22 Forum Social media such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube played a pivotal role in the recent uprisings across the Middle East. Meanwhile, politicians are turning to these online channels to transmit news and information to the world and to communicate interactively with their citizens. Mobile devices and social media have also proved invaluable during recent disasters: in terms of capturing and disseminating news, sending and receiving updates, calling help for those in need and sharing eyewitness video footage. Forward-thinking policy-makers are also using these tools in different ways and with varying degrees of success. And yet social media can be used to devastating effect to demolish a company’s reputation, organize riots or defame a celebrity without due cause. What can we learn from each others’ experiences? Are we heading towards new online forms of democracy and governance? This Session explores the promise – and risks – of social media in giving greater voice and power to people. Wednesday 26.10.2011 09:00-10:30 DebateSpace #2 The Perfect StormForum Session Smart homes – those that connect domestic devices and appliances so they can communicate with each other and with the household – are shaping up as big business. The home becomes reactive, as appliances on home networks can be controlled by voice, remote control or computer. Instructions to lighting, home security, home theater and entertainment and temperature regulation can all be controlled remotely, automatically and interactively. The potential for new applications in this field is immense. Sensor solutions can also be a key enabler for healthcare. Solutions in this field use much of the same technology and equipment as home automation for security, entertainment, and energy conservation, but they are tailored towards patients, the elderly or disabled. What lessons can be learned from pilots across the world? Tuesday 25.10.2011 16:45-18:15 DebateSpace #2 Smarter Lives Forum Session