Press release no. 2 - Milan, July 10, 2008

SAVE THE DATE: September 8, 2008

WOMEN WHO ARE "INVENTING" TECHNOLOGY MEET IN MILAN

The conference Women&Technologies: research and innovation presents a new reality:
women are not only consumers, but protagonists and creators of technologies

In Milan, as part of the WCC, World Computer Congress 2008,
September 8, 2008, 9:30 am – 6:30 pm – Fiera Milano Congressi - Sala Rossa – MIC – via Gattamelata 5

Women and technology: a combination still trapped in too many stereotypes. The stereotyped image of a woman who is puzzled in front of a computer or intimidated by high technology is hard to die. Even harder to dispel is the view of technology as "ancillary" for women, limited to home automation or strictly instrumental use. Whether it's a remotely programmable oven or washing machine "to save time" or telecommuting "to keep an eye on the children".

Instead, the reality is very different, as you will discover during the conference Women&Technologies: research and innovation, and reveals a world of women who not only "use" technology, but actually create it, invent it, shape it according to their creativity, their needs, their curiosity, and give life to a technological universe with unexpected contours and absolutely innovative potential. Women researchers and talented women who operate within Universities, Companies, Public Administration. Not only that, but also "technovisionaries" who go beyond limits and have extraordinary and ingenious insights.

An innovation that is not only instrumental, but also conceptual. " Innovation is not just about creating new tools, but it is above all the ability to conceive problems differently and identify new objectives: I believe that women, as will emerge from the interventions of the speakers, have a lot to say on this matter," observes Gianna Martinengo, the creator and chairperson of the conference, who has dedicated her life as a researcher and entrepreneur to the relationship between research and innovation in ICT.

So, in this exciting conference, with excellent speakers from all corners of the world - from Brazil to Lithuania, from the United States to Greece, Tunisia, Canada to Japan, just to name a few - topics largely unexplored will be addressed, all with a specific feminine perspective.

We will talk, for example, about Art and affective computing, or how the domain of art has significantly developed thanks to digital technologies and how the recognition and creation of an emotional universe in people and avatars has become a key aspect of the success of many initiatives. And how women, always closer to disciplines such as art and psychology, will become creative protagonists in the use of next-generation technologies.

The theme of Interaction and dialogue in the Communities on the Web of the future will be addressed, and how the future scenario will see increasing interaction between people and technologies. Because, in any case, the "human" interlocutor can never be completely eliminated even by the most sophisticated robotics. And so, here are exquisitely feminine characteristics such as conversation, argumentation, and group management that will translate into an added richness and advantage in the use and development of technologies.

It will be analyzed how Innovation in businesses and institutions can become significant in the professional life and time management of women, with solutions such as video conferencing or telecommuting, which represent a help in dealing with the many daily tasks. And how women confirm themselves once again as acrobats and flexible, more open and willing to embrace the innovations of high technology, determined to transform them into a wealth that can improve the quality of their lives.

And a look at what is happening in our continent will come from Women and ICT in Europe, where the current situation will be photographed: how many women are there, where and how they work and produce technology, and what are the institutional initiatives, the framework and projects of the European Commission in favor of women who engage with technology.

Many themes and ideas, therefore, in an exciting and important conference, within the 20th edition of the prestigious IFIP WCC, World Computer Congress 2008, the most important event for the international scientific community of ICT, which for the first time takes place in Italy and involves the participation of over 2,000 highly qualified individuals from around the world.

A conference organized by Didael and the European Parliament (Milan Office), under the patronage of Viviane Reding, Member of the European Commission for Information Society and Media, which will see institutional greetings from Judith Bishop, CoChair International Program Committee WCC and Professor of Computer Science at the University of Pretoria; Diana Bracco, President of the special project Research and Innovation and Expo 2015 of Confindustria; Mariastella Gelmini, Minister of Education, University and Research; Linda Lanzillotta, Minister of the Shadow Government for Public Administration and Innovation; Simonetta Matone, Chief of Staff of the Ministry for Equal Opportunities; Filippo Luigi Penati*, President of the Province of Milan; Carlo Sangalli, President of the Chamber of Commerce of Milan.

Outstanding speakers from Italy and around the world will participate, along with three extraordinary Invited Speakers: Mariagiovanna Sami , from the Politecnico di Milano and a member of the Accademia Nazionale delle Scienze, detta dei XL; Maria Grazia Filippini , CEO and General Manager of Sun Microsystems Italia Spa; Pia Locatelli , Member of the European Parliament, Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality and the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy.

Women&Technologies: research and innovation It will be held on Monday, September 8, 2008, during the 20th edition of the IFIP WCC World Computer Congress 2008, from 9:30 am to 6:30 pm at Fiera Milano Congressi - Sala Rossa - MIC - via Gattamelata 5.

The complete program of the event and the updated list of speakers can be consulted on the portal.

For further information:
press@womentech.info
tel. 02.5418091