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Computers will never acquire common sense; therefore, humans
will always be useful and necessary. Even in the next century,
robots will not attain the intelligence required to compete
with the human race. This was the central conclusion drawn
from the conference "Cruising Towards the New Economy",
which took place on Sunday, June 17th, that gathered more
than 250 representatives from the business and academic world
of the New Economy. This innovative event was organized by
iForce Communications in collaboration with Newcroft Conferences
& Conventions.
The conference was initiated by the Presidents of iForce
Communications and Newcroft Conference & Conventions, Fokion
Zaimis and Christos Stoforopoulos, respectively, stressed
the importance of such an event for Greece because it combined
distinguished speakers and delegates with the beauty of the
Greek isles.
In less than 20 years, the price of microchips will be so
low, that they will be on of the greatest sources of rubbish
on the planet. At the same time, they will be dispersed everywhere,
invisible, like the wiring that provides us with electricity,
yet such a large and necessary part of everyday life. The
keynote speaker, Dr. Michio Kaku, astonished the participants
with his ease in describing how the next 20 years will affect
human kind. According to research performed by Dr. Kaku and
his colleagues, the smartest robot has the intelligence of
a retarded cockroach, nowhere near the brainpower possessed
by a human being. Dr. Kaku also discussed Moore's law, which
states that computer power doubles every 18 months, leading
to the revolution which will make chips as readily available
and inexpensive as paper. "Soon, microchips in your clothing
will monitor your blood pressure and alert you when something
is wrong" pointed Dr. Kaku. The above deductions were achieved
by Dr. Kaku's interviews with more than 150 world-renowned
scientists for his book "Visions".
The cruise and conference sailing to the islands of Aegina
and Hydra had many other important speakers as well. Professor
George Doukidis from the Athens University of Economics,
the President of Heltran Networks, and the e-Commerce Commission
of the Ministry of Development, stressed the important
role education will have on new technologies. Prof. Doukidis
underlined that in the next few decades, universities need
to change the manner in which they function so as to adapt
to the new market more efficiently.
Among the speakers, John Kamatakis, the President
of MLS Firmware, mentioned the new rules governing global
restructuring, as well as electronic publishing and distribution.
Dr. George Triantaphyllou, Ph. D. Yale University, Telesis
Securities Derivatives Market Maker, commented that in
the last years, our civilization has been marked by an increasing
global interdependence while he explored the impact that electronic
trading has on the shape of the modern world of finance.
Efstathios Gourdomichalis, Executive Director of Gourdomichalis
Naftiki Eteria and Free Ships SA discussed shipping related
New Economy Ventures, while Dr. Gerrit Jan van Zoelen,
member of the Board of Directors of Hermes Ventures and General
Manager at Connexion Holding in Weert, Holland, stressed
the importance of good client relations in providing the best
possible internet solutions, and Massimo Miazzetto, Sales
Director of Greece and Israel discussed the role of B2B
e-commerce in the New Economy.
A portion of the conference proceeds will be donated to the
food, clothing, and toy bank of Patras, which aims
at covering the basic needs of the homeless citizens of Patras,
as well as The National Marine Park of Alonissos-Northern
Sporades, the home of the Mediterranean Monk seal,
which seeks to protect and preserve the ecological equilibrium
of the island.
The conference closed with gifts given to the speakers by
Mr. George Potamianos, who stressed the need for more social
sensitivity that is not currently evident with the current
state of technological progress and Mr. Karras, President
of the Hellenic Society for the Protection of the Environment
and Preservation of Cultural Heritage, who outlined the goals
and history of the organization . Mr. Petros Rigatos, the
Vice-Mayor of Patras, expressed his gratitude to Mr. Fokion
Zaimis for his contribution to the food, clothing, and toy
bank with a commemorative medal.
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