Robert J. Bach, Microsoft Corp.'s president for Entertainment & Devices

CHAPEL HILL -The leader behind the Xbox gaming console, the author of a zombie/Jane Austen mash-up novel, an anthropologist who explores technology in higher education and a game theorist will speak at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s CHAT Festival Feb. 16-20.

Besides these keynote addresses, the festival – Collaborations: Humanities, Arts & Technology – will feature performances, interactive exhibits and workshops in five locations across the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill campus.

Carolina alumnus Robert J. Bach, Microsoft Corp.’s president for Entertainment & Devices, who led the Xbox and Xbox 360 to fruition: “The Future of Entertainment,” keynote speech and the festival’s opening event, from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Feb. 16 in Hill Hall, between Franklin Street and Cameron Avenue on McCorkle Place.

Bach drives Microsoft Corp.’s connected entertainment vision, offering consumers new and compelling, branded entertainment experiences across music, gaming, video and mobile communications.

A Morehead Scholar at Carolina, Bach earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from UNC and a master’s in business administration from Stanford University. In his talk, he will discuss ways in which technology enables collaboration, showcase upcoming Microsoft products and advise students on the skills needed in today’s business world.

Other events include:

We read parts of the best-selling “Pride and Prejudice and Zombies,” the hilarious mash-up that’s now going to be a movie. You have to wonder how anyone came up with that idea. So we would like to hear mash-up literature gurus Steve Hockensmith and Jason Rekulak: “Collaborative Authorship: Writing Zombies Into Austen,” conversation about this new practice of mixing different genres of writing, from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Feb. 17 in Hyde Hall, off East Franklin Street across from the post office.

Hockensmith is known for his mash-up of Sherlock Holmes with the Western genre, including the title “Holmes on the Range.” He also has written the forthcoming mash-up prequel “Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Dawn of the Dreadfuls.”

Michael Wesch, cultural anthropologist at Kansas State University: “From Knowledge to Knowledge-able,” lecture on the effects of new media on society and culture, 4 to 5:30 p.m. Feb. 18 in Hill Hall.

Wesch, a leading contributor to discussions about technology in the classroom, particularly in higher education, will title his talk “From Knowledgeable to Knowledge-able.”

The “Explainer”

Dubbed “the explainer” by Wired magazine, Wesch, with his students, created YouTube videos exploring statistics about today’s students and their use of technology. His “The Machine is Us/ing Us” on YouTube shares some of his philosophies.

Video game theorist Jesper Juul: “Gaming and the Future of the Arts and Humanities,” lecture from 2:30 to 4 p.m. Feb. 19 in the film auditorium of the Frank Porter Graham Student Union off South Road.

Wesch, a leading contributor to discussions about technology in the classroom, particularly in higher education, will title his talk “From Knowledgeable to Knowledge-able.”

Dubbed “the explainer” by Wired magazine, Wesch, with his students, created YouTube videos exploring statistics about today’s students and their use of technology. His “The Machine is Us/ing Us” on YouTube shares some of his philosophies.

Representatives of Carolina, Duke and N.C. State universities and Research Triangle companies are creating interactive digital arts and humanities projects for the festival.

Advance registration is required for entry into the exhibits, keynote lectures and panels.

Online: www.chatfestival2010.com

For more on exhibits and projects, visit http://uncnews.unc.edu/content/view/3250/66/.

Advance registration: