Tech meets art: IBM taps Hollywood for new ideas on the future

03 May 2008

For decades Hollywood has looked to science for inspiration, now IBM researchers are looking to Hollywood for new ideas, too. The entertainment industry has portrayed possible future worlds through science fiction movies, many created by University of Southern California's School of Cinematic Arts' famous alumni, and IBM wants to tap into that creativity.

At a kickoff event at the USC School of Cinematic Arts, five of IBM's top scientists met with students and alumni of the school, along with other invitees from the entertainment industry, to ''Imagine the World in 2050.''  The event is the first phase of an expected collaboration between IBM and USC to explore how combining creative vision and insight with science and technology trends might fuel novel solutions to the most pressing problems and opportunities of our time.

The IBM Team with the students and faculty of University of Southern California's School of Cinematic Arts
Ajay Royyuru	Bill Pulleyblank	Elizabeth Daley	Jeff Jonas	Richard Weinberg

The event was also aimed at giving filmmakers access to IBM scientists for new ideas about the trajectories of science and technology as they create new films and for IBM to tap into the ideas of Hollywood's current and future creative minds.

At the event, IBM researchers discussed the potential for self-healing spinal cords; embedded digital assistants that remember all you hear or say; the concept of ''longevity management'' for life-spans stretching past the century mark; drinkable, purified water everywhere; changes to the human genome; and many other insights into what the world might be like in the Year 2050 and beyond. 

While many of these ideas sound like science fiction, IBM scientists say that projects incubating today in IBM labs, and elsewhere, might just make them a reality. 

''We've long realised that radical innovation can be accelerated by tapping into the most creative talent we can find,'' said Don Eigler, fellow, IBM Research. ''Working with the USC School of Cinematic Arts is likely to give us a glimpse of the future that we never would have on our own. I expect sparks to fly.''