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May, 2006 Steve Ballmer rocks Portland!Steve Ballmer recently came to visit my home town of Portland, OR to celebrate the opening of Portland State University's new College of Engineering & Computer Science.
Below is a catalog of some of the coverage the event received. I was excited and humbled to be a small part of it.
------------------------------------------------- Key Quotes: "Ballmer said Oregon has the necessary ingredients for an increasingly robust high-tech economy -- given the large presence of Intel and other technology companies in the state -- but needs to continue investing in higher education to capitalize on that opportunity. – Mike Rogoway, The Oregonian. "There are not enough engineers graduating from US universities to fill the demand, and so when we saw the opportunity to be involved with Portland State in an important activity that's helping to promote, essentially, people really getting involved in engineering in all forms, that to us was really a wonderful, wonderful opportunity." –Steve Ballmer, Oregon Public Broadcasting. "Oregon is really an I.T. hub, and PSU is in the center of that I.T hub. Besides being the biggest [university in Oregon], it's right here in the center of where most of the high tech is actually happening, jobs-wise."- Steve Ballmer, KATU
BLOGS Seattle Times beat reporter Brier Dudley posted a brief blog entry noting that while Portland may the home to Linux Torvalds, Microsoft has contributed for more $3 billion in IT spending in the region. Oregonian business reporter Mike Rogoway picked up Steve Ballmer comments which faulted Linux for lacking innovation and essentially being a Unix clone. We expect Mike to post an extended piece in tomorrow’s Oregonian which will likely include competitive overtones.
BROADCAST (Note these files will only be available on the linked share for one week)Subject: Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at Portland State UniversityProgram: CBS KOIN 6 News This Morning Airdate: May 10, 2006 Station: KOIN Format: Windows Media http://www.waggeneredstrom.com/video_share/files.asp Subject: Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at Portland State UniversityProgram: NBC NW Newschannel 8 at 6:30 Airdate: May 9, 2006 Station: KGW Format: Windows Media http://www.waggeneredstrom.com/video_share/files.asp http://showroom.multivisioninc.com/share.do?id=29095&key=M7AgWwxuhfgtLBMc6RFO50ua881MT5EJ&email=tedr@wagged.com" \o "http://showroom.multivisioninc.com/share.do?id=29095&key=M7AgWwxuhfgtLBMc6RFO50ua881MT5EJ&email=tedr@wagged.comSubject: Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at Portland State UniversityProgram: ABC Channel 2 News at 5 Airdate: May 9, 2006 Station: KATU Format: Windows Media http://www.waggeneredstrom.com/video_share/files.asp KGW Microsoft Backs PSU Tech Center* May 9, 2006 (Video* registration required) http://www.kgw.com/perl/common/video/wmPlayer.pl?title=www.kgw.com/050906_psu12.wmvKATU Interview with Governor Kulongoski and Steve Ballmer Video link: http://easylink.playstream.com/katu/060509psu_tech_school_530pm.wvx KGW Q & A with Steve Ballmer Joe Smith Video Link: http://www.kgw.com/sharedcontent/VideoPlayer/videoPlayer.php?vidId=64300&catId=131 Oregon Public Broadcasting PSU Opens New Technology Building* By Rob Manning May 9, 2006 * full text pending Transcripts Market: Portland. OR [PO] [23] HUT: 1,099,890 DMA%: 0.998 18:41:41.74 Microsoft is opening up its checkbook to train the next generation of top technical worker. The demand is greater than ever for information technology engineers. The northwest center for engineering was dedicated today and along with it the microsoft center. They have a great technology center. The first to use portland state university center for engineering. It helps to have a resource we need to build and fabricate and test them out. Its been a long time coming? Reporter: a ribbon cutting, its the cutting edge research that will pay off for the university and the state (TRT=10:00) Market: Portland. OR [PO] [23] HUT: 1,099,890 DMA%: 0.998 17:37:47.39 And how the city would shut down. Fascinating. Still ahead, a major new addition to portland state university. How oregon leaders are hoping will boost the state status as a high-tech hub. Plus (TRT=06:10) 17:40:45.57 Now some worry were losing sight of the awesome engineers that engineering that goes into todays technology. I think the technology is almost so commonplace, we have to work extra hard to encourage people to look behind the scenes at what makes these machines work. As kid, steve ballmer was curious about computers. Now he runs a little company called microsoft. He’s hopeful his companys investment in p.s.u.’s new engineering center will train his next generation of employees. Oregon governor ted kulongoski is happy to help (TRT=06:10) 17:41:29.67 More than 6 million dollars for the project came from this man, faiborz maseeh. An immigrant to the u.s., He studied engineering at p.s.u., Then went on to make millions in the technology world. Now he hopes the building that bears his name will double the number of students like these who choose to study engineering at portland state. We invested in p.s.u.’s college of engineering because this growth organization is far from fulfilling its potential. Because todays dancing robot could be tomorrows microsoft (TRT=06:10) Market: Seattle-Tacoma. WA Date: 05/09/2006 Time: 5:00pm Aired On: NWCN Affiliate: IND Show: Northwest News Today 17:06:27.24 Today portland state university launched their new building dedicated to engineering and technology. It houses state of the art labs that allow students to research their specific fields including nasa. Oregons governor says p-s-u can now compete with other top engineering and technology schools across the country. "The students who learn is this building will be the researchers and scientists and engineers who solve problems and create products who will improve lives throughout the city, state and our nation. " The c-e-o of microsoft steve ballmer also attended todays ceremony. in all, the project cost about 53 million dollars. Market: Portland. OR [PO] [23] Date: 05/09/2006 Time: 12:00pm Aired On: KOIN Affiliate: CBS Show: KOIN 6 News at Noon 12:01:24.74 A major milestone in the life in the Portland State University brings one of richest men in the world to town to celebrate. Tim gordon is live with the story. This is dedication of $53 million project that expands PSU engineers department with new facilities. On hand Microsoft Steve Ballmer is here. His appearance is due to a donation of $200,000. The center will be a hub for technology and they talked about need for engineers in the all areas including it saying there isnt enough to keep up with the growing field. So when we saw the opportunity to be involved with portland state in an important activity thats helping to promote essentially people get involved in engineering of all forms but certainly computer science and electrical engineering is an important way and an institution that we think is as important as portland state is, that to us, was a wonderful, wonderful opportunity to have in front of us. A new building consolidates the engineering department and double the number of students. The students showed off their work today. Its a major step in the university in being biggest. We focus on ballmer because hes worth more than $13 billion and chief executive of one of biggest and powerful companies in the world and biggest single piv doe for is a another man. He was a graduate who did well in technology and engineering. He put up $8 million. The college d engineering science is named for him. Thank you for a report . (TRT=01:32) Market: Portland. OR [PO] [23] Date: 05/09/2006 Time: 12:00pm Aired On: KGW Affiliate: NBC Show: NW Newschannel 8 at Noon 12:05:58.27 A new building in the new program on engineering and technology, scott burton is live outside of the building where the people from Microsoft gathered to celebrate reporter: its designed to allow PSU to house the engineering and science center under one roof. Its designed to allow portland to compete for most gifted student. Storm water testing. Float solution, research for nasa, this building is designed to inspire students to change the way we all live in the future. It really helps for our research purpose to have the resources to be able to build billings like this and run them and test them out. The students who learn to study in this building will become researchers and pioneers. Creating pro ducks that will improve lives without the city, the state and our nation. On hand, the CEO of Microsoft, well hear from him and his thoughts on positions in the computer science world. Back to you in the studio. Well see you then, scott, thank (TRT=00:47) 12:34:39.91 The group behind said the. Scott burton is live reporter: obviously, this is a big day for PSU. This $53million building behind us will serve as the cornerstone of engineering and computer science department. Its a big day for portland. CEO of Microsoft "the others" it was so important he came here personally, Microsoft is opening an innovation center to develop the minds of computer scientists. The company believes that portland is an important place in the computer world want invest resources and money. Oregon is an it hub, it really is (TRT=00:10) Market: Seattle-Tacoma. WA [ST] [13] HUT: 1,701,950 DMA%: 1.544 04:05:16.84 dean staley takes a look at the day ahead. Good morning. A grand opening at one northwest university draws big names this morning. That story tops our look at the day ahead. (Vo)portland state university celebrates the opening of its new engineering building this morning. On hand to assist in the ribbon cutting will be microsoft c-e-o steve ballmer and oregon governor ted kulongoski. The building will house the college of engineering and computer science And the microsoft innovation center , which offers students real-world resources and training. 04:35:21.31 A grand opening at one northwest university draws big names this morning. That story tops our look at the day ahead. (Vo)portland state university celebrates the opening of its new engineering building this morning. On hand to assist in the ribbon cutting will be microsoft c-e-o steve ballmer and oregon governor ted kulongoski. The building will house the college of engineering and computer science And the microsoft innovation center , which offers students real-world resources and training.
PRINT/ONLINE Oregon Live Ballmer to Oregon: Open-source lacks innovation and creates few jobs By Mike Rogoway May 10, 2006 Repost: KATU-AP Newswires: http://www.kgw.com/sharedcontent/APStories/stories/D8HGP9182.htmlDaily Vanguard (PSU) A new home for a growing program By Anthony S. Reimer May 10, 2006 http://www.dailyvanguard.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2006/05/10/4461bf839f20cSeattle Times Steve Ballmer visits Linuxville, brings cash By Brier Dudley May 9, 2006 http://blog.seattletimes.nwsource.com/brierdudley/2006/05/steve_ballmer_visits_linuxvill_1.html KATU Kulongoski, Microsoft's Ballmer fete new PSU tech school By Bill Roberson May 9, 2006 http://www.katu.com/news/story.asp?ID=85745Oregon Public Broadcasting PSU Opens New Technology Building By Rob Manning May 9, 2006 http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/opb/news.newsmain?action=article&ARTICLE_ID=912276Oregon Live Ballmer to Oregon: Open-source lacks innovation and creates few jobs By Mike Rogoway May 9, 2006 http://www.oregonlive.com/newslogs/oregonian/index.ssf?/mtlogs/olive_oregonian_news/archives/2006_05.html#139344KOIN News 6 Microsoft CEO On Hand For PSU Engineering Dedication By Tim GordonMay 9, 2006 http://www.koin.com/news.asp?ID=3899 The Oregonian New PSU engineering building brings teams and labs together Technology center - Faculty say being under one roof will boost programs and prestige By Dee Anne Finken May 08, 2006 http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/portland_news/1146889544134410.xml&coll=7Portland Business Journal Quick Hits – Ballmer To Visit PSU May 5, 2006 Portland State University Website Microsoft CEO, Gov. Kulongoski to Cut Ribbon on New Engineering Building, May 9 By David Santen May 4, 2006 http://www.pdx.edu/news/9779/Oregon Live Silicon Forrest By Mike Rogoway May 4, 2006 http://www.oregonlive.com/weblogs/siliconforest/index.ssf?/mtlogs/olive_siliconforest/archives/2006_05.htmlMay, 2006 Need fresh ideas? Check out IDEO.Have any of you ever been working on something and felt like you "hit a wall"? Trying to solve a problem, write a book, or figure out how to do a better job at something when suddenly - splat! - a dead end, writers block, bad customer survey results, again. Where do I go from here?
Recently in my readings I came across a design firm called IDEO. First, they got a mention in A WHOLE NEW MIND by Daniel Pink, a book that I truly love, then, I read another book called THE TEN FACES OF INNOVATION by IDEO guru Tom Kelly, (while I liked the book, there was an above average amount of self-serving marketing going on there). In both cases, they made reference to a tool called IDEO METHOD CARDS as a means of sparking new ideas and overcoming creative obstacles that often occur - whatever your line of work. At first, I was skeptical - "How can an industrial design firm help me, a software marketing guy, with innovations that are relevant to me and my business? What's this got to do with marketing? What's this got to do with IT Pros and an average day in their lives?" In spite of my skepticism, curiosity got the better of me, and I bit.
At $50, the cards are not cheap, (that's about $1 per card), but I found them to be worth it. Each card has an image on one side, many of which are strange and curious, then on the other side is a "Method" along with a brief description of how it works, and an example of how IDEO has used the method to good effect. The methods are divided into four categories: Learn, Look, Ask and Try.
For example, the first card I saw when I opened the deck was a picture of the back of a grey-haired gentleman in casual attire shopping for meat in the refrigerated section of a grocery store, (like I said, strange and curious).
Flip the card over and it describes the "Method" illustrated as follows: "A DAY IN THE LIFE - How: Catalog the activities and contexts that users experience throughout an entire day. Why: This is a useful way to reveal the unanticipated issues inherent in the routines and circumstances that people experience daily."
Immediately I could see how such a technique might be useful to me. For example, cataloging the activities of a person who visits TechNet to see how the site performs in meeting (or failing to meet) their needs. Hearkening back to my days as an IT Pro, I could recall interviewing the business folks that I supported and trying to understand what they do all day long and how my implementation of technology could either help or hinder them in their daily activities.
This, and 50 additional Methods, are all in the deck. Some common threads across all Methods seem to be getting up out of your desk, talking to folks, gathering data of some sort, and analyzing it, so if you're the sedentary type, or have trouble getting out and talking to folks, these cards are not for you. At the very least, they help you "try on" a different point of view, or look at a problem in a new and different way. That is often all you need to get past the hurdle and start taking positive action.
April, 2006 New MSN Spaces Upgrades!You gotta love the guys over at MSN. Just when I was starting to get jealous of folks that had their blogs hosted on places like TypePad and WordPress, MSN comes up with a few new tricks. My favorite is the new Amazon Associates plug in - I didn't even know what an Amazon Associate was until I saw it on MSN Spaces. As a voracious reader, I've often got my nose in a book and love to tell my friends about the ones I like best. Doing that on MSN Spaces used to be hard, but not anymore. Love the new features! Expect to see more book recommendations from me soon! February, 2006 Are you LinkedIn?Why didn't Microsoft invent this!?!? (On second thought, don't answer that...
 ) During the past week, I've been bitten by the LinkedIn bug. LinkedIn is for business professionals what MySpace is for lovesick teenagers. OK, maybe it's not quite that exciting, but still, I'm enjoying it quite a bit.The basic thesis will be familiar to those of you who have heard of "six degrees of separation" - the theory that you are only five other people away from anyone else on earth. If you sign up for an account on LinkedIn and upload all of your personal contacts, and a lot of other folks do the same, you'll be able to make new business contacts through your existing ones that you may not have otherwise known about. In addition, you can rekindle old alumni contacts by doing searches on your alma mater, former employers, trade affiliations, etc.
Your mileage may vary, but mine has been fairly amazing. I uploaded just over 1000 contacts from Outlook into LinkedIn. Of those, only 40 of them were already LinkedIn members, so I promptly sent them invitations asking them if we could "connect" - a LinkedIn "Connection" is when you allow someone else to see your personal profile on LinkedIn, and optionally, all of your contacts. (Privacy seems pretty tight - people can only connect to you, view your profile details and/or your personal contacts after receiving your explicit consent.) Of the 40 I invited, only about 10 responded in a timely fashion.
Thinking 10 responses was pretty tepid, (only 1% of my Outlook Contacts Folder, which doesn't even cover co-workers because they're in my Exchange Global Address List (GAL)), I performed searches on past employers, my old University, trade affiliations I maintain, etc. This was where I hit the mother lode - several hundred LinkedIn contacts turned up, all of whom have some, (albeit perhaps modest), connection to me. I invited many of these, and in less than a week I now have over 250 - quickly approaching 300 - LinkedIn connections!
Now you're saying, "So what Erick, you met 300 near-strangers on the Internet. They could all be ax murderers - why should I be interested, rather than scared to death?" Here's where the pay-off comes. Recently a colleage of mine asked if I could help him find speakers on three different, (somewhat esoteric), topics - all of whom needed to be willing to deliver a technical presentation to audiences of 50-500 over the course of the next 3 months. I punched in my search criteria on LinkedIn and wham! - I found half a dozen local subject matter experts on each topic! I asked my LinkedIn connections to introduce me to their connections and now we already have speakers lined up for 2 of the 3 forums coming up - a true "win-win" as they say.
There are a few caveats potential members should be aware of:
In any event, I'm having a ton of fun with the tool and I hope you'll consider joining me. You can see my profile and request a connection here. I'll see you online.
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