Microsoft researchers make me cry

It’s not often that I see software that really changes my world. It’s even rarer that I see software that I know will change the world my sons live in. I can count those times pretty easily. The first time I saw an Apple II in 1977. When Richard Cameron showed me Apple’s Hypercard. Microsoft’s Excel. Aldus’ Pagemaker. And something called Photoshop, all in his West Valley Community College classroom. Later when I saw Marc Andreessen’s Netscape running the WWW. ICQ and Netmeeting which laid the ground for Skype.

Like I said, these things don’t happen often.

Yesterday was one of those days. Curtis Wong and Jonathan Fay, researchers at Microsoft, fired up their machines and showed me something that I can’t tell you about until February 27th. I’m sure you’ll read about his work in the New York Times or TechCrunch, among other places. It’s too inspiring to stay a secret for long.

While watching the demo I realized the way I look at the world was about to change. While listening to Wong I noticed a tear running down my face. It’s been a long while since Microsoft did something that had an emotional impact on me like that.

Why torment you with a post like this? Because it’s my way of making sure that stuff that really is extraordinary gets paid attention to. And because I wanted to get down the emotional impact of what I saw before that feeling totally wears off. I also wanted to get down some lessons that others at Microsoft might learn from so that they can have this kind of impact in their own work. Imagine if Microsoft did 10 things a year like what Curtis and Jonathan showed me yesterday? If the innovation engine at Microsoft were working that well there wouldn’t be any pressure to buy Yahoo. Heck, and if there were a constant stream of stuff like what I saw yesterday Yahoo wouldn’t be resisting going to Microsoft. They’d +want+ to go to Microsoft. Yesterday is the first time since leaving that I wish I were back working at Microsoft.

Now, I can hear Christopher Coulter in my head. The thing these two guys did won’t have a business impact the way, say, Microsoft Office did. There isn’t a business model here. But does every damn thing need a business model? Does a scientific paper that changes the world need a business model? Does it need more audience than just the other 50 scientists in the world who care about that topic? No.

But back to that tear.

Note that it wasn’t a team of 100 people who did it. Two guys with a supporting cast of maybe a dozen. I’ve noticed a trend at Microsoft: that the coolest stuff is done by small teams without a ton of resources. Down the hall from Wong and Fay was researcher Andy Wilson. When I walked into his lab he was working on another cool surface computing technology for Microsoft’s upcoming Tech Fest (which happens March 4). He, and another researcher, were playing with a cool round screen. You might know of Andy’s work: it was his research and demos that convinced Microsoft to build the Surface device which you touch with your hands.

No need for big teams. I never sense a lot of bureaucracy or politics in either of these two guys’ offices.

Back to Wong and Fay’s work.

Could they have done this at a Silicon Valley startup? I doubt it. Venture Capitalists won’t see enough business value in what they are doing. Plus they would need to build a team around them, work out a business plan. Invest their own capital and time building a prototype so that people “get it.” If I told you today what they were doing, without showing you the video we’ll have up on March 3, you’d tell me “that’s lame Scoble.” But when you see it face-to-face everyone I know who’s seen it say they’ve had an emotional reaction to it. Buzz Bruggeman, CEO of ActiveWords, was the first to tell me about it and said it was the best thing he’s seen in years from Microsoft.

Maybe it could be done, but they’ve been traveling all over the world working with researchers from other institutions and getting data for their new thing. It’s a lot easier to get access when you say “I’m a researcher at Microsoft” than when you say “I’m building a startup.”

Other lessons? Keep up to date on the latest things happening in your industry. In Wong and Fey’s work you’ll see techniques that lots of startups are using and, even, that the Google Map team is using. This isn’t stuff that was possible in 1995 so it requires 2008-style Web services and data centers.

Anyway, I’m getting all geeky on you (today Rocky and I are heading to Amazon to talk with Jeff Barr of the team that built its S3 and EC2 services, among others, so that’s probably why I’m ramping up my geek level) but that shouldn’t take away that these two guys got me to cry yesterday.

And that was a good thing. Two guys working inside a big company still can change the world. Can’t wait to talk more about what they’ve done. They’ll have a bunch of press on February 27 and our video will be up on FastCompany.tv on March 3.

UPDATE: I’ve updated this post with a few additions here.

412 thoughts on “Microsoft researchers make me cry

  1. Th goal of your post is achieved.
    I’m happy to see that the big MS can let people work on cool stuff. It would be interesant to know if is an exception or if there are many projects like this one at Microsoft.
    Small teams is the best way to go 😉

    Like

  2. Th goal of your post is achieved.
    I’m happy to see that the big MS can let people work on cool stuff. It would be interesant to know if is an exception or if there are many projects like this one at Microsoft.
    Small teams is the best way to go 😉

    Like

  3. Can’t wait to see/hear/read about this… whatever it is 🙂 Hey, that’ll get awfully close to Apple’s iPhone SDK deadline too… hm.

    I love to hear about small teams or even an evangelist within one large co. making amazing things. I love it more when those things are productized without the sould being ripped away from them (ala Golden Compass).

    Like

  4. Can’t wait to see/hear/read about this… whatever it is 🙂 Hey, that’ll get awfully close to Apple’s iPhone SDK deadline too… hm.

    I love to hear about small teams or even an evangelist within one large co. making amazing things. I love it more when those things are productized without the sould being ripped away from them (ala Golden Compass).

    Like

  5. Robert…

    …congrats on the tech peak experience…

    I experienced it once…I was a “temp” for the “thinker” at Lockheed Martin corporate headquarters in Bethesda, MD. A new beta test product called “Netscape” arrived and they wanted us to look at it. As the thinker invested corporate money 5 years out, he was too busy so he tossed it to me.

    I installed it and sat transfixed for 3 days as the world opened in living color on the screen.

    At the time, I was typing 3 lines of difficult code into “Sailor” the Maryland library online network for online access in dreary, black and white letters.

    Then I found out Brown & Co. was the IPO agent. I called to invest in Netscape. The broker laughed and me and asked if I was a “serious” investor. I said, “Serious as a heart attack.” He replied, “No…I mean can you raise $400,000 cash in 15 minutes if I need you to.”

    Needless to say, I was not able to invest in the Netscape IPO…but I did have the thrill of seeing the wonder of it months before it launched.

    Not often those centers in the brain blaze…writing poetry, picking up a newborn, finding love…but they’re grand when they happen. Glad to hear you found such a moment.

    Like

  6. Funny you should say that Robert, Microsoft products tend to make me cry……..with rage – generally about 3 or 4 times a day.

    Windows XP – takes ages to start up and shut down
    Outlook – takes years to start up and stabilise, tends to crash about twice a day
    Word – annoys me generally

    I don’t use IE as it’s a total piece of junk but I guess I get along with Windows Live Messenger and Excel OK, but it doesn’t make me emotional.

    Like

  7. Robert…

    …congrats on the tech peak experience…

    I experienced it once…I was a “temp” for the “thinker” at Lockheed Martin corporate headquarters in Bethesda, MD. A new beta test product called “Netscape” arrived and they wanted us to look at it. As the thinker invested corporate money 5 years out, he was too busy so he tossed it to me.

    I installed it and sat transfixed for 3 days as the world opened in living color on the screen.

    At the time, I was typing 3 lines of difficult code into “Sailor” the Maryland library online network for online access in dreary, black and white letters.

    Then I found out Brown & Co. was the IPO agent. I called to invest in Netscape. The broker laughed and me and asked if I was a “serious” investor. I said, “Serious as a heart attack.” He replied, “No…I mean can you raise $400,000 cash in 15 minutes if I need you to.”

    Needless to say, I was not able to invest in the Netscape IPO…but I did have the thrill of seeing the wonder of it months before it launched.

    Not often those centers in the brain blaze…writing poetry, picking up a newborn, finding love…but they’re grand when they happen. Glad to hear you found such a moment.

    Like

  8. Funny you should say that Robert, Microsoft products tend to make me cry……..with rage – generally about 3 or 4 times a day.

    Windows XP – takes ages to start up and shut down
    Outlook – takes years to start up and stabilise, tends to crash about twice a day
    Word – annoys me generally

    I don’t use IE as it’s a total piece of junk but I guess I get along with Windows Live Messenger and Excel OK, but it doesn’t make me emotional.

    Like

  9. hitting google we get this description of the research group that these guys belong to:
    “Microsoft Next Media Research group focuses on exploring what new consumer media experiences are possible with the growth in computing power, connectivity and storage in a compelling, elegant and transparent way in the 3 to 10 year timeframe. The group envisions consumer information and entertainment experiences not available today and builds or combines technologies from other Microsoft Research groups and crafts intuitive user interfaces and compelling scenarios to deliver that experience. Rather than focus on old media or new media, the group attempts to develop working prototypes of the Next forms of media possible from new convergent technologies, hence the name.”

    Like

  10. hitting google we get this description of the research group that these guys belong to:
    “Microsoft Next Media Research group focuses on exploring what new consumer media experiences are possible with the growth in computing power, connectivity and storage in a compelling, elegant and transparent way in the 3 to 10 year timeframe. The group envisions consumer information and entertainment experiences not available today and builds or combines technologies from other Microsoft Research groups and crafts intuitive user interfaces and compelling scenarios to deliver that experience. Rather than focus on old media or new media, the group attempts to develop working prototypes of the Next forms of media possible from new convergent technologies, hence the name.”

    Like

  11. this is a link where two guys present together last year http://www.tmspa.com/Speakers_Talks.html

    How you can use the WorldWide Telescope”

    Jonathan Fay

    The WorldWide Telescope project will open up astronomy education and exploration like never before. Jonathan Fay, a Principal Research Software Engineer on the project, will discuss how you can use the WorldWide telescope to explore, create and share educational narratives and even register your own astronomical images so they can be viewed in the context of the virtual sky. An interactive demo of the WWT Virtual Sky and authoring tools will be presented. There will also be a discussion of the technical challenges involved in bringing together the data necessary to open up the universe over the Internet.

    Are we talking about astro-browser? I hope not.

    Like

  12. this is a link where two guys present together last year http://www.tmspa.com/Speakers_Talks.html

    How you can use the WorldWide Telescope”

    Jonathan Fay

    The WorldWide Telescope project will open up astronomy education and exploration like never before. Jonathan Fay, a Principal Research Software Engineer on the project, will discuss how you can use the WorldWide telescope to explore, create and share educational narratives and even register your own astronomical images so they can be viewed in the context of the virtual sky. An interactive demo of the WWT Virtual Sky and authoring tools will be presented. There will also be a discussion of the technical challenges involved in bringing together the data necessary to open up the universe over the Internet.

    Are we talking about astro-browser? I hope not.

    Like

  13. I wonder if it has anything to do with Computational Photography, such as my latest effort here in Chicago…

    http://flickr.com/photos/–mike–/2264482503/

    It’s supposed to be a jaw dropping photo showing the Chicago Cultural Center in perfect clarity, with the trees that obscure it blurred away… but… the focus is wrong… oops. Those 100meter frames of virtual film are so touchy about focus 😉

    After your interview with Mark Levoy in PodTech, I got very interested in experimenting with my camera as a sensor, and learning more about lightfields.

    I hope some day to be able to automatically generate a 3d model of things, like the folks at Microsofts have been doing, but with open source tools.

    Like

  14. I wonder if it has anything to do with Computational Photography, such as my latest effort here in Chicago…

    http://flickr.com/photos/–mike–/2264482503/

    It’s supposed to be a jaw dropping photo showing the Chicago Cultural Center in perfect clarity, with the trees that obscure it blurred away… but… the focus is wrong… oops. Those 100meter frames of virtual film are so touchy about focus 😉

    After your interview with Mark Levoy in PodTech, I got very interested in experimenting with my camera as a sensor, and learning more about lightfields.

    I hope some day to be able to automatically generate a 3d model of things, like the folks at Microsofts have been doing, but with open source tools.

    Like

  15. Robert,
    Given that the researchers are part of the “Next Media” group at Microsoft, it wouldn’t surprise me if they’ve come up with something earth-shattering that’s related to way people commune with their media. They work with concepts for broadcast and museums, so their work could offer endless educational possibilities; which is what I hope it is. I also agree with “Andre” in that statement.

    I look forward to what they’re doing. They have many impressive projects coming out of there and beat many competitors to the punch – they just don’t market them all! Sadly, sometimes…

    Like

  16. Robert,
    Given that the researchers are part of the “Next Media” group at Microsoft, it wouldn’t surprise me if they’ve come up with something earth-shattering that’s related to way people commune with their media. They work with concepts for broadcast and museums, so their work could offer endless educational possibilities; which is what I hope it is. I also agree with “Andre” in that statement.

    I look forward to what they’re doing. They have many impressive projects coming out of there and beat many competitors to the punch – they just don’t market them all! Sadly, sometimes…

    Like

  17. Googling the two names seems to offer some support to Gaspar’s comment. If so, I look forward to seeing what they’ve done. I reserve the right not to shed tears though. You bally Yanks are far too emotional anyway…

    Like

  18. A master of link bait you are. When you are a business and spending your shareholders money, YES everything has to have a business model. Given your track record of predicting the next big thing few of us will be holding our breath

    Like

  19. Googling the two names seems to offer some support to Gaspar’s comment. If so, I look forward to seeing what they’ve done. I reserve the right not to shed tears though. You bally Yanks are far too emotional anyway…

    Like

  20. A master of link bait you are. When you are a business and spending your shareholders money, YES everything has to have a business model. Given your track record of predicting the next big thing few of us will be holding our breath

    Like

  21. Yawn.

    Change the world. Yea right.

    Remember the hype around Segue – Jobs and Bezos said it would revolutionize urban humanity.

    Whatever.

    C’mon robert, you have been out of the Redmond reality distortion field long enough not to fall for this stuff. It might be cool, but I can go to Ford’s ‘research’ department and see 1000hp sports car probably…doubt I will ever be able to buy one from them though.

    We shall see if:
    1) This really is that cool
    2) It can be either its own standalone product or incorporated into an existing product in a meaningful way
    3) That it can be released/incorporated within say 5 years.

    Otherwise, while it may be cool, it may not matter.

    Like

  22. Yawn.

    Change the world. Yea right.

    Remember the hype around Segue – Jobs and Bezos said it would revolutionize urban humanity.

    Whatever.

    C’mon robert, you have been out of the Redmond reality distortion field long enough not to fall for this stuff. It might be cool, but I can go to Ford’s ‘research’ department and see 1000hp sports car probably…doubt I will ever be able to buy one from them though.

    We shall see if:
    1) This really is that cool
    2) It can be either its own standalone product or incorporated into an existing product in a meaningful way
    3) That it can be released/incorporated within say 5 years.

    Otherwise, while it may be cool, it may not matter.

    Like

  23. The things you saw were probably independent of Windows or any of their other poorly-managed products that have sent many of us to Open Source, Apple and Google for relief.

    Recently, Apple’s recent products and Amazon Web Services made me cry with happiness.

    Like

  24. The things you saw were probably independent of Windows or any of their other poorly-managed products that have sent many of us to Open Source, Apple and Google for relief.

    Recently, Apple’s recent products and Amazon Web Services made me cry with happiness.

    Like

  25. I can’t say I’m fond of posts like this. I can appreciate your sense of awe and eagerness to share it, but it provides zero value to me as a reader. You might as well have posted this in a foreign language and I’d have gotten the same value out of this post. Keep me posted when the news breaks and you can actually talk to the source of your excitement.

    Like

  26. I can’t say I’m fond of posts like this. I can appreciate your sense of awe and eagerness to share it, but it provides zero value to me as a reader. You might as well have posted this in a foreign language and I’d have gotten the same value out of this post. Keep me posted when the news breaks and you can actually talk to the source of your excitement.

    Like

  27. Robert, have you not given away the secret by saying “on another cool surface computing technology”

    its not their table PC thing by any chance is it?

    Like

  28. Robert, have you not given away the secret by saying “on another cool surface computing technology”

    its not their table PC thing by any chance is it?

    Like

  29. It’s a program that collects all the YouTube videos of John Edwards campaign speeches and automatically edits them to old Journey ballads.

    Scoble would eat that right up.

    Like

  30. It’s a program that collects all the YouTube videos of John Edwards campaign speeches and automatically edits them to old Journey ballads.

    Scoble would eat that right up.

    Like

  31. I’ve seen it and Scoble is not even being hyperbolic in how good this application is. Gaspar is onto something, is all I will say. Jonathan Fay is genius.

    BTW I’ve seen Googlers faces drop seeing this. You do have to be a geek to appreciate it, and it will have immense educational AND research value.

    Like

  32. I’ve seen it and Scoble is not even being hyperbolic in how good this application is. Gaspar is onto something, is all I will say. Jonathan Fay is genius.

    BTW I’ve seen Googlers faces drop seeing this. You do have to be a geek to appreciate it, and it will have immense educational AND research value.

    Like

  33. I don’t know if this has anything to do with what Robert is talking about, but its interesting to note Wong and Fay worked on this:

    The WorldWide Telescope (WWT) project is designed to be an extensible learning and exploration environment which integrates hyperlinked rich media narrative with a seamless multiple survey virtual sky to enable guided and unguided exploration of the universe.
    http://www.tmspa.com/Speakers_Talks.html

    Like

  34. I don’t know if this has anything to do with what Robert is talking about, but its interesting to note Wong and Fay worked on this:

    The WorldWide Telescope (WWT) project is designed to be an extensible learning and exploration environment which integrates hyperlinked rich media narrative with a seamless multiple survey virtual sky to enable guided and unguided exploration of the universe.
    http://www.tmspa.com/Speakers_Talks.html

    Like

  35. Ok is it me or does:
    “When I walked into his lab he was working on another cool surface computing technology ” have duel meaning?

    Either a) Wong and Fay is working on cool surface technology
    or b) Andy Wilsonor is just another group doing surface computing tech in parallel with the Surface main group.

    Curtis Wong is manager of the Microsoft Next Media Research Group, whose focus “spans the linear and interactive media spectrum from television, broadband, ..

    Adobe’s bringing out AIR by the end of the month. Mozilla’s Prism is beating out there too. Microsoft will need to counter, and this might be it, some Silverlight related info. If it ain’t a phone, then TV and media related. That’s both of their areas. Surely the Olympics involvement isn’t just a generous offer – it’s a play to get beyond the XBox medica centre, and get people onto a Microsoft (Vista enhanced perhaps) entertainment package.

    Or it could be something completely different… (or tangential to the MediaBrowser papers/photo=-triage for all media)
    I think some of what was in the keynote might roll out soon- they’re going to push it. I’d imagine the video clip eye candy is nearly ready. That or Gates’ “last keynote” really was that lame (bindings on the board upside down, and a silly recycled demo of Surface tech anyone?)

    Maybe it’s to push collections and search to replace heirarchy.

    Of note – why is it that on the Microsoft site, Wong, the primary contact doesn’t have a link through on details like the rest of his team? (Jonathan (no h) Fay is also absent of details) http://research.microsoft.com/nextmedia/ ?

    Like

  36. Ok is it me or does:
    “When I walked into his lab he was working on another cool surface computing technology ” have duel meaning?

    Either a) Wong and Fay is working on cool surface technology
    or b) Andy Wilsonor is just another group doing surface computing tech in parallel with the Surface main group.

    Curtis Wong is manager of the Microsoft Next Media Research Group, whose focus “spans the linear and interactive media spectrum from television, broadband, ..

    Adobe’s bringing out AIR by the end of the month. Mozilla’s Prism is beating out there too. Microsoft will need to counter, and this might be it, some Silverlight related info. If it ain’t a phone, then TV and media related. That’s both of their areas. Surely the Olympics involvement isn’t just a generous offer – it’s a play to get beyond the XBox medica centre, and get people onto a Microsoft (Vista enhanced perhaps) entertainment package.

    Or it could be something completely different… (or tangential to the MediaBrowser papers/photo=-triage for all media)
    I think some of what was in the keynote might roll out soon- they’re going to push it. I’d imagine the video clip eye candy is nearly ready. That or Gates’ “last keynote” really was that lame (bindings on the board upside down, and a silly recycled demo of Surface tech anyone?)

    Maybe it’s to push collections and search to replace heirarchy.

    Of note – why is it that on the Microsoft site, Wong, the primary contact doesn’t have a link through on details like the rest of his team? (Jonathan (no h) Fay is also absent of details) http://research.microsoft.com/nextmedia/ ?

    Like

  37. i remember the last time Microsoft made me cry. it was when it drove my hard drive into the ground. If they were planning on doing 10 or so of these “great” things every year, they’d be out of ideas by the first one. How many of you reading this wants to set up a betting pool on how much this brand new shite necrosoft’s got is going suck harder than an open door on a space shuttle?

    Like

  38. i remember the last time Microsoft made me cry. it was when it drove my hard drive into the ground. If they were planning on doing 10 or so of these “great” things every year, they’d be out of ideas by the first one. How many of you reading this wants to set up a betting pool on how much this brand new shite necrosoft’s got is going suck harder than an open door on a space shuttle?

    Like

  39. I think it’s a new handheld device called the “Man Bag.” That would bring tears to anyone’s eyes….

    Like

  40. I think it’s a new handheld device called the “Man Bag.” That would bring tears to anyone’s eyes….

    Like

  41. i was going to go with something called the “spreadsheet,” which would kick ass, but i am deferring to my other idea — a virtual universe / solar system map (think: skies not streets).

    baby, you’re a star.

    Like

  42. i was going to go with something called the “spreadsheet,” which would kick ass, but i am deferring to my other idea — a virtual universe / solar system map (think: skies not streets).

    baby, you’re a star.

    Like

  43. I think it’s a new Zune… with a limited edition Halo/Vista color scheme… CAN’T WAIT FOR 2/27!!!

    Like

  44. I think it’s a new Zune… with a limited edition Halo/Vista color scheme… CAN’T WAIT FOR 2/27!!!

    Like

  45. The problem isn’t that Microsoft employees don’t innovate…the problem is that the suits don’t see the value. Hence the huge flood of former Microsofties to other companies and startups.

    can’t wait to see what it is

    Like

  46. The problem isn’t that Microsoft employees don’t innovate…the problem is that the suits don’t see the value. Hence the huge flood of former Microsofties to other companies and startups.

    can’t wait to see what it is

    Like

  47. Microsoft makes me cry everyday. I too think this is world wide telescope related. The WWT is educational, useful in research, and does not have a business model.

    Like

  48. Microsoft makes me cry everyday. I too think this is world wide telescope related. The WWT is educational, useful in research, and does not have a business model.

    Like

  49. One of my best times I had was working at Microsoft on a skunk works project with a rag-tag team of 6-7. Turned out our IHPC was the future while a huge team worked on what the business people thought was the future. (Codename Iceberg or something like that)

    No tears but definately stars in my eyes looking forward to this announcement.

    Bill

    Like

  50. One of my best times I had was working at Microsoft on a skunk works project with a rag-tag team of 6-7. Turned out our IHPC was the future while a huge team worked on what the business people thought was the future. (Codename Iceberg or something like that)

    No tears but definately stars in my eyes looking forward to this announcement.

    Bill

    Like

  51. It’s Microsoft Universe. And through it you can see the face of God. Funny, though, He looks more like Steve Jobs than Bill Gates.

    Like

  52. It’s Microsoft Universe. And through it you can see the face of God. Funny, though, He looks more like Steve Jobs than Bill Gates.

    Like

  53. I worry about you, Robert, when you’re at your new job, what a week? And here you are, sending a Valentine to your old job. I feel like you should focus on your new job.

    BTW, I just got an offer to get the magazine for only $5. Is that from your Facebook scrape? I don’t mind, it’s cool, just wondering.

    Like

  54. It was two researchers (actually classical musicians) working in a closet who created the first color slide film. It turned out they were leagues ahead of the work being done by the corporate giant, Kodak. So Kodak did the logical thing and hired them. The result was Kodachrome. It ruled the world of color film for decades. Maybe your guys have pulled off something similar.

    Like

  55. I worry about you, Robert, when you’re at your new job, what a week? And here you are, sending a Valentine to your old job. I feel like you should focus on your new job.

    BTW, I just got an offer to get the magazine for only $5. Is that from your Facebook scrape? I don’t mind, it’s cool, just wondering.

    Like

  56. It was two researchers (actually classical musicians) working in a closet who created the first color slide film. It turned out they were leagues ahead of the work being done by the corporate giant, Kodak. So Kodak did the logical thing and hired them. The result was Kodachrome. It ruled the world of color film for decades. Maybe your guys have pulled off something similar.

    Like

  57. Yikes, so now I am supposed to make Robert cry? That’s a pretty tall order but I’ll see what I can do. Perhaps I can get some raw onions from our cafeteria ;-).

    Like

  58. Yikes, so now I am supposed to make Robert cry? That’s a pretty tall order but I’ll see what I can do. Perhaps I can get some raw onions from our cafeteria ;-).

    Like

  59. Twinkie replicator add-on for Vista? Big guy… food remark… see what I did there? *squints at you while walking away*

    Like

  60. Twinkie replicator add-on for Vista? Big guy… food remark… see what I did there? *squints at you while walking away*

    Like

  61. OK, Robert, I’ll bite…

    I have two questions that you may or may not be able to answer at this point in time:

    1) Is it going to be a free offering?
    2) Is it going to be available to the general public?

    Like

  62. OK, Robert, I’ll bite…

    I have two questions that you may or may not be able to answer at this point in time:

    1) Is it going to be a free offering?
    2) Is it going to be available to the general public?

    Like

  63. Uh, I’m not particularly excited… :-/ Microsoft has never impressed me with pretty much any software. When Windows 95 was released, Mac OS was already pretty mature for the time, and so on. Sure, it’ll be interesting if they’ve actually achieved something cool for once, but I can assure you tears won’t run down my face as they have never done so far hw or sw before. Jeez. :-p

    Like

  64. Uh, I’m not particularly excited… :-/ Microsoft has never impressed me with pretty much any software. When Windows 95 was released, Mac OS was already pretty mature for the time, and so on. Sure, it’ll be interesting if they’ve actually achieved something cool for once, but I can assure you tears won’t run down my face as they have never done so far hw or sw before. Jeez. :-p

    Like

  65. And no, if it’s about the WorldWide Telescope, I’m already damn impressed by the free tool Celestia, recently released in version 1.5. Our part of the galaxy at your fingertips already.

    Like

  66. And no, if it’s about the WorldWide Telescope, I’m already damn impressed by the free tool Celestia, recently released in version 1.5. Our part of the galaxy at your fingertips already.

    Like

  67. I sense that it is going to involve some sort of distributed computing. I recall reading something about this last year… it sounded pretty amazing, and is the only thing that I can think that would take 2008 technology to pull off properly.

    Like

  68. I sense that it is going to involve some sort of distributed computing. I recall reading something about this last year… it sounded pretty amazing, and is the only thing that I can think that would take 2008 technology to pull off properly.

    Like

  69. Dollars to donuts whatever it is will require that you be a user of some other Microsoft product, Windows, IE, Silverlight, that is, unless the product itself costs $400 or so.

    Like

  70. Dollars to donuts whatever it is will require that you be a user of some other Microsoft product, Windows, IE, Silverlight, that is, unless the product itself costs $400 or so.

    Like

  71. Great that you got this part of the story down first. This is the wonder and amazement that drives many people like me to work at innovative companies. Possibilities and seeing how innovations can really change how we live. Thanks for sharing. Bravo, Robert!

    Like

  72. Great that you got this part of the story down first. This is the wonder and amazement that drives many people like me to work at innovative companies. Possibilities and seeing how innovations can really change how we live. Thanks for sharing. Bravo, Robert!

    Like

  73. Point of no return.

    Once you hate M$ you never use any of their products again.

    As #52 said, I won’t pay for that and I won’t install silvershit to run M$ crap.

    If they find the cure for cancer, I’ll happily die smoking my lungs off till they’re charcoal instead of giving my money to them.

    So, fuck em!

    Like

  74. Point of no return.

    Once you hate M$ you never use any of their products again.

    As #52 said, I won’t pay for that and I won’t install silvershit to run M$ crap.

    If they find the cure for cancer, I’ll happily die smoking my lungs off till they’re charcoal instead of giving my money to them.

    So, fuck em!

    Like

  75. Robert,

    Okay, you got us to pay attention. But if whatever M$ is doing is really going to change the world (that’s a huge, huge thing), then I expect it to get plenty of attention anyway.

    Having said that, let me add that things that change the world usually do not require eyeball-counts to do so.

    Like

  76. Robert,

    Okay, you got us to pay attention. But if whatever M$ is doing is really going to change the world (that’s a huge, huge thing), then I expect it to get plenty of attention anyway.

    Having said that, let me add that things that change the world usually do not require eyeball-counts to do so.

    Like

  77. Damnit, Scoble, you’re having wayyy too much fun! I can smell the excitement and passing leaping off of my LCD — I’m getting chills just thinking about it all.

    Your work is what gives my passion for people, knowledge, information and inspiration validation. Thanks, Rob.

    Like

  78. Damnit, Scoble, you’re having wayyy too much fun! I can smell the excitement and passing leaping off of my LCD — I’m getting chills just thinking about it all.

    Your work is what gives my passion for people, knowledge, information and inspiration validation. Thanks, Rob.

    Like

  79. Nothing would make me happier than for Microsoft to resume paying rent on their corner of the world. They’ve been a parasite for far, far too long. I’m dubiously hopeful.

    Like

  80. Nothing would make me happier than for Microsoft to resume paying rent on their corner of the world. They’ve been a parasite for far, far too long. I’m dubiously hopeful.

    Like

  81. I’m suprised no-one has mentioned Sea Dragon. Google/YouTube it. If that made our blogsmith shed a tear, I completely understand.

    It all makes sense after you see the TED videos demonstrations of it’s amazing capabilities. I have great hopes.

    Like

  82. I’m suprised no-one has mentioned Sea Dragon. Google/YouTube it. If that made our blogsmith shed a tear, I completely understand.

    It all makes sense after you see the TED videos demonstrations of it’s amazing capabilities. I have great hopes.

    Like

  83. If it’s anything like what they demo’d at Ted, then it will be awesome. Microsoft is starting to throw some heat. It’ll be interesting to see how many innings they can go with this stuff. Maybe they have Clemens’ trainer…

    Like

  84. If it’s anything like what they demo’d at Ted, then it will be awesome. Microsoft is starting to throw some heat. It’ll be interesting to see how many innings they can go with this stuff. Maybe they have Clemens’ trainer…

    Like

  85. OK. I’m just guessing here, but I had a flash of inspiration where I saw Photosynth integrated with genealogy data. An app where you can search/find your ancestors and retrieve images from the past and/or an interactive, graphic timeline/family tree of your family. My vision was typing in my name and seeing a photo (and documents) of my Finnish grandfather standing in line at Ellis Island (which brought a tear to my eye when I saw it). If I’m not correct, I don’t want to know what the app is. If I am correct, I’d love to join the team of Curtis Wong and Jonathan Fay.

    Like

  86. OK. I’m just guessing here, but I had a flash of inspiration where I saw Photosynth integrated with genealogy data. An app where you can search/find your ancestors and retrieve images from the past and/or an interactive, graphic timeline/family tree of your family. My vision was typing in my name and seeing a photo (and documents) of my Finnish grandfather standing in line at Ellis Island (which brought a tear to my eye when I saw it). If I’m not correct, I don’t want to know what the app is. If I am correct, I’d love to join the team of Curtis Wong and Jonathan Fay.

    Like

  87. Christ. Tears running? This really turns my stomach, sorry. This is software, not the second coming. Feeling well?

    Are we talking about Microsoft? You know, the software-maker that mostly makes mediocre software like Office Word (attempt any formatting and watch yourself FAIL)? Innovative? Come again? Wake up. The only piece of software I think is of high quality is SQL Server (solid piece of engineering that is).

    Vista? Spectacular. Wow.

    I look forward to this nonetheless just because anything new is worth considering. But please, get outside of your cubicle and watch the alternatives.

    Best regards,
    SV

    Like

  88. Christ. Tears running? This really turns my stomach, sorry. This is software, not the second coming. Feeling well?

    Are we talking about Microsoft? You know, the software-maker that mostly makes mediocre software like Office Word (attempt any formatting and watch yourself FAIL)? Innovative? Come again? Wake up. The only piece of software I think is of high quality is SQL Server (solid piece of engineering that is).

    Vista? Spectacular. Wow.

    I look forward to this nonetheless just because anything new is worth considering. But please, get outside of your cubicle and watch the alternatives.

    Best regards,
    SV

    Like

  89. Robert,
    I love and hate this kind of stuff. I so want to know what could get you emotional over at Microsoft. It must be something extraordinary. I hope you get the scoop and post it before big media breaks it. – Allen

    Like

  90. Robert,
    I love and hate this kind of stuff. I so want to know what could get you emotional over at Microsoft. It must be something extraordinary. I hope you get the scoop and post it before big media breaks it. – Allen

    Like

  91. And… How much will it cost? How many patents involves? Do you really think it will change the world? I doubt, whatever it is, unless it involves free access to the tecnology itself too.

    Like

  92. And… How much will it cost? How many patents involves? Do you really think it will change the world? I doubt, whatever it is, unless it involves free access to the tecnology itself too.

    Like

  93. I can almost guarantee that what ever “it” is it is the proverbial “let’s move on people…there’s nothing to see here”.

    If it was I’m sure something would have leaked earler and not 2 weeks before its unveiling.

    Call me when it’s over, I have to go watch my Oprah marathon that I TIVO’d.

    Like

  94. I can almost guarantee that what ever “it” is it is the proverbial “let’s move on people…there’s nothing to see here”.

    If it was I’m sure something would have leaked earler and not 2 weeks before its unveiling.

    Call me when it’s over, I have to go watch my Oprah marathon that I TIVO’d.

    Like

  95. JDA: really? Did anyone leak about the WWW before it was out? No. Did anyone leak about ICQ before it was out? No. Did anyone leak about the iPhone was out? A little, but they didn’t get close to telling us just how cool it was.

    Like

  96. JDA: really? Did anyone leak about the WWW before it was out? No. Did anyone leak about ICQ before it was out? No. Did anyone leak about the iPhone was out? A little, but they didn’t get close to telling us just how cool it was.

    Like

  97. Quote
    “Note that it wasn’t a team of 100 people who did it. Two guys with a supporting cast of maybe a dozen. I’ve noticed a trend at Microsoft: that the coolest stuff is done by small teams without a ton of resources.”

    This reflects how startups often work, just a small team of talented guys/gals making something incredible happen that would otherwise have been managed to death by upper management / product management / sales / marketing, etc.

    Like

  98. I reckon it something similar to the holographic personality called Dr. Know in the film ‘AI’. The fact it draws up so much emotion indicates that it is communicative on a human level. I reckon.

    Like

  99. Quote
    “Note that it wasn’t a team of 100 people who did it. Two guys with a supporting cast of maybe a dozen. I’ve noticed a trend at Microsoft: that the coolest stuff is done by small teams without a ton of resources.”

    This reflects how startups often work, just a small team of talented guys/gals making something incredible happen that would otherwise have been managed to death by upper management / product management / sales / marketing, etc.

    Like

  100. I reckon it something similar to the holographic personality called Dr. Know in the film ‘AI’. The fact it draws up so much emotion indicates that it is communicative on a human level. I reckon.

    Like

  101. I got it… Someone in MS collected all of your articles and made you read your own drivel. God… I would cry too.

    Like

  102. I got it… Someone in MS collected all of your articles and made you read your own drivel. God… I would cry too.

    Like

  103. WEB3D.0! BABY!!

    I’ve put out a few Pleas + Cry’s for Help to do this over the Past year but alas to no Avail*

    If Anybody wants to do it – just give me Shout!

    The Fact that MicroPOOP are already doing something similar but in typical MicroPOOP fashion will be totally lame* Unless Wong + Fay are Smoking Pot without the knowledge of their Evil Superiors!!

    U can bet Google or Yahoo or NewsCorp will Pony Up HUGE $$$ for a competing platform*

    + Luckily for all of us i have it*

    Crying with GLEE!!

    ;PPP

    Like

  104. WEB3D.0! BABY!!

    I’ve put out a few Pleas + Cry’s for Help to do this over the Past year but alas to no Avail*

    If Anybody wants to do it – just give me Shout!

    The Fact that MicroPOOP are already doing something similar but in typical MicroPOOP fashion will be totally lame* Unless Wong + Fay are Smoking Pot without the knowledge of their Evil Superiors!!

    U can bet Google or Yahoo or NewsCorp will Pony Up HUGE $$$ for a competing platform*

    + Luckily for all of us i have it*

    Crying with GLEE!!

    ;PPP

    Like

  105. I predict it’s a web/file search interface but all visual and 3d and swooshy and zoomy and futuristic.

    Like

  106. I predict it’s a web/file search interface but all visual and 3d and swooshy and zoomy and futuristic.

    Like

  107. Am I maybe being too optimistic in thinking that it might actually be something useful?

    Or were the mentions of Netscape and Photoshop just red herrings to imply practical usability, and it’s really just a novelty prestige project like GoogleEarth, but with Space instead of Earth and Microsoft instead of Google?

    Like

  108. Am I maybe being too optimistic in thinking that it might actually be something useful?

    Or were the mentions of Netscape and Photoshop just red herrings to imply practical usability, and it’s really just a novelty prestige project like GoogleEarth, but with Space instead of Earth and Microsoft instead of Google?

    Like

  109. WOW, the stupidity of MS haters never ceases to surprise me. Sorry lotus-eaters MS is going to spank the crap out of johnny’s-come-lately like Google. Google’s days are numbered – Jeez, they are trying to shovel bastard office software down everyone’s throat! Enough with Goo-suck-my-*-gle.

    Like

  110. WOW, the stupidity of MS haters never ceases to surprise me. Sorry lotus-eaters MS is going to spank the crap out of johnny’s-come-lately like Google. Google’s days are numbered – Jeez, they are trying to shovel bastard office software down everyone’s throat! Enough with Goo-suck-my-*-gle.

    Like

  111. Sorry Robert (and M$ fans), but if you’re going to write about something seriously, then you also have to give serious credits. And if this mystery project is indeed Photosynth, I’m sorry, but the real credits go to (taken from M$’s site, http://labs.live.com/photosynth/):

    “Photosynth is a collaboration between Microsoft and the University of Washington based on the groundbreaking research of Noah Snavely (UW), Steve Seitz (UW), and Richard Szeliski (Microsoft Research).”

    If you look at the actual technology used in this program and the research that went into making it possible, I think you’d also come up with Steve Seitz (and colleagues) and SeaDragon. I’m not so clear which part of the puzzle Microsoft played, other than the big ol’ bank (which I’d do too, if I was a big ol’ company).

    Steve Seitz: you’re awesome! Love the afro too! 🙂

    Like

  112. Sorry Robert (and M$ fans), but if you’re going to write about something seriously, then you also have to give serious credits. And if this mystery project is indeed Photosynth, I’m sorry, but the real credits go to (taken from M$’s site, http://labs.live.com/photosynth/):

    “Photosynth is a collaboration between Microsoft and the University of Washington based on the groundbreaking research of Noah Snavely (UW), Steve Seitz (UW), and Richard Szeliski (Microsoft Research).”

    If you look at the actual technology used in this program and the research that went into making it possible, I think you’d also come up with Steve Seitz (and colleagues) and SeaDragon. I’m not so clear which part of the puzzle Microsoft played, other than the big ol’ bank (which I’d do too, if I was a big ol’ company).

    Steve Seitz: you’re awesome! Love the afro too! 🙂

    Like

  113. I was really PUMPED to SEE something/anything NEW + EXCITING!!???

    I hope it’s not just some LameAss announcement that MicroPOOP is embracing Open Source?

    Hero Hack Pack of Free Trial Copies???

    Just what i need more Useless Bloated FREE Crap Software from MicroPOOP clogging my Puter*

    This is sounding more + more like the Vaunted World Changing SEGWAY Scooter + Cold Fusion combined*

    Please Tell Us what U saw!!!

    Like

  114. I was really PUMPED to SEE something/anything NEW + EXCITING!!???

    I hope it’s not just some LameAss announcement that MicroPOOP is embracing Open Source?

    Hero Hack Pack of Free Trial Copies???

    Just what i need more Useless Bloated FREE Crap Software from MicroPOOP clogging my Puter*

    This is sounding more + more like the Vaunted World Changing SEGWAY Scooter + Cold Fusion combined*

    Please Tell Us what U saw!!!

    Like

  115. it give shame me, by echo of a so cheap and false publicity as this. This program is not going to change nothing to nobody safe to which they like astronomy, I thought that he was something more important. Frankly you have disappointed to me. I erase of my list of contacts and the news to you. Your credibility has fallen by the grounds and I am not the unique one that think thus.

    Like

  116. it give shame me, by echo of a so cheap and false publicity as this. This program is not going to change nothing to nobody safe to which they like astronomy, I thought that he was something more important. Frankly you have disappointed to me. I erase of my list of contacts and the news to you. Your credibility has fallen by the grounds and I am not the unique one that think thus.

    Like

  117. This is not a great deal…… more usefull is Google Earth….. so much noise and poor reallity… you cry for this?…… well I understand…. you cray for everything from Microsoft…. it’s suck

    Like

  118. This is not a great deal…… more usefull is Google Earth….. so much noise and poor reallity… you cry for this?…… well I understand…. you cray for everything from Microsoft…. it’s suck

    Like

  119. Did Microsoft researchers actually make anybody cry on February 27? I failed to find any announcement.

    Like

  120. Did Microsoft researchers actually make anybody cry on February 27? I failed to find any announcement.

    Like

  121. Platforms like this are part of the reason I own Microsoft stock. That point notwithstanding, I hope (all the way down to my core) that this impressive addition to the sum of human knowledge will enable us as a species to develop a greater reverence for our planet and the fact that if we render it uninhabitable through unsustainable behavior such as the burning of fossil fuels, we will have no observation station to ponder the night sky.

    Like

  122. Platforms like this are part of the reason I own Microsoft stock. That point notwithstanding, I hope (all the way down to my core) that this impressive addition to the sum of human knowledge will enable us as a species to develop a greater reverence for our planet and the fact that if we render it uninhabitable through unsustainable behavior such as the burning of fossil fuels, we will have no observation station to ponder the night sky.

    Like

  123. Hello. I am so angry right now over something so tupid and I’m sorry I have to vent. Microsoft, are you stupid? I have played video games all of my life and can beat anyone in a fighting game, You pick. Microsoft has the console war in the palm of it’s hand, however you can never, ever play a fighting game on any x box because of it’s d-pad. THIS IS CRAZY. IF THEY OFFER A NEW CONTROLLER NOW THAT HAS A FUCKING PLUS SIGN FOR A D_PAD THEY WILL DOMINATE THE MARKET. I AM GOING TO KILL MYSELF NOW IN A RITUALISTIC WAY TO SHOW THAT THIS RETARDATION HAS HAD AN IMPACT ON SOCIETY. OR AT LEAST THIS NEARDY PROGRAMMER!!

    Like

  124. Hello. I am so angry right now over something so tupid and I’m sorry I have to vent. Microsoft, are you stupid? I have played video games all of my life and can beat anyone in a fighting game, You pick. Microsoft has the console war in the palm of it’s hand, however you can never, ever play a fighting game on any x box because of it’s d-pad. THIS IS CRAZY. IF THEY OFFER A NEW CONTROLLER NOW THAT HAS A FUCKING PLUS SIGN FOR A D_PAD THEY WILL DOMINATE THE MARKET. I AM GOING TO KILL MYSELF NOW IN A RITUALISTIC WAY TO SHOW THAT THIS RETARDATION HAS HAD AN IMPACT ON SOCIETY. OR AT LEAST THIS NEARDY PROGRAMMER!!

    Like

Comments are closed.