Exploding the Internet: Berlin set for Shock

September 5, 2007
Andrew Keen, author of the book "The Cult of the Amateur ", is the opening speaker at Online Educa Berlin 2007

Berlin, Germany. Delegates at Online Educa Berlin, the world's leading conference on technology supported learning, have been told to prepare themselves for an explosive debate on the internet and its implications.

Astrid Mendoza, Chief Executive of the conference organiser ICWE, today revealed that one of the internet's fiercest and most controversial critics, Andrew Keen, best-selling author of "The Cult of the Amateur: How Today's Internet is Killing Our Culture" will be the opening speaker at this year's event, which will take place in Berlin from 28-30 November.

A dedicated detractor of Web 2.0, the British-American internetentrepreneur has caused commotion worldwide with his attacks on the internet and its implications.

Keen's acerbic criticism of the internet is hotly debated by academics and bloggers alike. His view that the immense new wave of personal publishing facilitated by the internet endangers traditional media and now constitutes a serious threat to our culture has enraged liberal commentators and web enthusiasts.

Ms Mendoza says that delegates should prepare themselves for a fiery debate. "Andrew Keen has strong opinions and he does not pull his punches. Some commentators agree enthusiastically with his views, others can't stand them. We are delighted that he'll be joining us in Berlin. I'm sure that the debate will be explosive but very interesting."

A speaker and editorialist in great demand, Keen, who currently runs the podcast internet show AfterTV from California, will speak in the opening session of the conference. The full conference programme can be found at
www.online-educa.com/programme.

Online Educa Berlin is the world's largest international conference on technology-supported education and training. The annual event offers elearning experts, experienced users, and apprentices from all over the world a forum for the exchange of ideas and the creation of contacts, as well as a venue where the evolution of e-learning can be experienced.

The accompanying exhibition gives international providers the opportunity to demonstrate their products and services.

For further information, please visit the conference website at

www.online-educa.com.

Links:

After TV
http://andrewkeen.typepad.com/akfiles/aftertv_aboutak.htm

Andrew Keens Blog
http://andrewkeen.typepad.com/

ONLINE EDUCA BERLIN 2007
13. International conference for technology-supported education and training
28. - 30th November 2007

Where:

Hotel InterContinental Berlin,
Budapester Strasse 2,
10787 Berlin

Participation:

790 Euros (second person 690 Euros), students 250
Euros, group prices available on request

Organiser:

ICWE GmbH
Leibnizstrasse 32, 10625 Berlin,
Tel.: +49 - 30 - 327 61 40
E-mail: info AT online-educa DOT com
www.online-educa.com

Press contact:

ICWE GmbH
Beate Kleessen + Christian Auchter
Leibnizstr. 32
10625 Berlin
Tel: +49 - 30 - 327 61 40
Fax: +49-30-324 98 33
E-mail: press-service AT icwe DOT net

Photo material and additional press releases can be found at:

www.online-educa.com/press-releases.