RobiNZ CAD Blog

2010 Blogging Highlights

At about this time I do a Blog related review of the year so here goes… Best Blog Discovery: Last year it was Twitter & TweetDeck, This year it’s Twitter Lists. Lists allow you to group and see tweeps tweets without “following them”. Using this I went from following 1200+ to about 200 but still see all their tweets in subject based lists. I had used lists but not realised the impact of listing without following until I tried to DM @noozeeland. I couldn’t as he wasn’t following me (the only downside) yet obviously saw and responded to my tweets.... Read more →

Taking notes, from Autodesk University 2004 to #AU2010

I’ve been using the notebook (right) for meetings since Autodesk University 2004. It’s apparent that I don’t take many analog notes as, seven years later, I have only just filled it! One reason it survived is I like the size and ring binding which allows pages to be torn out and filed/scanned. Was that my last paper notebook? An IT colleague noticed the old AU 2004 logo on that book recently and thanks to him I already have a replacement – from another conference - in the same format. Thanks Amit! It will last even longer as I typically use... Read more →

Media Q&A with Carl Bass #AU2010

I took a lot of technically ok photos of Carl Bass, Autodesk President and Chief Executive Officer, addressing the media Q&A but thought, although blurred, this one captured him best. It was soon after the AU General session and Carl seemed pretty relaxed, with a coffee in hand. Jeff Kowalski, Autodesk CTO, was also on present to elaborate on his General Session theme of “Infinite Computing”. Hazy on “The Cloud” Questions about “Autodesk & The Cloud” resulted in as many questions as answers. Rather than direct customers to a single solution, or platform, it seems Autodesk are getting more agnostic.... Read more →

I feel old; remember when Lego had printed assembly guides?

Check out the YouTube below or download the free app & data to your iOS device here. Design tech meets the new consumer generation. There is more to Inventor & Publisher Mobile than Industrial design & documentation. Check out Autodesk 3D Instructions for LEGO® Harry Potter™ Hogwarts™ Castle To celebrate the season, we're spreading Holiday cheer – Autodesk style! The LEGO® Harry Potter™ Hogwarts™ Castle Set #4842 is flying off the shelf and to add to the fun we've created 3D interactive instructions for the Inventor® Publisher Mobile Viewer… Read more →

AutoCAD User Research, Tardis or Grid Portal? #AU2010

While users come to Autodesk University to learn it’s also a great opportunity for Autodesk to hear from their customers. There are exhibit hall conversations, user interviews and usability sessions. There are lots of AutoCAD users and I wonder how they all fit into the little AutoCAD User Research Booth. Perhaps it uses Dr Who’s Tardis technology or is it just a portal to the TRON Grid? Read more →

Sporked By Betsy at Autodesk University #AU2010

It was great to meet the lovely Betsy Weber from Techsmith, think Snagit and Camtasia Studio, and I was delighted when she presented me with a legendary Techsmith Titanium Spork*. * Its a spoon and a fork so may be a Foon? No it’s a Spork! @betsyweber Betsy Weber Welcome the newest members of the @techsmith #sporkclub! @robincapper and @thecadgeek #au2010 Read more →

I want to ride my Pi Cycle? #AU2010

Inventor helped the Pi Cycle designers optimise the size of it’s dominant physical feature, the arching main frame, and featured in the Manufacturing Keynote. The Pi Cycle main tube is important as in addition to usual bicycle frame duties it houses the battery & controls which make the Pi Cycle more than your average bike. It’s also the first, that I know of, Wi-Fi enabled bike and can communicate with the Pi Service network should service or repair be required. I’m not entirely convinced about the need for electric bikes but Pi Cycle may be the machine to change that.... Read more →

Autodesk University General Session Keynote #AU2010

Lynn Allen opened the AU General Session and mentioning the new 60 minute AU session format. She also announced a repeat of last years challenge when the person who passes the most Certification Exams at AU2010 will get a free ticket to AU2011. Carl Bass, Autodesk CEO, focused on “Innovation” as “Invention + Application”. This set the stage for a series of speakers who are applying design technology for this. Examples ranged from Student Education Project H Design, Microwave ground powered space shuttles from Escape Dynamics, Civil Transport Project Simulations from San Francisco & Seattle, the Tesla Model S and... Read more →