And, while on the subject of computer science and exciting technologies, my son Sirish sent me a link to some wonderful short videos that have been released by Microsoft. They are calling them Vision 2019 and can be accessed here.
They are really something. I am not one of those folks who either love Microsoft or hate Microsoft. I am somewhere in between, where I admire many of their products and then wonder about some others. Overall, though, and in the interest of full disclosure, I must say that I do lean more towards the "admire" category for them.
Here, Microsoft Office Labs have really done a great job of using video to articulate life (with technology) in 2019. These are not just admirable, I believe they are inspiring. Have a look at this montage! It's only a couple of minutes long and I have watched it a few times. Each time, I pick up something new. Once you watch the montage, you can then watch the future vision video for Manufacturing, Retail, Health and Banking.
I hope it gives credence to some of my excitement about the future of technology in general, software in particular...
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Microsoft's Vision 2019
My niece, the computer scientist?
Last week when I was visiting my brother, I asked my niece Sithara, a sophomore on spring break from Boston University, if she had decided her major. To my delight, she said that she was strongly leaning towards computer science. With both her parents being medical doctors, I had thought perhaps that she would have an implicit leaning towards that field - a wonderful one, but one that has never been a match for me. So, why this delight? First, I think there has been a notable drop over the last decade of females entering this field (or engineering or math) and every new one is a delight. Second, I think it can be one of the most exciting and creative professions - more so now, and even more so in the future.
I remember when I started studying computer science, in my first programming class, we used punched cards. That's how old I am...but it was still exciting. When I started my profession, I lucked out and ended up in a company that was pioneering computer graphics. You would think us programmers there ruled the world! We worked on a multi-million dollar program for the Defence department of the U.S. government, that rendered terrain models in all kinds of different perspectives and shades. Looking back and comparing it to say one of the graphics on of the most simply rendered online games of today, those graphics were like a kindergarten project. But, hey, we were one of the first ones to do it...and we needed a mini computer that had its own specially air conditioned rooms, the size of one of those huge custom refrigerators, with fancy flashing lights in order to do it. The fun was in solving the problem and seeing the wonder in all those techies eyes when they first saw the display.
And, if my niece decides to take the plunge, how much more she has to work with! All the solutions of yesteryears have become but the building blocks and toolsets that can be used to solve new challenges and create cool and cooler new applications. There is a whole world of exciting work to be done, and the wonder of it is that this science can be used in ANY domain...in fact, I find it difficult to think of any area of work that it will not be a part of foundation or the puzzle. I really cannot. Medical? Check Manufacturing? Check. Energy? Check. Economy? Check. Retail? Check. Banking? Check. Marketing? Check....and the list goes on and on.
So, Sithara, my dear, not that I'm trying to influence you or anything, but if this area is something that you find very interesting now, I have a feeling you can keep that interest fueled for a long, long time to come. But, as always, I wish you well in whatever you choose to do!
I remember when I started studying computer science, in my first programming class, we used punched cards. That's how old I am...but it was still exciting. When I started my profession, I lucked out and ended up in a company that was pioneering computer graphics. You would think us programmers there ruled the world! We worked on a multi-million dollar program for the Defence department of the U.S. government, that rendered terrain models in all kinds of different perspectives and shades. Looking back and comparing it to say one of the graphics on of the most simply rendered online games of today, those graphics were like a kindergarten project. But, hey, we were one of the first ones to do it...and we needed a mini computer that had its own specially air conditioned rooms, the size of one of those huge custom refrigerators, with fancy flashing lights in order to do it. The fun was in solving the problem and seeing the wonder in all those techies eyes when they first saw the display.
And, if my niece decides to take the plunge, how much more she has to work with! All the solutions of yesteryears have become but the building blocks and toolsets that can be used to solve new challenges and create cool and cooler new applications. There is a whole world of exciting work to be done, and the wonder of it is that this science can be used in ANY domain...in fact, I find it difficult to think of any area of work that it will not be a part of foundation or the puzzle. I really cannot. Medical? Check Manufacturing? Check. Energy? Check. Economy? Check. Retail? Check. Banking? Check. Marketing? Check....and the list goes on and on.
So, Sithara, my dear, not that I'm trying to influence you or anything, but if this area is something that you find very interesting now, I have a feeling you can keep that interest fueled for a long, long time to come. But, as always, I wish you well in whatever you choose to do!
So, the question is...
...for Seattle Post-Intelligencer is this the demise of the newspaper or a new beginning? If I were one of the employees of the newspaper who no longer has a job there (my understanding is that only about 20 people were retained for the online publication), this probably feels like a kind of death. And, there have been several obituaries written about it in media over the last couple of weeks. But, how about if we turn it around and say this is really the dawn of a new day. It will not be easy but isn't it a great new opportunity? Apparently, Hearst who owns this and many other newspapers and publications are now looking at this as a kind of experiment to see what happens. If it works or shows promise, I hope it can be used as a model for the future for their new media newspaper.
In the meantime, check out this image: http://mrod.wordpress.com/2009/03/19/altered-thomas-jefferson-quote-at-seattle-newspaper-hq/.
In the meantime, check out this image: http://mrod.wordpress.com/2009/03/19/altered-thomas-jefferson-quote-at-seattle-newspaper-hq/.
Monday, March 9, 2009
Now, The Seattle PI to close
On the heels of my last blog, as I was driving home on Friday evening listening to All Things Considered and Marketplace on NPR, here was more breaking news about the demise of traditional newspapers. The Seattle Post Intelligencer (PI), the state's oldest newspaper was announcing that it was likey shutting down its newspaper as soon as this week, and would only publish the online version. Here is the announcement that I listened to.
This is a milestone - on the one hand is a newspaper that is some 146 years old. On the other hand, as reported, this may become the nation's first metro web-only newspaper. That's two venerable milestones.
For those who have long cherished their morning paper with their morning coffee, this is a big let-down. For those (like myself) who need both - the morning paper with coffee, as well as the NY Times and other news online every day, this is a foreshadowing of the inevitable drive to everything online. And then there are those that have long been predicting this outcome and are beginning to see things fall into place, slowly but surely.
Remember the dot.com boom? I can visualize the predictions, the potential and even the hype of those times beginning to happen now. What is happening with newspapers, in my opinion, is just one example.
How long before we are saying in wonder - "Did you know that City So-and-So still has a paper newspaper?". 3 years, 5 years or 10...it is just a matter of time.
In the meantime, it seems appropriate for companies either in or around this business to explore what new opportunities may exist - in reporting the news, in marketing products and in engaging readers. There is no question that many new opportunities do exist - and many have yet to be conceived.
So, while the Seattle PI announces its closing and therefore the loss of the majority of its newspaper jobs, somewhere, there are ideas bubbling that will take this content to more readers in a different (and hopefully better) way, and in the process create innovation and new jobs in new fields. There's a nice thought for the future, especially in these tough economic times.
This is a milestone - on the one hand is a newspaper that is some 146 years old. On the other hand, as reported, this may become the nation's first metro web-only newspaper. That's two venerable milestones.
For those who have long cherished their morning paper with their morning coffee, this is a big let-down. For those (like myself) who need both - the morning paper with coffee, as well as the NY Times and other news online every day, this is a foreshadowing of the inevitable drive to everything online. And then there are those that have long been predicting this outcome and are beginning to see things fall into place, slowly but surely.
Remember the dot.com boom? I can visualize the predictions, the potential and even the hype of those times beginning to happen now. What is happening with newspapers, in my opinion, is just one example.
How long before we are saying in wonder - "Did you know that City So-and-So still has a paper newspaper?". 3 years, 5 years or 10...it is just a matter of time.
In the meantime, it seems appropriate for companies either in or around this business to explore what new opportunities may exist - in reporting the news, in marketing products and in engaging readers. There is no question that many new opportunities do exist - and many have yet to be conceived.
So, while the Seattle PI announces its closing and therefore the loss of the majority of its newspaper jobs, somewhere, there are ideas bubbling that will take this content to more readers in a different (and hopefully better) way, and in the process create innovation and new jobs in new fields. There's a nice thought for the future, especially in these tough economic times.
Friday, March 6, 2009
That word again
So, last week saw the last issue of Rocky Mountain News published. Interestingly, it was covered by all the newspapers that I read (two paper and two online). I have neither lived in Colorado nor have I read the Rocky Mountain News but it felt like a milestone in my life. It appeared to me to say that this is the beginning of the end of newspapers - something that has been so important in my daily life. Maybe, its not. Maybe, it's just one newspaper out of many. But, somehow, I don't think that is the case.
So, what happened? Did Rocky Mountain News just lose relevance? We can look at this in a business context and say that they just were not bringing in the revenue to cover the costs of running the newspaper. Why would that happen? Probably because the advertisers were not spending enough money. And, why would that be? Probably because they were not getting the returns from advertising.
It brings me back to "relevance" and what any business needs to do to stay relevant. In world of media, there is no question that we are at a major turning point, as "traditional" media struggles to stay relevant in a world with an advent of new media - online, mobile, social media. The time each of us has to consume content has not changed that much, but how we consume is changing faster than we can say "relevance".
So, what happened? Did Rocky Mountain News just lose relevance? We can look at this in a business context and say that they just were not bringing in the revenue to cover the costs of running the newspaper. Why would that happen? Probably because the advertisers were not spending enough money. And, why would that be? Probably because they were not getting the returns from advertising.
It brings me back to "relevance" and what any business needs to do to stay relevant. In world of media, there is no question that we are at a major turning point, as "traditional" media struggles to stay relevant in a world with an advent of new media - online, mobile, social media. The time each of us has to consume content has not changed that much, but how we consume is changing faster than we can say "relevance".
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