MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA — Dr. Robert Ballard, best known for his 1985 discovery of the RMS Titanic, and members of the broadcast team from his Exploration Vessel (E/V) Nautilus have been named the SMPTE Keynote speakers at this year’s Silicon Valley Video Summit at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, CA. The session will cap a day-long series of panels, presentations and technology demos designed to serve the information needs of the Big Tech Broadcast community.
Registration is free to qualified video professionals who can apply at www.siliconvalley.video.
Dr. Ballard has spent his career exploring under the sea and now equipped with immersive cameras, remotely-operated deep-diving vehicles, telepresence, and seafaring broadcast tools he believes that exploration has entered a new era.
In this world-premiere, video presentation Ballard will explain his vision for how broadcast technology offers new potential for real-time exploration as education and entertainment, while members of his team will take the stage for a “deep dive” on how the ship’s scientific control room and studio connect scientists, students, and everyday explorers to the world of discovery and exploration.
In 2008, Dr. Ballard founded the Ocean Exploration Trust and acquired the Exploration Vessel (E/V) Nautilus, which continues to explore the world’s oceans. In addition, Dr. Ballard is a National Geographic Society Explorer-at-Large and a Commissioner on the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy. He is also a Senior Scientist Emeritus in the Department of Applied Ocean Physics and Engineering at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.
Besides the Titanic discovery, Ballard has succeeded in tracking down numerous other significant shipwrecks, including the German battleship Bismarck, the lost fleet of Guadalcanal, the U.S. aircraft carrier Yorktown (sunk in the World War II Battle of Midway), and John F. Kennedy’s boat, PT-109.
A pioneer in the development of deep-sea submersibles and remotely operated vehicle (ROV) systems, Dr. Ballard has taken part in more than 155 deep-sea expeditions throughout his career.
The SMPTE Keynote series at Silicon Valley Video Summit was developed to introduce students to career opportunities in video and broadcast. Last year’s inaugural keynote speaker was Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple Computer. The session will be moderated by former SMPTE President Pat Griffis and will include on-stage presentations by Dave Robertson, Ocean Exploration Trust Senior Video Engineer and members of his broadcast team.
Produced by SVG, the Silicon Valley Video Summit (SVVS) is the annual exchange of Broadcast and Big Tech thought-leadership right in the heart of Silicon Valley. SVG has served the information needs of the sports and live event production industry since 2006.