Presenters

Dr. Herman's talk focuses on issues associated with disruptive innovation (both in business model and in technology) in large corporations, as exemplified by the role of HP Laboratories in creating HP's " e-inclusion" initiative within HP. The business rationale that multinational corporations can build profitable businesses addressing populations of individuals (members of the so-called "Base of the Pyramid", or BOP) who would typically be viewed as having insufficient income to purchase traditional "Western" products. Specific challenges facing ICT as the basis for sustainable development in developing economies, and a review of current activities to create and apply information technologies for the developing world.

BIOGRAPHY:
Dr. Gary Herman is currently Director of Emergent Systems at Hewlett-Packard Laboratories in Palo Alto, CA. For the past three years, he has been intimately involved with HP Lab's and HP Corporate's initiatives to build economically sustainable ICT businesses addressing markets in developing economies that have traditionally been denied the benefits of information technologies. His role has included establishing a new research laboratory in Bangalore, India, chartered specifically to shape and create technologies specifically for the needs of the BOP, as well as leading the Platforms and Solutions initiatives within HP's Emerging Markets Solutions organization. From 1994 to 2000, Dr. Herman led HP Labs' Internet and Mobile Systems laboratory, which contributed a variety of technologies and solutions to HP's business units. From 1977 through 1994, he served in a variety of roles associated with innovation in telecommunications services, infrastructure, and customer service delivery, in Bell Laboratories and Bellcore (now Telcordia). Dr. Herman received his Ph.D. in electrical engineering from Duke University in 1975.