Keynote Speaker

Kevin Warwick is Professor of Cybernetics at the University of Reading, England, where he carries out ground-breaking research in artificial intelligence, control, robotics and cyborgs – with technological, medical and social inclusion implications.

Kevin was born in Coventry, UK and left school to join British Telecom, at the age of 16. At 22 he took his first degree at Aston University, followed by a PhD and research post at Imperial College, London. He subsequently held positions at Oxford, Newcastle and Warwick Universities before being offered the Chair at Reading, at the age of 33.

Perhaps Kevin is best known for his pioneering experiments involving a neuro-surgical implantation into the median nerves of his left arm, to link his nervous system directly to a computer to assess the latest technology – for use with the disabled. He was successful with the first extra-sensory (ultrasonic) input for a human, and also with the first purely electronic telegraphic communication experiment between the nervous systems of two humans.

Kevin’s most recent research involves the invention of an intelligent deep brain stimulator to counteract the effects of Parkinson Disease tremors. The tremors are predicted and a current signal is applied to stop the tremors before they start – this is shortly to be trialled in human subjects. Another project involves the use of cultured/biological neural networks to drive robots around – the brain of each robot is made of neural tissue.

Kevin has been awarded higher doctorates (DSc) both by Imperial College and the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, and received Honorary Doctorates from Aston University and Coventry University in 2008. He was presented with The Future of Health Technology Award in MIT; was made an Honorary Member of the Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg; received the IEE Senior Achievement Medal in 2004; and in 2008 the Mountbatten Medal.  In 2000 Kevin presented the Royal Institution Christmas Lectures, entitled “The Rise of the Robots”.