Keynote Addresses

Hugh Herr

Head of Biomechatronics Research Group, MIT

Tuesday, September 21
9:30am – 10:30am
Ballroom B, 3rd Floor

ESC Boston Keynote

Day 1 Keynote:
Hugh Herr is pioneering new research directions for a new class of biohybrid, "smart" prostheses; these devices are accelerating the merging of body and machine, improving the lives of amputees and other physically challenged individuals, and amplifying the endurance and strength of everyone. Herr has employed cross-bridge models of skeletal muscle to the design and optimization of a new class of human-powered mechanisms that amplify endurance for cyclic anaerobic activities. He has also built elastic shoes that increase aerobic endurance in walking and running. In the field of human rehabilitation, Herr's group has developed gait adaptive knee prostheses for transfemoral amputees and variable impedance ankle-foot orthoses for patients suffering from drop foot, a gait pathology caused by stroke, cerebral palsy, and multiple sclerosis.

Herr is the holder or co-holder of numerous patents, including the Computer-Controlled Artificial Knee (commercially available as the Rheo Knee), the Active Ankle-Foot Orthosis, and the world's first Powered Ankle-Foot Prosthesis. Herr received his BA in physics from Millersville University of Pennsylvania, an MS in mechanical engineering from MIT, and a PhD in biophysics from Harvard University. Prior to coming to the Media Lab, he was assistant professor at the Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology and the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School. He is the recipient of the Heinz Award in Technology, the Economy and Employment.

John East

CEO of Actel

Wednesday, September 22
9:30am - 10:30am
Ballroom B, 3rd Floor

CONVERGENCE: The Prequel

Everything is converging! Everything we touch seems to be getting smaller and smarter. How'd that happen!!? If you're part of the current crop of Gen X, Y'ers that make up over 60pct of today's engineers, you've mostly grown up with all things digital, and probably don't even think about it. But there are lessons to be learned and wisdom to be passed on by those who participated in the creation of the electronics industry as we know it.

John East is the chip industry's best, most entertaining story teller. Having started as a product engineer 42 years ago at Fairchild, he moved on and grew up at AMD, and then spent the last 22 years as CEO at Actel, having recently announced his retirement. His parting gift to us, is an hour of insight, humor and storytelling Silicon Valley version, as only John can tell. Lucky are those who have the chance to hear his story and experiences straight from his heart.

Mr. East brings nearly 40 years experience in the semiconductor industry to Actel. Prior to joining in 1988, he was a senior vice president at AMD, where he was responsible for the Logic Products Group and has held various marketing, engineering and management positions at Raytheon Semiconductor and Fairchild Semiconductor. East holds a bachelor’s of science degree in electrical engineering and a master’s degree in business administration degree from the University of California, Berkeley.