2012年4月1日，
Our 2012 Theme “Authenticity”
我们2012年的主题“返璞归真”
Forms of communication are increasingly moving away from traditional human forms toward entities less attached to human interaction. Technological progress and the emergence of different electronic communication networks have paved the way to new definitions. What is the new definition of communication and is it as authentic as the first? Our theme “authenticity“ references this and our program invites speakers that divulge their communication through different media and processes to provide answers. Our goal is to connect these people together with a common action that presents a greater meaning.
沟通的形态已经逐渐地从传统的人际形式，转变为较少依赖于人类交互的实体形式。技术的发展和各种电子沟通网络的出现赋予了沟通新的定义。沟通的现代涵义是什么？它是否能还原最初的本真？我们这次的主题“返璞归真”试图给出答案。我们邀请了通过不同媒介和过程来进行沟通的演讲者们。我们的愿景是去连接拥有共同行动的彼此，以呈现出更宏大的意义。
Session 1: The Source 起源
Monologues are wherein the speaker or writer addresses an imaginary person, inanimate object, or idea. In writing they have no apostrophes, meaning they are not spoken but are internal. Where does the idea come from and how does it change the moment it is let out?
讲者和作家通过独白的形式勾勒出一个虚拟的人物，或者静止的物体，或者一个想法。他们在写作中未曾使用省略符号，从而不会张扬表达，却将所有的涵义内质化。而想法本身从哪里来呢？而它是怎样改变表达出来的那个时刻的呢？
Session 2: The Engineer 工程师
From PC to iPhone, from Email to Facebook, from QQ to Weibo, we have constructed a new spectrum of communication tools. We use social media to engineer a new form of self. What is this new you?
从PC到iPhone，从Email到Facebook，从QQ到微博，我们铸就了一个充斥着沟通工具的新光谱。我们使用社交媒体去打造一种新的形式。这些让你陌生吗？
Session 3: The Analyst 解析者
Data is not useful until it becomes information, and that’s because data is hard for human beings to digest. Before there was a data surplus we treated it as precious. Now that there is we can’t understand what is and what isn’t. How do we return to the previous while finding meaning and value of the new?
由于数据对于人类来说难以解析，直到转换成为信息之前，数据几乎是无用的。以前数据盈余弥足珍贵，但现在我们却难以完全参透其中。我们怎样回归曾经的本源，但在这个新的过程中去寻找意义和价值？