Interview with Bran Ferren: (March 29, 2006)

ABSTRACT

Bran Ferren is founder, co-chairman and Chief Creative Officer of Applied Minds. Before co-founding Applied Minds in 2000 with Danny Hillis, Ferren founded Associates & Ferren, an R&D company serving the visual and performing arts, as well as industry and the sciences. A&F became part of Walt Disney Imagineering in 1993, the resource for new technology invention and creative input for the entire company, where Ferren held several leadership positions, including president. Bran has won three Academy Awards for technical achievement in film. In the video interview, you will hear Bran's answers to the following questions:1. You have won three Academy Awards for technical achievement in film. What was your proudest achievement?2. You have a personal interest in the intersection of art, design, science and engineering. Can you describe what the intersection is?3. How do you see the future of entertainment technology?4. How does an organization attract and retain the most talented and innovative employees?5. When a company is so focused on the bottomline, how do you foster employee innovation and not break the company?6. What are some the most exciting projects that you are working on at Applied Minds?

INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  A. General Literature
  A.m MISCELLANEOUS

Additional Classification:
  A. General Literature
  A.0 GENERAL
      Subjects: Biographies/autobiographies

  H. Information Systems
  H.1 MODELS AND PRINCIPLES
      H.1.2 User/Machine Systems
  H.5 INFORMATION INTERFACES AND PRESENTATION (I.7)
      H.5.0 General

  I. Computing Methodologies
  I.6 SIMULATION AND MODELING
      I.6.0 General