Communication in a self-service society

Leading communication conference at University of Twente

07 - 09 July 2010 

From 7 to 9 July, the University of Twente’s campus will host the prominent IEEE International Professional Communication Conference. The theme will be Communication in a Self-Service Society. The conference is intended for communication professionals, academics and developers of digital media.

The internet is exerting an ever-growing influence on society. We can arrange more and more aspects of our lives online and the World Wide Web provides us with an almost inexhaustible source of information. In the past we went to a travel agency to book a holiday and consulted a trained member of staff to help us with our travel plans. Nowadays we go online to select a trip and a hotel ourselves, and make our booking over the internet. Google Earth enables us to check out the neighbourhood where the hotel is located. And there is no need to consult a printed encyclopaedia compiled by professionals to obtain information on our destination since we can consult Wikipedia, an online encyclopaedia put together by its own users. 

Devide
All these developments are increasingly turning us into a self-service society. This offers many advantages but it also gives rise to questions. Many of these questions are practical in nature. How can the government and the business community respond most effectively to this trend and how can they make sure that the right information reaches the people for whom it is intended? There are also more philosophical issues to consider. What effect does this shift towards self service have on our privacy? How can we prevent e deepening devide between people who are able to make effortless use of these new opportunities and those who are not?

These questions and many others will be explored During the IEEE International Professional Communication Conference, taking place at the University of Twente from 7 to 9 July. The conference will examine the origins of the digital self-service society and the way in which designers, engineers and communication professionals can help consumers to make the best possible use of the opportunities available. The conference will bridge the gap between the community of communication professionals, developers of technological applications and the latest insights in the academic world.

Conference
The annual IEEE International Professional Communication Conference is one of the world's leading conferences in the field of technological and professional communication. The IEEE is the largest association of engineers in the world, with almost 400,000 members across the globe. The conference is held in Europe only once every five years and this year the honour of hosting it goes to the University of Twente's Department of Technical and Professional Communication. In addition to welcoming a variety of prominent speakers, the conference will also feature workshops and paper and poster presentations. Click here to find more information and details of the programme.

Note to the press
Members of the press are very welcome to attend. You can register by contacting the conference chairman Prof. Michaël Steehouder (tel. +31 (0)53 489 3315).