the same \u2018anything is possible\u2019 kind of attitude.<\/p>\n

    \u201cWe want Rochester to be just as enthusiastic about its own future.\u201d<\/p>\n