On behalf of the ICASSP 2002 Organizing Committee I extend to you a heart felt welcome to Orlando. We are both honored and humbled by the ICASSP legacy and reputation for technical excellence. You will be pleased to know that the quality of papers submitted to ICASSP 2002 was up to the usual high standards. Selecting the most representative papers and defining topical areas were the challenges. The resulting program consists of many familiar topics and a few that are intended to guide the Society into new and emerging areas, plus prepare a pathway to future ICASSPs. The Industrial Technology Track, begun at ICASSP 1999, became fully integrated into the program in 2002 and the Student Forum, begun at ICASSP 2001, was elevated to a level of greater prominence.
The ICASSP 2002 venue is Orlando, a pleasure destination for millions. You have at your beckoning some of the most visited attractions and sites in the US. They include such notables as Walt Disney World, EPCOT Center, SeaWorld, Universal Studios, MGM Studios, Church Street Station, NASA Kennedy Space Center, the Atlantic Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico, plus hundreds of others. You are also invited to spend an exciting evening with us at SeaWorld, as well as attend a special showing of the latest release in the Star Wars saga. These are activities that can be enjoyed by scientists and engineers of all ages.
Finally, I wish to recognize the superb and diligent work of the Organizing Committee and Conference Management Services. Any kudos regarding the delivery of ICASSP 2002 should be directed to them. It is worth noting that the Committee needed to continually modify the original ICASSP 2002 plan in response to the traumatic political and economic events following September 11, 2001. You should also know that in all cases, while executing their charge, they kept your interests paramount.
It is now up to you to take full advantage of ICASSP 2002 and Orlando. After all, we can only prepare the path, it is up to you to walk it. Walk it with an old friend or with a new friend discovered at ICASSP 2002.
Fred J. Taylor, General Chairman