Tuesday, July 19, 2005

This is an interesting interview with the founder of the HP user conference, Interex, that was independent from the company. There are some interesting comments, but I agree with a couple that I feel also fit the automation industy. First, HP decided to do its own conference. We're seeing a lot of that. The process suppliers, Emerson and Invensys have had user conferences for a long time while ABB has had a couple lately. In fairness, several try to let an independent board run the conference to keep it somewhat neutral. Rockwell Automation runs its Automation Fair as a trade show supplemented with training. Schneider Electric has tried one such affair in the US and one in Brussells, Belgium. Watch for another in the US, probably next year. I think it will be pretty much like a small trade show supplemented with training opportunities. GE Fanuc just put together a users conference, more like the process companies' efforts than the Rockwell model. With all this investment, why go to large, supplier-neutral trade shows? The other interesting comment was that in the early days of the computer, there were many issues and challenges to work out. Companies loved talking with dedicated users in order to discover both problems and work arounds. Computing technology has leveled off and is not so new and fragile today. Therefore, a loss of energy for these events. Anyway, food for thought. Q&A: Interex founder discusses group's demise, end of HP World. IT veteran and Interex founder Doug Mecham talked about how the user group began, growing to include more than 100,000 members, and about what its demise means for user groups in general. [Computerworld News] 2:28:22 PM    comment []

Lee Iacocca is back talking about cars in this report from The New York Times. He has some valid points. First, I also have been wondering what Bob Lutz has been doing at GM. He had a touch for design years ago, but I haven't seen anything from it that I would buy for a long time. Iacocca's point about health care costs is valid. This is a complex issue, but something has to be done. By pushing all the cost to companies, US manufacturing becomes a little less competitive in the global market. By pushing to consumers, then the choice becomes (for many) can I have insurance for my pills or can I eat today? Even middle class people looking toward retirement find they must keep a job that provides health insurance. I can't believe the price of a family plan these days. Our genius politicians need to quit bickering and posturing and come up with some real solutions. Iacocca, Away From the Grind, Still Has a Lot to Say. After remaining silent during Detroit's recent doldrums, Lee Iacocca, the former Chrysler chairman, is talking about cars again. By DANNY HAKIM. [NYT > Business] 6:02:18 AM    comment []