The IET Mountbatten Lecture 2007
Register at www.theiet.org/mountbatten
Synopsis
Communications engineers of every generation have understood what is meant by mobility, and then gone on to change that understanding.
Sir David Brown, Chairman of Motorola Ltd and a former President of the Institution, will tell the story of mobile communication from the beginning of the 20th Century to the future choice made possible by the unprecedented degrees of seamlessness of communications that are in prospect. He will discuss the implications of seamless mobility for engineers, and focus on some of the disruptive technologies likely to change the mobile communications landscape. He will illustrate the seamlessly mobile future from a range of user perspectives, and will dwell on the potential socioeconomic benefits.
Sir David will conclude his review of the technical and societal changes being rung by seamless mobility by reflecting on the crucial role of the engineer in ringing them.
About the Speaker
Sir David Brown began his career in telecommunications and electronics after graduating in electrical engineering in 1972. His first employer was the Plessey Company, where he worked on defence projects.
In 1976, he moved to STC’s research centre at Harlow to work in the field od advanced data switching. He remained with the company for some 15 years, during which time it acquired ICL and was acquired by Northern Telecom. His career with STC, ICL, and Northern Telecom included senior positions in software engineering, marketing and general management. He joined Motorola in 1991 as Director of UK Operations in its cellular infrastructure business. He was appointed the Board of Directors of Motorola Limited in 1994 and became Chairman in 1997.
Sir David is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, a Chartered Engineer and a Companion of the Chartered Management Institute. He has been President of the Institution of Electrical Engineers, President of the Federation of the Electronics Industry, and is a member of the President’s Committee of the Confederation of British Industry.
His interests include the promotion of links between engineering and education. He has twice been an Institution of Electrical Engineers Faraday Lecturer and was President of The Association for Science Education, the professional body for Britain’s science teachers.
He was Chairman of the University for Industry Design and Implementation Advisory Group and a member of the University for Industry Board. He served six years as a member of the Industrial Development Advisory Board, and was Vice Chairman of the Board of UK Trade and Investment. He was Chairman of the Advisory Board for the NHS Institution for Learning, Skills, and Innovation, and is Chairman of the Ofcom Spectrum Advisory Board.
He holds Honorary Doctorates from the Universities of Bath, Kingston, Portsmouth and Surrey, and was awarded the Mountbatten Medal for his contributions to electronics.
He was knighted in 2001 for services to British Industry.
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