Microsoft: Change the world or go home?
It's interesting how different people are interpreting Hugh MacLeod's latest cartoon on Microsoft (pictured right). I personally believe we do a lot of things that change the world - it's just that most of the time people don't stop to realise.
When you invest $7.5 billion in research and development you expect some pretty cool things in return, right?
Some of that investment has gone into new software like Windows Vista, Office 2007 and Exchange 2007 which are of course launching soon; and they will change the world. Nearly every product that Microsoft releases, from operating system to XBox to mouse, has had a contribution from Microsoft Research.
However, other investments are made in areas that you and I will probably never even hear about or couldn't even begin to comprehend the science upon which they are built.
I'm talking about things like in this video clip, which features some pretty cool technology.
So am I going home? I don't think so!!! Are all the other Microsofties around the world? Nope. We'll continue to work on changing the world and put up with all the stick we get along the way.
Technorati tags: Microsoft Research
Comments
Anonymous
January 01, 2003
Sam: What do you get 7.5 billion of research? There's a list of some of the stuff here: http://research.microsoft.com/research/projects/default.aspx. To say we're wedded to the desktop is a little unfair, there's lots of interesting stuff coming out of ideas.live.com all the time, and besides if we were so wedded like you say, then apps like the Outlook connector wouldn't even be available. The fact it costs $10 is another issue which can easily be rectified. The point is the technology is in place which indicates that the company does realise the webtop strategy that you talk about. You talk about Google like it's just an advertising company, but aren't they inventing/buying lots of widgets themselves so they can increase their ad revenue? Also, you really proved my point regarding the R&D, you went straight for the "next big thing" when I said that most of the research we do doesn't get noticed. It's the small things that normally make the difference - but then I guess it really depends on your interpretation of changing the world. If we can develop software that helps find a cure to cancer, i think that's changing the world. Do I care if it's a web 2.0 application - er no. Is web 2.0 going to change the world? In a small way probably yes - a way that matters only to me and you, but it's not an event that mankind will look back on as a defining moment. Thanks for the comment Sam.Anonymous
January 01, 2003
Hi Robert, Thanks for the comment - good to hear you giving your feedback to the Soapbox product team. We do listen, so your views count. We can't listen to users that don't speak up. JamesAnonymous
November 06, 2006
The comment has been removedAnonymous
November 06, 2006
Right on!!!Anonymous
November 06, 2006
The comment has been removedAnonymous
November 06, 2006
The comment has been removedAnonymous
November 06, 2006
I watched the video by following the link in my aggregator before reading the comments. I then did a web search and found the video posted on the Microsoft Research site as part of its 15th anniversary at http://research.microsoft.com/aboutmsr/15years/default.aspx . I like this video a lot. I find it aspirational and inspirational about the future of computing in general and potential Microsoft implementations specifically. I would have downloaded and saved a copy to share but it is streaming only in both locations. I commend this type of video as highly as I have condemned the atrocious “The Devil Wears Prada” mockumentory style. When I clicked through to comment on the video, the comments by Sam and apoc took me by surprise. Maybe they watched a different video than I did. While I have issues with various pieces of software from many vendors, I still look forward to the great things to come and want to do my part in bringing those things to reality as quickly as possible. I appreciate the adoption of much wider open communication by the various Microsoft teams over the past few years. I especially like their wide use of blogs both to get their message out and feedback in. Since I do not see the day arriving when I won’t run into software issues, I will continue to attempt to provide feedback to the people who are most likely able to use it to improve the software in question. And just because I supply feedback doesn’t mean they are under any obligation to adopt it. My ideas can be as incorrect as the next guys. My goal is not to be right but rather to get better products. For example, I have probably asked the Soapbox team for fifteen features, etc. in the next iteration, including having the ability to download the videos. I admit to ranting from time to time but I also admit that I find it much more beneficial to me to see if I can’t get my issues resolved. If not, I can always move to some other piece of software, etc. But then, I have to face the issues it presents… I like the video.