Ninth Annual CIO Forum

“Empowering Consumers with Information Technology”

The University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business hosted yet another successful CIO Forum Friday, Nov. 7, 2008 at Van Munching Hall, presented by the Center for Electronic Markets and Enterprises (CEME), the Center for Health Information and Decision Systems (CHIDS), and the Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship. With the daylong event’s theme as “Empowering consumers with information technology,” the keynote speech was given by Jim Mazarakis, chief technology officer and vice president of T. Rowe Price Group, Inc. Mazarakis began the day with a presentation that prepared the attendees for a day of consumer technology-based discussion. He reviewed “prehistoric” versions of modern-day electronics, taking the time to list and show images of each antiquated piece of technology that has now been synergized into a device such as the iPhone or the Blackberry. He also made mention of Web 2.0, wherein many services available online are synergized into comprehensive, information-packed programs, some of which are even able to interact with other household appliances via wireless Internet. An example given is the Beyond Microwave, which uses barcoding and information found online to “know” how cook certain foods.

Mazarakis led the discussion one step further, encouraging audience participation as he asked what technology they would like to see in the near future. Many responses focused around saving time and sources of energy; one participant looked forward to implantable GPS devices for pets, and later, people. Another looks forward to controlling her house’s climate remotely from her Blackberry. Others briefly discussed the possibility and merits of a universal Internet currency to transcend paper money.

Attendees later heard from other venerable speakers, including Charles Beard, the chief information office of SAIC, who led an engaging discussion titled, “It’s All About Trust.” Senior Vice President and Chief Information Office of the University of Maryland Medical System, Jon Burns, addressed information technology in health care with his talk: “Driving Change in the 21st Century Practice of Medicine.” John Chickering, CRM, CDIA and vice president of Fidelity Investments, stuck close to the event’s theme with his dialogue, “Thoughts and Questions on Empowering Customers with Information.”
The afternoon panel discussion, “Creating Trust in Online Settings” was moderated by Smith's Dr. Il-Horn Hann, and included panelists Joel Selzer, CEO, Ozmosis, Inc.; David Silversmith, former CIO, Carfax; Lygeia Ricciardi, Special Advisor, Center for Democracy and Technology (CDT); Peter G. Helten, Director of Strategy & Product Planning, Sage Software Healthcare, Inc.; and Steven L. Woda, Chairman, buySAFE.

Attending CIOs gained insight into how to engage and empower consumers through advances in the multi-faceted world of information technologies, and the forum session addressed protecting consumer information in a world where personal information is readily available online.

Established in 1999, the CIO Forum is a yearly meeting of top chief information officers, technology strategists, and academic researchers, in mid-Atlantic states. Events are highly interactive and focus on the most important issues confronting technology strategists in the emerging digital economy, including e-commerce, the IT talent shortage, Internet strategy, multi-sourcing, next generation architectures, and other topics. Please check back next summer for details and registration information for the Tenth Annual CIO Forum.