Phil and I have made it to WinHEC, though I won't quite be able to fulfill my dream of real-time blogging. They have Wi-fi, but only really in and around the internet cafe (the signal isn't strong enough in the main presentation hall to hook in there). However, the Press Room has a smokin' fast ethernet connection, so -- while we won't be real-time, we will be often-time.
That said....
Bill Gates gave a pretty entertaining keynote this morning (complete with the standard Microsoft demos, videos and powerpoints). Highlights:
1. A video called, "Behind the Technology." Modeled after VH1's "Behind the Music," this little ditty detailed the "twists and turns" of the technology industry. The video featured Clinton, Buffett and other big-wigs and was pretty entertaining. Big moments included:
A) Bill Gates (subtitle "Altair enthusiast") talking about the "simplicity, light blue hue and industrial qualities" of the Altair....saying it reminds him of something (as the picture of the Altair morphs into a Mac) [big laugh from the crowd].
B) "The industry that spawned a rivalry": referring, of course, to Jobs & Gates -- and the accompanying movie with Anthony Michael Hall as Gates. (cut to Hall on screen) Hall says," It was pretty hard to get into the role -- the caffieneted beverages, the cold pizza, the lack of showering, the no sleep." (cut to Bill Gates) Gates says, "That guy doesn't look anything like me -- he's a TOTAL geek!"
2. "Athens": Athens is the new prototype from HP/Microsoft. Imagine a flat panel with phone, speakers, bluetooth, everything attached. You walk up to the screen and different lights tell you whether you have voice mail, email, faxes, or appointments waiting. You pull out your USB device (containing crucial docs), plug it into the side of the monitor (it contians a smart card chip); place your thumb on the side of it (biometric authentication) - boom, the machine comes to life. (Note: we'll be looking into WHO is making those smart card/biometric/usb devices - my first guess is Authentec.)
3. Meta-point from the keynote/demos: The integration of distributed data requires identity as an organizing principle. Granted, we've been saying that for some time, but it continues to get driven home at events like these.
4. New Terms: Phil and I have been discussing the irrelevance of the term "Digital Rights Management" because it has gotten *so* politicized (and not in a positive light). As such, we've been on the lookout for some new terms that might encompass DRM......thoughts after Gates' keynote:
CS/DDS: which stands for
Communications Security/Distributed Document Security
Lemme know what you think....
More will follow this afternoon, we're both busy writing articles, but intend to attend all of the breakout sessions this afternoon. I'll be taking notes during those and transferring them to the blog (in real rough form, i'm sure) later this afternoon. Stay tuned...
Posted by ejnorlin at May 6, 2003 10:15 AM