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See also Sirdan's birthday party — Rosebery.
Sunday dinner rather than Sunday lunch at M's yesterday.
There were in fact three guests of honour. Nicholas Jose I mentioned here. Yes, we did talk about the new Macquarie PEN Anthology of Australian Literature. No, I can't say what was said because any detail is embargoed until the official launch later this week, but I can tell you it is big (around 1,500 pages) and anyone interested in Australian Literature will want one. There may be some surprises.
The second guest was Claire Roberts.
Claire Roberts is Senior Curator Asian Arts and Design, Powerhouse Museum, Sydney and a Research Fellow with Geremie Barmé's Australian Research Council Federation Fellowship project at The Australian National University…
Claire is a Fellow at the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study, Harvard University for 2009-10.
She has a Master of Arts in Chinese language and art history from the University of Melbourne and a PhD in Chinese history from The Australian National University.
Nick and Claire are both about to go to Harvard for a year. That is why M had the gathering.
The third guest I shall call M2. He works in Thailand with refugees but may soon be going to Africa or the USA. He was briefly in Australia because of family matters. He is an old friend of M, so M took the opportunity for us to catch up. In one of those small world moments I discovered he met my ex-student Evan Ruth in Peshawar in 2001.
Also there was William Yang. I was interested to hear that William is currently reading Anthony Venn-Brown's autobiography. He is really impressed with it, as was I.
There were several other friends there, and of course Sirdan.
Being at M's waiting for his new water heater, I haven't had time to write the deep and meaningful post I planned. 😉
Instead, reflect on what this tells you about cultural adaptation in our wonderfully cultural plural country Australia:
M grew up in Shanghai. See also Memorabilia 20: M and William Yang.
Sirdan and Simon
View from Simon's verandah
M also joined us. He and Simon engaged in vigorous but mutually enjoyable cross-cultural debate.
… and M was once thought to be a Chinese spy.
Back in 1990 when I first met M, then very recently arrived in Australia, I was living in Paddington at PK's place – and a nice place it was too. The first morning M appeared at breakfast PK was quite nonplussed – being of Lithuanian background he had fairly strong Cold War views in some respects, though not in others. He did indeed suggest soon after that M may be a Chinese spy. He later changed his mind and may even deny the story today. 😉
No doubt among the very large influx of Chinese students at that post-Tiananmen time there would have been some spies, mostly there to monitor the other students. Chinese were used to being monitored. M solved the problem back home in China by joining the neighbourhood spooks – hiding in plain sight, you could say. The neighbourhood committee of spooks also had a benign role; as well as reporting suspicious activity they were agents too of social welfare. M claimed he was particularly lax on the reporting side, especially given his own association with quite a few westerners.
My students at the language college I then worked in more or less assumed someone could be a spy, or "a boss" as they tended to say, and sussed one another out before they started opening up about certain topics.
About a decade later I was offered a free trip to Shanghai by the parents of one of my SBHS students – and not to influence me, as it was offered after the exams. As M said, they were just being Chinese and were grateful I had helped their son. I found a face-saving way of refusing the gift.
Where I tutor in Chinatown there is a prominent display on the wall of photos of the principals in the company with leading pollies, including Mr Ruddock. This is part of the Chinese way of business – establishing your connections or guanxi.*
"Guanxi" literally means "relationships", stands for any type of relationship. In the Chinese business world, however, it is also understood as the network of relationships among various parties that cooperate together and support one another. The Chinese businessmen mentality is very much one of "You scratch my back, I'll scratch yours." In essence, this boils down to exchanging favors, which are expected to be done regularly and voluntarily. Therefore, it is an important concept to understand if one is to function effectively in Chinese society.
The importance of "Guanxi"
Regardless of business experiences in ones home country, in China it is the right "Guanxi" that makes all the difference in ensuring that business will be successful. By getting the right "Guanxi", the organization minimizes the risks, frustrations, and disappointments when doing business in China. Often it is acquiring the right "Guanxi" with the relevant authorities that will determine the competitive standing of an organization in the long run in China. And moreover, the inevitable risks, barriers, and set-ups you'll encounter in China will be minimized when you have the right "Guanxi" network working for you. That is why the correct "Guanxi" is so vital to any successful business strategy in China.
Although developing and nurturing the "Guanxi" in China is very demanding on time and resources, the time and money necessary to establish a strong network is well worth the investment. What your business could get in return from the favors for your partners are often more much more valuable, especially in the long run, and when you're in need. Even domestic businesses in China establish wide networks with their suppliers, retailers, banks, and local government officials. It is very common for individuals of an organization to visit the residence of their acquaintances from other organizations, bringing gifts (such as wine, cigarettes, etc.). While this practice may seem intrusive, as you spend more time learning the Chinese culture, it will become easier to understand and take part in this practice that is so central to successful Chinese commercial activity…
We should keep this in mind as we contemplate the Joel Fitzgibbon affair and the activities of Ms Liu. Still, the narrative is very much, and not entirely wrongly, taking what I may call the PK route. See Greg Sheridan in today's Australian.
NO nation makes a greater espionage effort directed at Australian military and commercial technology than does China.
It was because of China's massively increased espionage activities in recent years that in 2004 the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation set up a new counter-espionage unit.
But the problems China poses for a country such as Australia in the security and espionage field extend far beyond what might be regarded as traditional espionage.
Beijing has the most unified and co-ordinated sense of national power of any big nation on Earth. Modern China is not a democracy, but it is a very effectively functioning modern state.
It has a highly competent bureaucracy that seeks to penetrate all sectors of Chinese society and serve what the ruling Communist Party regards as the broader national interest. This includes monitoring, and where possible influencing, Chinese business people and students in their activities overseas.
This is a highly elusive matter, extremely difficult to quantify.
The overwhelming majority of people of Chinese ethnic background living in Western societies such as Australia or the US have no relationship with the Chinese state.
And most of those who do have any relationship with the Chinese state have an entirely wholesome one, such as doing business with the Government or promoting cultural exchange.
But the Chinese Government seeks to use every resource it can to gain information and to exercise power. That includes, on the testimony of Chinese defectors and Western intelligence agencies, often using business people and students as agents where it can recruit them…
He isn't entirely wrong, far from it in fact, and does at least qualify what he says; but the framing of what he says does tend towards suspicion of Fitzgibbon and Liu, and Fitzgibbon must have been especially dense not to have declared those two trips.
And of course they spy, we gather intelligence – but that is another matter.
Back in the mid 90s I had the opportunity to meet the former Minister of Culture Wang Meng who was visiting from Beijing. He was at that stage on the outer, as he had publicly refused to congratulate the troops after Tiananmen. He still had plenty of guanxi though, apparently. After all, he had been able to come to Sydney. I was interested because I had read some of his stories (in English of course) and they were rather good. M was not so interested and didn't go, saying he simply didn't trust anyone in a high position.
See also Australia China Connections.
* Helen Liu sure gets around.
Kind of relevant… See Strange Maps: 368 – The World As Seen From Chang'an Street.
Over on the photoblog I mention it was 39C today – not what the news says, but that's what it was out of the wind and in the sun on M's balcony at noon. I was doing a brief house-sit, for reasons I won't bother with here… But you can see one of his plants.
It was at least cool inside, and it did keep me away from the computer most of the day. 😉 (Today's other posts went up via automatic pilot just after midnight last night.) Called at The Mine too.
No. Not too close… Photographing school boys is a no-no.
Speaking of no longer school boys, English/ESL scored a visit via my grand-nephew's (right) MySpace blog. He'd written last year (and I hadn't seen this before):
With a new school year set to start today, I just thought that I should spread a little bit of cheer in the form of information. Yay!
HSC is a bitch, as we all know, and English is a subject everyone does, and it is a pain in the ass right across all levels. I, however have found a website that takes a little bit of the strain off the extensive English workload.
This website, hosted by former English HT of Sydney Boys HS (along with several other High Schools and Universities) and my Great Uncle…was one of the best resources I had when I was studying HSC English Advanced. But not only does this website cover English Advanced curricula, but ranges from ESL, English Standard, and even to Extension, and includes tips as to how to write proper essays, and guidlines on how to stick to answering the question.
I rate this website to anyone studying the HSC this year as it saved me a few times last year.
So Check it out!
Bookmark it!
Maybe it will save your HSC too…
Go Figure
No, I'm not linking him, but I was also pleased to read (and he is a Shire boy) a really impassioned statement on racism.
…I understand racism still exists. It is appalling that in today Australia, that barriers still exist. I for one am NOT a racist. However, I am an Australian. My heritage is that of English, Scottish, Mauritian, Aboriginal and a bunch of others. I have cousins of Malaysian descent. I was born in Australia and live my life as an Australian. I do not mingle in the business of others, and I certainly do not take offense nor exhibit prejudice to the heritage that of my own nor other around me.
I do, however, take offense to others who label me as a racist, BECAUSE I am what is ignorantly labelled as White Australian. It is an ugly term to be thrown around. My love for who I am and where I live and those who have lived before me does not make me a racist, nor does it make others like me racist. It is, in fact, those who use that term to label others who are the racist ones.
This needs to stop. We need to live together under the one flag. That is what the Australian Flag represents. It represents unity. It represents mutual respect…
Nothing to do with me, I assure you, all his own unaided thoughts. (I don't see him all that often, though we just had a quick MSN chat in response to the English/ESL link, which I thanked him for.)
I was chuffed though.
Must correct my g-nephew: I was never H(ead) T(eacher) — just a dogsbody crew member, and of course ESL head, in the sense there was only ever one of us!


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I had hoped the rabbi's recent rant would be disregarded by your readers as the specious partisan pandering it obviously is to anyone who understands even the smallest bits of Middle Eastern history and contemporary realities "over there." However, given that more than a week has passed, and now today's follow-on huzzahs by a reader willfully blinded to any point of view that does not resonate with his own, I must ask if you intend to publish the response sent to you, the same day the rabbi's opinions were published, by my friend Janna Weiss.
Janna is an Israeli peace activist and student of Buddhism currently residing in Tibet. She and I correspond frequently, and while we occasionally disagree on minutiae, her Jewish perspective is always enlightening. I have my own disagreements with Fox's flummery (included below for your entertainment), but those have been aired before and little will be accomplished by reminding your readers of my points of view. If you have decided against printing Janna's letter, I hope you will reconsider, or at least give her a chance to edit any parts you find objectionable.
Warmest regards,
Monsieur d'Nalgar
Hot Springs, Arkansas
These are a few of my objections to the rabbi's opinions:
Fox: Nuclear weapons are the ultimate guarantors of Israel's continued existence.
Me: Interesting that a religious leader/teacher would ignore his own sacred texts. Psalms 20:7 (KJV) says "Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God." Isaiah 31:1 confirms that sentiment with "Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because they are many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the LORD!"
Fox: Israel ascribes to a notion called the "Samson option," based on the story of the Biblical Samson…
Me: Ironic, since Samson was the first Palestinian suicide bomber.
Fox: What frightens me, and many others, is that some Muslim or otherwise rogue nations may even now support a leader who is not sane…
Me: That phrase "some Muslim or otherwise rogue nation" belies blatant bigotry. What is it about Muslims that you consider "rogue," my Jewish or otherwise principled/scrupulous friend? Beyond that unsubtle slight, we Americans don't have to look further than our noses and yon Bush to find a rogue nation that even now supports a leader who is demonstrably irrational…
Fox: The pro-Israel AIPAC lobby is very effective in its work. I applaud AIPAC, I am a member of AIPAC. Although lobbying organizations are not popular among some people, that is how government is run in this country. Until we change to a different system, pro-Israel Americans (who are both Christians and Jews) have a perfect right to promote the interests they believe in.
Me: What dubious ethics from a religious leader/teacher! Everyone does it, so we can, too. By this logic, it's OK to resort to bribery, nepotism, all manner of chicanery, and even spying on your friends, if it promotes what you believe in. Rather than working to change or reform a flawed government, the message here is that it's better to take full advantage of those flaws to advance your own selfish interests.
And here is a copy of what Janna sent to you the day Rabbi Fox's opinion piece was published:
—– Forwarded message from Janna —–
Date: Thu, 3 Jul 2008 01:41:07 +0300
From: Janna
Subject: Response to: What Israel Stands to Lose by Rabbi Fox July 2, 2008
To: firstname.lastname@example.com
The opinion piece by Rabbi Fox (July 2, 2008, What Israeli Stands to Lose) has many untruths, which is a kind word choice, at best. One wonders why 70% of Israelis don't agree with Rabbi Fox, and are willing to exchange land for peace. There is no amount of land that will give Israel the security it purportedly seeks. Sadaam's Scuds settled that question long ago. Security will come only when Israel and the Palestinians (and surrounding neighbors) choose a path to peace, to cooperation, to mutual respect, exchange, understanding, acceptance, healing of wounds and building a joint future.
There is a new alternative to AIPAC, J Street, (www.jstreet.org), for American Jews, and others, who support the 67% of Israelis and 62% of Palestinians who don't want to kill each other and don't buy seeing the other as enemy ("Stop the Clash of Civilizations," www.avaaz.org, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxnCObZyTT0). If the $3 billion figure that Rabbi Fox cites is indeed accurate, and indeed gets poured back into the US military industry, then there seems to be a strong incentive by some to discourage the building of ties, and to maintaining an enemy other. Sadly, Rabbi Fox seems to count among them. Rabbi Fox might do well to do some more of that self-searching he most likely recommends for his flock, and hopefully find peace within. And if that proves difficult, he might then begin with some fact finding, regarding the existence of Israelis who support the controversial right of return for Palestinians (http://www.zochrot.org/index.php?id=582), regarding "who bombed who" first in 2006, and Sadaat's possible alternative motives for his bold peace move besides Israel's bomb. Sadaat well knew he risked his own life by going to Jerusalem, yet that peace, though it could be warmer, and despite his assassination, still holds, thirty years later. Israel is now engaging in the prisoner/body exchange and dialogue with Hizbollah it might have engaged in instead of bombing Lebanon in 2006, in response to the kidnapping of Israeli soldiers. Better late than never. It's not clear to me why the majority of people worldwide continue to be ruled by belligerent leaders, Israelis and Palestinians notwithstanding.
Just for the record, in 2006 I evacuated my home when one of Hizbollah's bombs fell across the street (41 Oranim, Qiryat Tivon, Israel).
Tibet University
Jiangsu Rd. 36
Lhasa, Tibet 850000

subset: commoncrawl


text:
B is for Doing Your Best Because You Believe Every Day Is A Bonus
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Archive for category New Technologies
Adopting New Technologies and Business Practices : When's a good time?
Posted by Jim Foster in Generic nexium, Buspar vs xanax, New Technologies on December 21, 2012
Is there ever a good time to adopt a new technology or business practice? No. Yes. Today. First, ask yourself these questions, "Will it make me or our organization more profitable? Will it lead to new business opportunities?" One broad way to measure profitability is ROI in the investment. How much will it cost to introduce a new technology or business practice, what costs are involved, how quick is the pay back. Are there metrics in place to measure this? One can argue during downtime or between large projects is the best time to invest so they can be incorporated from the beginning of the next project. Cost center issues get caught up with the CFO or whatever other gate keeper that is out there because they cannot be assigned or passed on to a client. Why is this an argument? It might not be said out right, but this type of accounting is just easier and no one ever gets in trouble going with the flow. You were not the one who approved such expenditures so it can be pinned on you. Be an evangelist. Things need to get done. If there is a better way to do it. Do it. You know eventually your competition is going to and will either be A) more profitable B) more efficient or both and start making money at a lower cost than you are. You're an artist, and it's always worked this way. Okay, maybe, but that doesn't scale. The organization is you. And maybe that's okay but I don't know how you hire and keep talented people. People like to solve problems and they want the tools to solve them. You have to build a house. Tough to argue for the hammer over the nail gun.
One business proverb always comes to mind when dwelling on this issue.
"If you don't like new technology you'll like obsolescence even less."
Next Time: "It's all Organization Behavior"
Hey Microsoft I've Got Your Game Changer; Right Here
Posted by Jim Foster in Buspar vs xanax, New Technologies, Revit on October 24, 2012
So when we demo our software, inevitably for a lot of architects we are asked, usually at least once, so will this work on the ipad? Fact is, not yet, not until Revit works on the ipad, which the only way I see that happening is that Citrix does an amazing job serving it through a 4G pipeline, so most likely Revit / BIM Models can be viewed in the field, but not yet interacting with one in a meaningful way. Yes you might argue there are check lists, etc. but I'm speaking about dealing with the actual authoring tool. So while architects ask if PKNail Pro works on the ipad. Salespeople will say, "Hey have you seen the Surface? That could be a game changer for you." That is full blown windows working on a tablet that will run Revit in the field. The review by David Pogue in the Times, states the Surface "On the hardware front, Microsoft has succeeded brilliantly… amazing, amazing hardware. Now the heartbreak: software." He argues that operating system is not here yet, but this is Windows RT. I'm talking about taking Full Blown Windows into the field for some serious heavy weight mobile application throw down. Building a Revit Model, a Building Information Model of an existing building, in the field, in real time with just your Surface Tablet, a laser range finder, and some software, some industry specific software that will make you 10x faster. Yes, I'm saying PKNail Pro will do that. It's effective, it's fast, and now let's put a wrapper around it named Surface.
So Microsoft, send me a demo, if it's what I'm expecting I'll be singing your praises. It's time to get to work.
*I'm serious Microsoft, so hopefully an identity manager has picked this thread up, or someone wants to make introduction. We are fired up for the Surface and not because we want swag but because it looks like its the size of a beach ball, teed up, and we're swinging hard.
**Why a picture of LT? Well, it's LT. Further defined: Left Offensive Tackles are now prized possessions in the NFL and some of the highest paid. That happened when LT lined up. LT changed the game.
3D 4D 5D Go! : The 5th D of BIM Cost Coming Into Focus
Posted by Jim Foster in Generic nexium, Buspar vs xanax, New Technologies on September 18, 2012
To reduce costs for any project or product, look at the inputs; can they be improved? Break out the Cost of Goods Sold, or Cost of Sales. In construction the Cost of Sales (which will include material and labor) is at a whopping 84%. This leaves leaving only a 16% gross margin for everything else. To put this in perspective Walmart operates at around a 25% Gross Margin. So is it any wonder the need to lock down costs and reduce waste is more extreme in this industry than most? Compare it to its aligned industry the AE (Architecture Engineering) industry whose gross margin is 3 times as high and there is good reason that BIM was initially more widely adopted and implemented by the construction trades. Any advantage in reducing costs, improving margins or making a firm more competitive in the marketplace will find a receptive audience in construction.
Cost saving were first realized with BIMs starting with the 3D coordination of the digital model, clash detection and then scheduling(the 4th D) of construction and the reduction of the cost of labor. Downtime for crews due to change orders or having material unavailable was reduced. Now we are starting to see more firms focus on the cost of materials and how they can be managed and best integrated into a project.
RIB Software , based in Stuttgart Germany is a leading provider of technical ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) software solutions for the construction industry recently announced the acquistiono of MC2 one of the leaders in cost estimation software for the construction industry or the 5th D of BIM. In the official press release RIB stated 'Major step taken in the US market for 5D-BIM technology'. In July Trimble acquired WinEstimator another leader in cost estimation in the United States.
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Posted by Jim Foster in Buspar vs xanax, New Technologies on August 17, 2012
Design and Build have not always been the best of friends, honestly. While you don't have one without the other there is still a separation, like oil and water, sure you can shake it and it stays mixed for a bit and can make a tasty dressing but without adding something they always separate again. An architect might create a BIM to use for construction but then the CM (construction manager) might take the BIM and say, 'oh yes, I see what you want to do,' and then design it for constructablility. Before entering the AEC part of the world I was in product design and manufacturing. Parts were designed to have less waste, to be less complex, to use simpler molds, to reduce cycle time, to have less operations, all to create an easy assemble, cost effective product. There was a version of 3D printing called SLA (Sterolithography) that used lasers that hardened resin a millimeter at a time to create 3D models and CNC machines to hog ABS plastic out, among other materials, to create prototypes of a part and product before you went to mold, because creating the molds was expensive and you wanted to know the parts worked together, and the right tolerances before you cut steel. These processes and machines were expensive but when it was right, all that expense would allow to create inexpensive repeatable parts that could be easily assembled and voila, your buying a blender for $29.99. But the cost for these technologies has plummeted from ZCorp's 3D printing, to being able to build or buy your own desktop CNC machine or 3D printer. However, this process is still in its infancy in the design/build world of homes, building and architecture.
Sure you see full scale BIM's with clash detection and the different disciplines coming together to seeing into the one model, and sequencing and scheduling and for the most part it is on larger projects, under the the guise of IPD (Integrated Project Delivery), but still rarely do you see component parts built off site and brought on to be inserted into the building, although prefab is gaining more steam. Still you have a lot of people creating buildings on site, by hand. And usually they do a fantastic job of it, but imagine if you had a machine creating custom cuts, etc. for assembly, direct from the design, allowing for tighter tolerances, less waste, reduced manpower, better scheduling, well that should be a fine addition to the toolbox of architects and builders.
When I read An Entire House That You Can Snap Together Like a Toy, I was very interested, but more excited to learn about the process. Which brought me to Facit Homes, out of London and then watching their videos. They design for assembly, that is, the thought put into the design is from the product design world, how it goes together, how will it work, how is it most effective, and, AND, this is big, there is a portable CNC machine/truck making custom cutting wood for assembly into the home they designed. That's awesome. And while they don't seem to be advertising the fact, they are using Autodesk Revit for the process, as you can see the ribbon in the videos. Regardless of what technology they are using, that's awesome. Less waste, tighter fits, built for assembly. They get it. Integrated Design Build. Cats and Dogs Living Together. Now That's a Tasty Burger.
D-Process from Facit Homes on Vimeo.
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Posted by Jim Foster in Buspar vs xanax, New Technologies on July 23, 2012
Recent Press Release from Gehry Technologies introduces GTeam. To explain GTeam, let's briefly discuss what BIM is suppose to be and I will define it as a collaborative process to reduce waste; wastes of time, materials, resources, etc. How this is done is argued as frequently as the legitimacy of the designated hitter. However, I don't think you can argue the more people on a platform the better, so when a change is needed or made, the people who need to see it, see it, can comment, iterate, make it better, make it happen. Hence the argument for open standards. Truth is, BIM authoring tools are time consuming to create and maintain so who has a vested interest in building and nurturing such a tool? Besides well meaning folk, not for profit corporations. So what we need is the BIM Blender that will take in all disparate types of information and serve them to people, preferably on an iPad. Why iPad? Because, and I mean this as a compliment, a three old can operate an iPad. If something better comes along, so maybe a 16 month can operate it, so be it but right now, let's admit everyone asks if your app, program, etc, runs on an ipad. So this blender need to take in every format, regardless of the authoring tool, regardless of the format, and be able to organize it and allow the user to interact with it in a meaningful way. Supposedly Horizontal Glue, now part of Autodesk 360 was a tool like this, and now we have GTeam from Gehry Technologies, which makes the argument, " is the easiest platform for teams to collaborate and share documents, files and 3D building information online. Architects, designers, engineers, contractors, consultants, and owners use GTeam to reach consensus faster, reduce change orders, save time, get more work and reduce project costs." Like Spike Lee said, "the mo' colors, the mo' better' and the more people working on getting the pipe fitter on the same page, as the engineer, as the architect, the mo' better, and the folks at Gehry have some experience getting people on the same page.
What's That in the Sky? Sweet Jesus it's an Autodesk Octo-Copter.
Posted by Jim Foster in Buspar vs xanax, Built Environment, New Technologies on June 21, 2012
Autodesk deployed it's Octo-Copter in Africa for high resolution reality capture. This was done in support of Louis Leakey in Kenya in search of our ancestral trails
Additonally, they deployed it on their head quarters in San Rafael.
From the Gizmag Website:
The Mikrokopter Octocopter is an 8-rotor flying platform which has a 2 kg (4.4 lbs) capacity to carry cameras. It can be flown using an internal camera to give the operator a copter-based vantage point on video glasses, or can be programmed to follow a GPS-controlled flight path. An Octocopter can fly autonomously at altitudes up to 1000 meters (3280 feet), or can be manually flown as high as 3500 meters (11,480 feet). In the Autodesk tests video was captured using a GOPro Hero 2 camera, and the still pictures from which the 3D model was later built were taken by a remotely triggered Canon SLR camera.
Autodesk 123D is a suite of programs which allow a user to create, manipulate, and construct 3D objects using a 3D printer. Catch is part of the 123D suite, and offers a standalone software package that helps you create 3D models from a series of 2D digital images of an object or a scene. The spatial resolution available using 123D Catch is about 1 part in 600, or 0.167% of the total size of the object pictured, so you would be able to accurately place individual windows on a 3D model of a Boeing 747.
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Posted by Jim Foster in New Technologies, Revit on June 20, 2012
With Microsoft's announcement of Windows 8, and the unveiling of the Surface Tablet, it finally appears there will be a tablet form factor that will run Revit in the field. According to the press release there will be two versions, one based on the ARM chip and another based on the Intel i5 chip running Windows 8 Pro. The iPad, as much it is great for so many tasks, simply does not have the horsepower to run Revit in the field, and delivering the type of user experience one would want with heavyweight programs is a real limitation in the 'cloud.' I understand Autodesk is now counting solely on Citrix to provide its remote platform but even if you are driving Revit remotely would you want to rely on whatever internet connection you have? That's just not a funnel I would want to count on in the field.
At first glance you might say so what, not a big deal. However, if I can have a device that toggles between my heavyweight AEC programs, and delivers content the way my my iPad does then I might have an iPad to sell you; because frankly I am sick of devices, I live between the Mac and Windows camp, I'm tired of it. I used to be an Apple fanatic, even being the only kid in business school with a Mac, the disastrous PowerPC model, but what was not to like about Apple. Now, how did we get to the point where Microsoft is the little guy, relatively speaking. Now if they could get their content management into a spot that works the way you want. Imagine the central Revit model up on the sky drive, you check it out in the field, do your work, update it, booyah.
I think single purpose, highly specific apps are great to digest data, not for the creation of it so I am real interested in the melding of tablet like functionality with horsepower. I'm rooting for the little guy, I'm rooting for Microsoft.
BTW anyone else bother to notice the blending and vertical integration of software/hardware. Apple, obviously. Google buys Motorola. Microsoft with multiple attempts, Zune, XBox, etc. and now Surface. And more germane to AEC Trimble buys Tekla and SketchUp. Seems to be the biz strategy du jour, watch for more.
For Those That Like to Tweet… A Free iPad
Posted by Jim Foster in Buspar vs xanax, Built Environment, New Technologies, Point to Point Laser Technology on June 13, 2012
Tweet about PKNail Pro's Proven Field to BIM Technology, Get Entered Automatically
PointKnown is giving away a free Apple iPad to one lucky Twitterer…er, tweeter, i.e. one who uses the service twitter to disseminate clever, witty, informative text burst in 140 characters or less. PointKnown does not claim to be clever, witty or informative, but will claim producing kick ahh…whup ahh…Excellent productivity software tools for documenting existing buildings.
How to Enter
To participate, simply tweet using the hash tags below:
#pknail #revit #bim and mention 'PKNail Pro'
"PKNail Pro turbo charges Revit and modeling existing buildings #pknail #revit #bim"
or "Capture Existing Buildings Directly In Revit with PKNail Pro, 5x-10x faster #pknail #revit #bim"
less pertinent but still acceptable "We came, we saw, we conquered with PKNail Pro, #pknail, #bim , #revit"
less pertinent verging to the non-sequitur but still acceptable…
"beautiful software for happy people PKNail Pro, #pknail, #bim, #revit"
Remember: follow @pointknown on Twitter for the winner announcement:
We are on the road with Microcad and have other excellent resellers including, Seiler Instrument (ask for Harvey) and CADDFX
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1. This giveaway is offered by PointKnown LLC and is open to anyone with a Twitter account who is at least 16 years of age. Employees of PointKnown, LLC. and/or its affiliated companies and family members of such employees may enter the contest but are not eligible to win.
2. The giveaway will begin at the time of this post and end 62 days after initial post, a winner will be randomly chosen, much like the number 62, and announced via twitter through @pointknown
3. One giveaway will be available: a 16GB Wi-Fi Apple iPad or $499 Apple Store Credit, winner's choice.
4. You must prove ownership of the winning entry and provide your email address to collect the prize.
5. To enter the giveaway you must send out a tweet from your own Twitter account that includes the #hash tags above in your message.
6. Entries using automated tweets will be disqualified, however there is no limit on the number of tweets you may enter.
7. PointKnown LLC will choose a winner randomly from all the entries within the specified period. The winner will be announced from our twitter account (@pointknown) once the contest ends.
8. Entrants agree to allow @pointknown to use their twitter handles and entry tweets for marketing purposes.
9. Neither PointKnown LLC. nor its affiliated companies shall have any liability for (i) any technical failures of any kind, including but not limited to malfunctions, interruptions or disconnections in phone lines or network hardware or software; (ii) technical or human error which may occur in the administration of the giveaway; (iii) any malfunction of or damage to the prize; (iv) any corruption, typos or hacking of prize winners email accounts; or (v) any restrictions or delays imposed by any customs authorities or any import or other taxes of any kind imposed by any taxation authority in respect of the prizes.
Autodesk Continues to Round Out Portfolio : Acquires Vela Systems
Posted by Jim Foster in BIM, New Technologies on June 8, 2012
Announced today, Autodesk Acquires Vela Systems. If you are developing products within the Building Life Cycle somewhere between and including design to demolition, you are in play. Trimble has been going on an acquisition rampage with its acquisition of Tekla and Sketch Up and Autodesk never one to be a wallflower has just acquired Vela. This is almost 2 years to the date that Vela was unveiled publicly. No idea of their market size but their own press releases state that they are more than 'twice as big' as any competitive Field BIM Systems. Regardless, market penetration means little at this point now that the Autodesk marketing/sales system is behind it. How big was Revit in 2006 when they were purchased. A primer of Vela's Key Features below. Congrats Vela folks, job well done.
Vela Field Management Suite Key Features
The Vela Field Management Suite of Web, Mobile and Reports enables everyone throughout the enterprise to access documents, field activities and reports in the office and in the field. Since its release a year ago, and to further broaden the usability throughout the enterprise, Vela Systems has expanded upon the following features:
- Field BIM® for commissioning and handover that ties BIM to the field for data and document exchange
- Company-level checklist and issue template capabilities to implement and enforce quality and safety programs
- Increased accessibility via the Internet on multiple devices like iPads and Smart Phones
- Better web-based reporting that turns field data into powerful information for managing quality, safety and risk at the project and company level
Flame Virus Wants Your CAD
Posted by Jim Foster in CAD, New Technologies on June 7, 2012
As reported by Industry Week, 'The world's most sophisticated malware had a 'high interest in AutoCAD drawings,' Kaspersky Lab said. The Flame Virus, which mainly affected computers in the Middle East used a loophole in Microsoft software tricking computers into thinking they are downloading a legitimate Windows update. This fact, being reported by Reuters, The Times, CNET, and others. CNN reported that Flame can turn on your microphone, webcam, log e-mails, etc. I have not read if it can do anything malicious itself as the Stuxnet Virus did to Iran Uranium enrichment facilities by having centrifuges essentially tear themselves apart. However, going after CAD, essentially engineering and building documents can let whoever is collecting this information know what you are designing and building, and possibly have the blueprints of the building you are designing and building in. And you thought google knowing that you smoke cigars and eat ice cream on your back porch at 5:23 PM was intrusive.


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