Dean Kamen to be Keynoter at SCTE Cable-Tec Expo® 2012

EXTON, Pa., Sept. 5, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Dean Kamen, the internationally acclaimed entrepreneur and inventor and the founder of DEKA Research & Development Corporation, will headline the Opening General Session of SCTE Cable-Tec Expo^® 2012 next month in Orlando, Fla.

Kamen will join Mike LaJoie, executive vice president and CTO of Time Warner Cable and chairman of the SCTE Board of Directors, for a conversation-style keynote on Wednesday morning, Oct. 17 that will address the topics of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Helping the Next-Generation Cable Workforce to Prepare for 21st-Century Jobs, and Next-Generation Energy Sources and Thinking for Modern Broadband Networks.

A holder of 440 U.S. and foreign patents, many for medical devices that have expanded the frontiers of healthcare, Kamen is a tireless advocate of the benefits of scientific advances and technology innovation.  In addition to DEKA Research & Development, he has founded FIRST^® (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), an organization dedicated to motivating the next generation to understand, use and enjoy science and technology.

Kamen and LaJoie will discuss the thinking around a wide variety of projects, including DEKA's development of biotech devices, the Segway^® Human Transporter and next-generation vending machines, as well as such STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) initiatives as FIRST and Time Warner Cable's Connect a Million Minds.  In addition, the keynote will include discussion of how forward-looking medical innovations and cable's advanced broadband networks can be integrated in next-generation e-medicine and healthcare solutions, and how DEKA's development of the Stirling Engine can enable cable to provide powering capabilities from the network edge.

"From the insulin pump to the Segway^® to programs for the young, Dean Kamen's imagination, entrepreneurial spirit and willingness to take risks have enriched the lives of millions of people around the world," said LaJoie.  "We're honored to have him in our midst at SCTE Cable-Tec Expo^®, and look forward to learning how his approaches to innovation can benefit cable engineering and operations professionals."

"The history of cable technology is one of identifying and solving problems," said Kamen.  "As the industry expands the quantity and quality of services in the future, it will be essential for there to be an ample supply of critical resources, including talented workers, power availability and innovative products."

Kamen invented the first wearable infusion pump while still a college undergraduate, and he founded his first medical device company, AutoSyringe Inc., in 1976.  He founded DEKA Research & Development following the sale of AutoSyringe to Baxter Healthcare Corporation.  DEKA's accomplishments include: development of Baxter International's HomeChoice™ peritoneal dialysis system that allows patients to be dialyzed in the privacy and comfort of their home; development of technology to improve slide preparation for the Hologic Inc. ThinPrep^® Pap Test; and development of critical components of the UVAR™ XTS™ System, an extracorporeal photophereisis device for treatment of T-Cell lymphoma, as well as development of the Hydroflex™ surgical irrigation pump for C.R. Bard, the Crown™ stent for Johnson & Johnson, the iBOT™ mobility device, and the Segway^®. 

DEKA also is developing an advanced prosthetic arm that is intended to advance the quality of life for returning injured soldiers. In addition, the company is working on a power source that leverages the principles of the Stirling Engine to convert almost any fuel into electrical power with high efficiency and to do so in a system that is clean, quiet, easy to use, easy to maintain and has a long operating life.

Kamen's FIRST program this year will serve more than 250,000 young people, ages 6 to 18, in more than 50 countries around the globe.  High-school-aged participants are eligible to apply for more than $14 million in scholarships from leading colleges, universities, and corporations.  Studies have shown that FIRST alumni are highly motivated to pursue careers in science and engineering.

The Kamen-LaJoie conversation will be part of a wide-ranging Expo Opening General Session from 8:30–noon that also will include "Mid-Size Insights: Challenges and Solutions Faced by Small to Mid-size Cable Operators." The "Mid-Size Insights" panel will feature Michael Giobbi, CTO of Armstrong Communications; Wade Holmes, vice president of technology for BendBroadband; Joseph D. Jensen, CTO of Buckeye Cablevision; and Kelly Rehm, technical operations manager and general manager of Massillon Cable TV/Clear Picture. Ken Wright, principal of Wright Solutions and technology advisor to NCTC, will serve as moderator.

The place where problems and problem solvers meet, SCTE Cable-Tec Expo^® will begin with pre-conference sessions and a companion event, the Digital Home Symposium, on Tuesday, Oct. 16.  From Wednesday through Friday, Oct. 17-19, Cable-Tec Expo will feature a full menu of educational opportunities, including: panel discussions featuring industry thought leaders; hundreds of hands-on, technology-centric exhibits; an extensive menu of robust and relevant technical workshops; the International Cable-Tec Games; the IP Challenge; and valuable learning that is driven by peer-to-peer interaction and networking.  Special pavilions will address the delivery of digital content and services, as well as smart energy management.

For a limited time, SCTE members can enjoy discounts of more than $100 off the pre-registration rate. Nonmembers who join SCTE for $68 are immediately eligible for the member pre-registration discount.  Nonmembers can join SCTE by visiting the Membership section of www.scte.org or by calling 800-542-5040.  Expo exhibitor, advertiser, and sponsor opportunities also are available. Details are available at http://expo.scte.org.

The Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers (SCTE) is a non-profit professional association that provides technical leadership for the telecommunications industry and serves its members through professional development, standards, certification and information. SCTE currently has nearly 14,000 members from the U.S. and 70 countries worldwide and offers a variety of programs and services for the industry's educational benefit. A prime example is SCTE's Smart Energy Management Initiative (SEMI), an unprecedented effort to help cable operators leverage financial and environmental advantages of implementing Green strategies. SCTE has 68 chapters and meeting groups and more than 3,000 employees of the cable telecommunications industry hold SCTE technical certifications. SCTE is an ANSI-accredited standards development organization. Visit SCTE online at www.scte.org. Connect with SCTE at www.scte.org/socialmedia.

SOURCE Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers (SCTE)