Featured talks

I occasionally give talks at conferences, universities, and company events. If you’re interested in having me come speak to your organization, please contact me.

Google SPAN (Pittsburgh)
“The Secret History of Hypertext”
Google SPAN (Pittsburgh)
09/15/2017
Exploring the early heritage of networked systems that predated the World Wide Web.    
UXStrat
“Humanizing Data”
UXStrat
09/16/2015
A discussion of how Etsy’s research and data analytics teams have worked on integrating UX methods and data analysis. UX STRAT USA, Alex Wright, "Etsy: Bridging UX Research and Data Analytics to Drive Design" from UX STRAT
The Long Now Foundation
“Glut: Mastering Information Though the Ages”
The Long Now Foundation
08/16/2007
A talk at the Long Now Foundation based on my first book, exploring the deep history of the information age.  

Other talks

Penn State Center for Humanities and Information
“The Secret History of Hypertext”
Penn State Center for Humanities and Information
09/23/2017
Boston University
“Cities of the Mind: Paul Otlet, Hendrik Christian Andersen and the World City”
Boston University
06/27/2016
SxSW
“The Secret History of Hypertext”
SxSW
03/13/2015
Google Brussels
“Cataloging the World”
Google Brussels
12/11/2014
Maryland Institute for the Humanities
“The Platonic Network”
Maryland Institute for the Humanities
11/12/2014
The Market Research Event
“Humanizing Data”
The Market Research Event
10/15/2014
Google Art Talk
“The Web That Wasn’t”
Google Art Talk
07/24/2014
UX Brighton
Keynote talk
UX Brighton
06/10/2014
UX Brighton
“The Web That Wasn’t: Forgotten Forebears of the Internet”
UX Brighton
07/02/2012
Lomo vape typewriter snackwave flexitarian tote bag shabby chic polaroid gentrify. Humblebrag hashtag distillery affogato fingerstache tilde taiyaki, jean shorts flexitarian selvage. Migas brunch kale chips pug microdosing. Narwhal beard bushwick art party bitters viral iPhone food truck flannel street art pinterest.
World Science Festival
“Internet Everywhere”
World Science Festival
06/02/2012
UX Australia
Keynote talk
UX Australia
08/04/2010
U.S. Department of Education
Invited presentation
U.S. Department of Education
02/11/2010
Instituto Chileno-Americano
Keynote talk
Instituto Chileno-Americano
11/18/2009
Indiana State Library Association
Keynote talk
Indiana State Library Association
11/13/2008
Institute of General Semantics
“Glut: Mastering Information Through the Ages”
Institute of General Semantics
11/13/2008
Indiana State Library Federation
Keynote talk
Indiana State Library Federation
11/13/2008
O'Reilly Web 2.0 Expo
Content Matters
O'Reilly Web 2.0 Expo
11/12/2008
Foreign Policy Research Institute
“The Relationship Between Technology and Social Change”
Foreign Policy Research Institute
10/23/2008
Tilburg University
“In Search of the Next Web”
Tilburg University
08/21/2008
New York State Higher Education CIOs
“Glut: Mastering Information Through the Ages”
New York State Higher Education CIOs
06/12/2008
American Association for Computers in Education
Invited presentation
American Association for Computers in Education
06/11/2008
Society of Scholarly Publishers
“The Deep History of the Information Age”
Society of Scholarly Publishers
05/15/2008
Topic Maps 2008
Keynote talk
Topic Maps 2008
04/16/2008
SxSW
“The Web That Wasn’t”
SxSW
03/21/2008
Gartner Group
“The Web That Wasn’t”
Gartner Group
03/13/2008
Rhode Island Library Association
Keynote talk
Rhode Island Library Association
01/17/2008
Google Tech Talks
“The Web That Wasn’t”
Google Tech Talks
10/23/2007
A Google Tech Talk exploring the forgotten history of hypertext, including the work of Paul Otlet, Vannevar Bush, Ted Nelson, Doug Engelbart and others.
International Privacy Institute
Keynote talk
International Privacy Institute
09/13/2007
The Long Now Foundation
“Glut: Mastering Information Through the Ages”
The Long Now Foundation
08/16/2007
ASIS&T Information Architecture Summit
“The Web That Wasn’t”
ASIS&T Information Architecture Summit
03/08/2007
Apple World Wide Developer Conference
“Designing Rich Internet Applications”
Apple World Wide Developer Conference
11/20/2003
ASIS&T Information Architecture Summit
“The Sociobiology of Information Architecture”
ASIS&T Information Architecture Summit
09/26/2003
CMP Web 2001 conference
“Beyond the Browser”
CMP Web 2001 conference
11/15/2001
Various IBM conferences
Various talks
Various IBM conferences
11/11/1999