Negroponte leads speakers @ WCIT-06

Renowned technologist and co-founding chairman emeritus of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Media Laboratory, Dr. Nicholas Negroponte, has been confirmed as a guest speaker at this year’s World Congress on Information Technology (WCIT-06).

Slated to hold on May 4 in Austin Texas, WCIT will also have the Minister of State of Taiwan, Ferng-Ching Lin, Governor of Texas, Rick Perry, Vice President of Argentina, Daniel Scioli, Prime Minister of Malaysia, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, and many other distinguished foreign officials and well-known ICT leaders.

Dr. Negroponte, who is to lead other special guest at the occasion, is a founder of WiReD magazine and chairman, One Laptop Per Child (OLPC), a non-profit organization dedicated to creating and distributing the $100 laptop.

He is billed to present an update on the progress of One Laptop per Child and lead a lively discussion on the provision of hardware and digital access to children around the world.

Another fascinating aspect of WCIT-06 is that delegates will come and go, but free wireless access in downtown Austin is being deployed by Cisco Systems, Inc.

The City of Austin, and WCIT 2006 would serve as legacy on Austin city afterwards.

Work, however, have advanced according to the organizers in building a wireless internet network that will cover downtown and other large corners of the city.

“The digital “cloud” will remain available to Austinites in perpetuity after the closure of the 15th World Congress” WCIT official said.

Also there would be on May 3, a welcome party for delegates which would have in attendance some notables from the Texas business community.

A special welcome would be accorded newest delegations from eight countries including El Salvador, Israel, Kazakhstan, Mali, Taiwan, Trinidad & Tobago, The Republic of the Congo, and Vietnam.