Geekfest '08

Last week I traveled to Austin to attend NIWeek 08. This is a week long technology conference presented by National Instruments. Not exactly a household name. But for 3,000 experts in instrumentation, automation and graphical programming its mecca. This is an Austin based company that lives the moto, keep Austin weird. They take innovation, engineering and out-of-the-box all together and produce gee wiz stuff for us engineers.

This technology is exciting and spectacular. Part of NI's vision is to create more engineers and technologist. With our enormous appetite for all technology such as cell phones, hdtv, wireless internet, video games, ipods, etc. you would think ever kid in America would want to be involved. But not so. It seems our kids measure success by Derek Jetter or Hanah Montana with little room for much else. Technology is cool and so many oppotunities are out the for the taking. NI is working to get to kids into techology, primarily with their Lego Mindstorm robots. This is NI's brain child and one of their most exciting projects (slightly cooler then their fully automing the beer making process at the Spotzel brewery in Shiner, Texas).

So I applaud companies like this and really am awed but the power of innovation when its fueled. A modern day Edison lab for sure. And yes, that makes me fall into the geek squad. As Joan pointed out, "We have seen the enemy and they is us!". But I'm ok with that. Enjoy your techology!