Leonardo Chiariglione to Keynote NAB2003 Broadcast Engineering Conference; The Father of MPEG to Give Insight on What Technology Needs to Move Forward.

Business/Entertainment Editors

NAB2003

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 15, 2003

Leonardo Chiariglione, vice president of Multimedia For the Research Centre of Telecom Italia Group (Telecom Italia Lab) will provide the opening keynote for the NAB2003 Broadcast Engineering Conference, April 6 in Las Vegas.

Chiariglione is best known for his work on the creation of the Moving Picture Experts Group which developed the standards for what is now used to create digital and audio video for the Web, digital television, mp3s, DVDs and other multimedia technology. As the head of that group from its formation in 1988 to the present, he has spearheaded the development of the MPEG-1, -2, -4, and -7 standards, and is currently working on the MPEG-21 "Multimedia Framework."

Chiariglione will address the current struggle between content creators, distributors and users, and how that conflict is holding back the full exploitation of the business opportunities offered by digital technologies. He will expand on his solutions to creating a greater equilibrium between the parties by identifying what civil liberties and business aspects need to be preserved, allowing technology to provide the answers and legislation to fill in the gaps.

Italian engineer Chiariglione has been with the Research Centre of Telecom Italia Group since 1971. During his career he has led a number of efforts aimed at furthering innovation in information and communication technology. These efforts include the HDTV Workshop, an international event to promote HDTV technologies beyond specific industry interests; ISO Moving Pictures Experts Group (MPEG) standards committee; the Secure Digital Music Initiative (SDMI) which sought to develop specifications for secure digital music delivery; Image Communications, a journal about image communication; the Digital Audio-Visual Council (DAVIC) to develop international specifications for the delivery of digital media; the Foundation for Intelligent Physical Agents (FIPA) to develop international specifications of generic agent technologies; and the Open Platform Initiative for Multimedia Access (OPIMA) to develop international specifications for pay-for-play services.

Leonardo Chiariglione was born in Almese (Turin), Italy. He graduated in electronic engineering from the Polytechnic of Turin and obtained his Ph.D. degree from the University of Tokyo in 1973.

NAB2003 takes place April 5 - 10 in Las Vegas (exhibits open April 7). It is the world's largest electronic media show covering the development, delivery and management of professional video and audio content across all mediums. Complete NAB2003 details are available at www.nab.org/conventions/nab2003.

The National Association of Broadcasters is a full-service trade association that promotes and protects free, over-the-air local radio and television stations' interests in Washington and around the world. NAB is the broadcaster's voice before Congress, federal agencies and the courts. NAB also serves a growing number of associate and international broadcaster members. Information about NAB can be found at www.nab.org.