Autodesk University 2014: Day 2

It's suddenly Thursday morning. I feel like I've been in one of those hyperlapse videos since my last blog post. Here's a quick update on what I've been up to.

When I wrote my last post I was actually sitting in on Albert Szilvasy's AutoCAD I/O session. This very interesting class was recorded so be sure to watch it when it comes online.

Albert I-O

From there I headed to the Exhibit Hall. This year the Exhibit Hall at AU is just incredible. I don't know what's changed, exactly, but I just love the way it's been laid out. And I've really enjoyed wandering around talking to people on the various stands.

It was great to see the new Ember 3D printer in action:

Autodesk Ember

I snuck back into the Exhibit Hall when it was closed to have my photo taken sitting in the world's first 3D printed car.

Sitting in the Local Motors Strati

It was great to see the Morgan configurator on display across the way:

The Morgan configurator

And yes, AutoCAD was everywhere. 🙂

AutoCAD is everywhere

Wednesday was my busiest day, presentation-wise. In the morning I talked to a roomful of people interested in AutoCAD's JavaScript API and then to a smaller (but very engaged) crowd about connecting AutoCAD to SensorTag in the afternoon. The day's presentations ended with a panel session about Autodesk's Cloud and Mobile APIs, which was really interesting.

After dropping my bag back in my hotel room, I headed on down to Minus5, to meet with some customers (it was great to meet you, Jim and Dan :-). It was quite surreal chatting about AutoCAD in a fur coat and hat, sipping a mojito from a glass made out of ice. That was a first for me, at least. Although I suppose going to an ice bar in the middle of the desert isn't much stranger than having a sauna in Switzerland. 😉

While in Minus5 I ran into Marion Pietsch, an old friend, and we had our picture taken in our "Narnia" get-up:

With Marion in the Minus 5 ice bar

From there I headed off to the Blogger and Social Meetup, in the Rí Rá Irish pub, where I had the chance to sit down and talk to a number of really interesting people. There were a number of representatives from Made in Space, who have used Autodesk tools to design the first zero-G 3D printer.

A highlight of the event was chatting at length with TJ McCue, fresh off his fascinating 3DRV tour. Here I am with TJ and Karen Mason, a friend and colleague from the AutoCAD team.

At the blogger social with Karen and TJ

Right now I'm sitting in the Answer Bar, but I'll soon head off for a bite to eat ahead of my last commitment of this year's AU, presenting a quick introduction at Jason Walter's class on the Morgan configurator his team implemented for the Geneva Motor Show.

I'll certainly live-tweet the closing session before heading to the closing party, marking the end of yet another great AU!

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