Karthik Kannan is a Professor at Purdue's Krannert School of Management, academic director for the MBA programs, 
academic co-director for MS in Business Analytics and Information Management, and co-director for Purdue’s Information and Analytics Center. He works in three primary research streams: pricing using auctions of information goods, pricing of data networks, and economics of information security.
Dr. Kannan spoke to us about the ways that digitization and automation are becoming more common and that in this day and age every company is a technology company. One example he gave was the John Deere Company and their “field connect” system. This is a system of collecting data from farm fields about moisture, light and other variables to then give feedback to the farmers to help in their decision making. Another example he gave was of robots being used to milk cows. He told of a more unique example of a comedy club in Barcelona, Spain that has an unusual method of charging their guests. With sensors that register facial expressions, they can sense when someone is laughing and charge accordingly. Because of automation, many manufacturing tasks are being taken over by robots. This means a changing employment situation and lack of opportunity for some. Society has gone through the agricultural age, the industrial age and the information age. It will take some time and skill to adapt to the new technology age.
GREETINGS FROM THE HOTEL MANAGER:
Anthony Turner, new general manager of the Fourpoints Shearaton Hotel,
stopped in to greet us and to share that he has worked at a number of hotels around the state and almost all have hosted a Rotary club. He is familiar with Rotary and the good work that we do. He expressed his desire to continue a strong and positive relationship with Lafayette Rotary Club.
BLOOD DRIVE:
Indiana Blood Bank again visited our meeting location with an RV large enough to take donations from several people at once. There were twenty people who signed up to give. 
Thanks to KATIE NIELSEN for making all the arrangements. This is another way that our Club is impacting the community for good. Here you see CHRISTINE BURR relaxing as she is making her donation. Thanks to ALL who gave and helped in this vital way to save lives.