After 3 full days in the desert it’s time to say goodbye to Autodesk University until next year.
So what did we learn and should you attend next year?
The answer is A LOT and YES.
No matter who you are, with 800+ classes over 3 days running from 8am to 6:30pm, there’s bound to be something that would have benefited you. I know that everyone I spoke to have gained something from attending, plus it’s been great to finally get to know people you see in social media circles but have never had the pleasure of meeting in person.
Starting with the keynote speeches on Tuesday morning, it was amazing to see what some of our customers are achieving using the tools at their fingertips AND how engineers are starting out much younger. Take a look at http://au.autodesk.com/?nd=au_player#2%-1 to see what I mean.
In the keynote from Carl Bass, Autodesk CEO, you’ll see some important announcements about future technology, one of which is Fusion 360. Attendees at AU were able to not only see what these applications would look like but even get their hands on this stuff in the dedicated classes and lounge areas.
Check out http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/pc/index?id=20884205&siteID=123112 to see an early overview of Fusion 360. Although it’s not something you can access right now, keep an eye out for further announcements. It’s got some great workflows and tools for conceptual design and assists users that need to interact without the boundaries of traditional CAD systems. For example, where do you think the first implementation of T-Splines is going?
From my stand point, the classes I attended offered an insight
into areas of industries and applications I hadn’t necessarily touched, as well as some really useful tips and tricks. If you weren’t able to attend, sign
up and take a look at the notes from Jake Fowlers session on MA2843 - Get Smart
with Autodesk® Inventor® Modelling, his insight would make any Inventor users lives much easier.
In summary it’s been a great three days event, and I’m glad I was able to attend. I’ve definitely learned some good stuff and met some great people. Last nights party was also a great way to close such an immense event, I particulary enjoyed the different music zoned rooms, the acts performing where pretty impressive.
Just as a side note, as a survival guide if you are able to come next year, make sure that:-
- You pack some lip balm
- Drink lots of water. With a combination of the air conditioning and social nights you’ll definitely need it. (Last nights final party was something to remember.)
- Pack some tea bags. These were being handed around like some illegal substance.It would appear for those of a british background the tea over here just doesn’t do the job.
Now it's time to pack and look forward to that long flight across the atlantic..
