In addressing the current state of the “Internet of Things,” Peter Hirshberg recalls his rather humorous history of failing to notice now obvious capabilities that computers and later the internet had to offer. He retrospectively examines his tenure at Apple Computers, in which his work on computer-to-computer networking miraculously did not lead to the inception of the internet, and, later, his work with Bill Gates at Microsoft, of which he laments their cumulative lack of foresight. Mr. Hirshbergattributes this narrow-mindedness to the trend of applying new technologies to existing problems rather than approaching new technologies with an open mind.

Using the metaphor of throwing spaghetti against a wall, Mr. Hirshbergconcludes that, to foster real innovation, one must be receptive to all ideas and potential applications of technology. As an example, he cites the “Great Urban Hack-a-thon,” a project of his Grey Area Foundation for the Arts, in which artists, journalists, and hackers joined forces in San Francisco and New York in order to create various internet applications in a short period of time. Mr. Hirshbergperceives this event as a harbinger of the “golden-age of spaghetti throwing,” in which communities of hackers and programming-savvy individuals will be able to exploit open data networks, opening the door for internet innovation at reduced costs.

Peter Hirshberg is at the epicenter of the noisy, connected world of online conversation. He is changing our thinking about marketing, branding and customer relationships. A Silicon Valley executive with several high profile marketing and branding related ventures, Peter has led emerging media and technology companies at the center of disruptive change for more than 20 years. He is CEO of The Re:imagine Group, a fast growing consultancy helping brands with strategy and marketing in a world of empowered and connected audiences and customers. He's worked with executive teams at Best Buy, Thomson Reuters, IBM, Verizon, GE, Estee Lauder, Telefonica and many others on digital and growth strategies. He worked with Best Buy’s CEO and senior leadership team to develop Enterprise 2.0 strategies and programs to unleash the collective technology and product wisdom of 150,000 employees helping to establish the company as a leader in both the enterprise and marketing application of social media. Hirshberg’s organization also developed a global digital media strategy for Unilver to help the company rapidly bring best marketing practices in a culturally appropriate manner to the many countries it does business in. Previously Hirshberg served as Chairman of Technorati,the largest social media ad network with an audience of over 108 million unique visitors a month on over 400 professionally run sites with over a billion monthly page views. As Chairman of the Grey Area Foundation for the Arts has led initiatives that explore the boundaries and implications of the city as network. These includes the Great Urban Hackathon , the Urban Experiments program of CityCentered.org, and the exhibit “SENSEable Cities: Exploring Urban Futures,” created with MIT. Peter was Founder and CEO if Elemental Software (sold to Macromedia in 1999) and Interpacket Networks (Sold to American tower in 2001) Hirshberg served as president and CEO of Gloss.com, the online prestige beauty etailer co-owned by Estee Lauder Companies, Chanel and Clarins. Peter is a frequent technology and media industry speaker, having presented at TED, the World Economic Forum, DLD, EG the Entertainment Gathering, the 140 Character Conference, Agenda (back in the day…), The Aspen Ideas Festival, TIEcon, CEBIT, WEB 2.0 Summit, and many other events. Peter Hirshberg earned his bachelor's degree at Dartmouth College and his MBA at Wharton.