This talk presents the effects of the learning technologies on knowledge and society, in the past and in the present; it also predicts what the effects will be in the future.

The talk is intended to display the sharing of knowledge through learning. It is specifically related to E-learning on the job, in the schools and in work-related training. In the past, Anderson and others have done several important works, in the 1980s and 1990s. Presently, there is a current project by the speaker that accomplishes its goal by developing a system that teaches algorithms to college students and employees at industries.

So, the talk describes, among other systems, the speaker's invention called CML+, an E-learning system. The motivation for this particular research is to note the capacity of the new information and communication technologies to transform learning relationships. Currently, there is lack of a system that teaches company employees crucial algorithms, and one that students can use to renew their knowledge of algorithms. There is also a current interest of government and industries in cognitive modeling that can act as an assistant.

In the future, there will be intelligent agents that teach and educate. These are the ones that access and manage distributed information and systems. Such agents provide information and assistance to both people and other software systems in network and web-based environments. Another major class is intelligent agents that behave, and frequently even look, like people. These virtual humans model, guide, educate, train, or entertain real people in simulation, web, and virtual environments. A third major class is robotic agents, which may include both mobile robots and distributed intelligent sensors that often act as a group to accomplish complex tasks in real world environments. Future CML+ will involve the testing of more algorithms, general expansion of the system, with voice recognition possibilities, and also the possibility of a goal-oriented system. Extensions that utilize the power of multimedia projects will be applied. Application of neural network techniques is also contemplated. Modern PDA-integrated technology will be applied.

Professor Allen's two recent books on this topic are FINANCIAL CRISES AND RECESSION IN THE GLOBAL ECONOMY (Edward Elgar, 1999), and THE POLITICAL ECONOMY OF FINANCIAL CRISES (Edward Elgar, 2004). The latter argues that a "political economy of financial crisis" is called for in order to give perspective to the key issues and processes that surround recent large-scale financial crises - in Asia, Latin America, and elsewhere - and to identify procedures that will help to avoid and manage crises. The former describes financial globalization processes, including the relations between advances in information processing technology, government deregulation of financial markets, the expansion and globalization of markets, and transfers of wealth and economic instability across the global system.

The International Technology, Knowledge and Society Conference is guided by the ideals of an open society, where technology is used to address human needs and serve community interests. Over three days, the conference will examine the nature of the new technologies, their connection with community, their use as tools for learning, and their place in a 'knowledge society'.

Main speakers include:
William Dutton, Oxford Internet Institute, Oxford University, UK
Telle Whitney, Anita Borg Institute for Women and Technology, USA
Michel Laguerre, Berkeley Center for Globalization and Information Technology, University of California, USA
Darin Barney, McGill University, Canada
Tim Luke, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, USA
For further information please visit the website: Technology Conference