Plenary

Abstract

Alan Kay Alan Kay is best known for pioneering personal and laptop computers, and inventions of now ubiquitous overlapping-window interface (GUI), and modern object-oriented programming, as part of larger Advanced Research Projects Agency and Xerox PARC research communities. He likes to say No one owes more to his research community than I do. His deep interests in developing children's learning and thinking were catalysts for these ideas, and they continue to inspire his research. He has intertwined the professional jazz musician in his early years, avid classical pipe organist to present, deep involvements in theater and design) and the Sciences (which are also Arts) with a B.A. in Mathematics and Molecular Biology, with concentrations in Anthropology and English from University of Colorado at Boulder, M.S. (1968) and Ph.D degrees in Computer Science from University of Utah. Recognition includes ACM's Turing Award and Software Systems Awards, National Academy of Engineering's Draper Prize, Kyoto Prize, and other awards and honorary degrees. He is a Fellow of American Academy of Arts and Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, National Association for Advancement of Science, Royal Society of Arts, and Computer History Museum. Vishal Sikka Vishal Sikka is Director of Board, and Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director of Infosys. He is featured among top 50 CEOs in Glassdoor's annual Employees Choice Awards for Highest Rated CEOs in 2015. Prior to joining Infosys, Dr. Sikka was a member of Executive Board of SAP AG, leading all products and technologies, and driving innovation globally. In his 12 years at SAP, Dr. Sikka was instrumental in defining company's technology and product strategy and architecture. He is credited with creating in-memory data platform, SAP HANA. He accelerated SAP's development processes, bringing about a focus on design and user experience, transforming company's innovation culture, expanding engagement with startups and venture investing, and leading product incubation and co-creation with customers. He is also creator of concept of timeless software, which articulates principles for renewal of products without disruption to customer environments. He is especially known for his championship of technology as an amplifier of human potential, and his passion for applying software in purposeful ways to address some of biggest global challenges. His experience includes research in artificial intelligence, intelligent systems, programming languages and models, and information management -- at Stanford University, at Xerox Palo Alto Labs, and as founder of two startup companies. Dr. Sikka received his BS in Computer Science from Syracuse University. He holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science from Stanford University.