bánáthy advanced a different vision for conferences, one that would allow everyone to fully engage. he proposed that everyone be given the opportunity to prepare and distribute papers to all participants in advance of the conference. and instead of listening to speeches, conference attendees took part in extended, non-hierarchical conversations about the conference papers. the conference proceedings were the result of these conversations. bánáthy felt strongly that systems scholars from all over the world should be given ongoing opportunities to engage in extended conversations so they might put their expertise "actively into the service of humanity worldwide".