AU 2005 is becoming a blur to me with so many people (over 5000) and so many classes (over 400). This event really should have been a full 5 days or maybe two weeks to be able to have the time to meet everyone and absorb all of the new training from the classes. I cannot believe what little time I have and how fast it goes.
My personal highlights from Tuesday 11/29/05:
- Lab session: I assisted in Heidi Hewett’s 3 hour lab on AutoCAD 2006 Sheet Sets. Also assisting were Lee Ambrosius and Volker Cocco. It was full and Heidi did a stellar job.
- Main stage keynote presentations: Autodesk’s Lynn Allen, Autodesk CEO Carol Bartz, Autodesk COO Carl Bass, Autodesk’s Jonathan Knowles, and Dr. Thomas McCann Senior Vice President of Engineering for Walt Disney Imagineering. I wish I could have the HUGE high definition screen they used.
What a keynote. 5000 chairs…filled. The keynote started with a short video of architectural firm SOM’s work on the freedom tower project with Autodesk and Microsoft. Next there was a intense 3D animated video. Then Lynn, Carol, and Carl, spoke about many different topics especially 3D. Carl Bass along with Jonathan Knowles showed a very cool demo and project flow for a fictitious company’s new machine and headquarters using Autodesk products from start to finish. It started with locating the land parcel and then continued with the machine design and changes, new building conceptual design, design documentation, presentation/illustrations, visualization, estimate and bid, construction complete with two construction workers in a scissor lift using a wireless Tablet PC to access a network and 3D DWFs driving into the room, and then an end video presentation of the project which caused many ooooohs and ahhhhs from the audience. Dr. Thomas McCann of Disney presented on various topics about Disney Imagineering such as the history and rides.
- The Platform Technology Division general industry session where the team showed a few glimpses into the possible future. I got to run around with a microphone during a Q&A portion.
- My class "Between the Lines". I was so nervous after a few large classes were moved to the same time period and took many of my attenedees. Reduced in number did not affect the fun we had. The main thing I wanted attendees to go away with was to please get involved in shaping the future of Autodesk products at http://myfeedback.autodesk.com.
- An evening out with some customers and Autodesk employees.
