Peter Marks, Ping Fu to Keynote Convergence 2008 Conference

By DE Editors

Peter Marks

Ping Fu

Peter Marks, managing director of Design Insight, and Ping Fu, president and CEO of Geomagic, will share their visions for the future of digital design and manufacturing at Convergence 2008, March 4–6, 2008, in Research Triangle Park, NC.

Convergence 2008 will unite Geomagic developers, users, and technology partners to explore new applications, best practices, and innovation in digital shape sampling and processing (DSSP). DSSP closes the loop between physical products and their digital representations, resulting in faster product development, better quality assurance, and the ability to customize for individualized form and function.

Peter Marks is an internationally recognized expert in new product development and the tools that support it. He coined the phrase DSSP in a 2005 Blue Book written for the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) titled Capturing a Competitive Edge through Digital Shape Sampling and Processing.

Marks’ Convergence 2008 presentation, titled “Tread Lightly and Carry a Big Scanner,” will focus on how DSSP technologies can reduce material and energy consumption while maintaining the highest levels of human aspiration and quality of life. He will examine a range of trends, from virtual worlds to human implants, portable devices, lifecycle design, and reuse of large structures.

Ping Fu is the visionary who has led Geomagic’s charge to transform DSSP from concept to essential strategy for companies throughout the world. Before co-founding Geomagic; she played central roles in developing the first Web browser, creating the seminal special effects for Terminator 2, and making digital telephony possible.

At Convergence 2008, Fu will discuss “design thinking,” a new way of looking at business and the world that goes beyond products or services to address the richness of user experience. In Fu’s vision, the convergence of compelling design and better quality will shape both corporate and consumer behaviors, leading to greater satisfaction and sustainability.

Registration for Convergence 2008 is $495 until March 3 and $595 on site. Online registration and additional information are available at www.geomagic.com/convergence. In addition to presentations from DSSP leaders, the event will include demonstrations of new Geomagic products and social events that provide the opportunity to network and learn in an informal environment.

Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company’s website.