Great Engineers and proud of it

John Gyorki
January 10th, 2008.

You know Leonardo Da Vinci, Edison, Galileo, Marconi, and Bell, but do you know Dave Luchaco, Pete Harper, Glen Drellishack, Raj Gunda, and Bill Peterson, some of the most famous engineering leaders of all? No? Well, they just happen to be five of the dozen or so young Bendix engineers — when in their mid-twenties and early thirties in 1971 — started with a blank sheet of paper and a pencil and designed the first production onboard computers for the electronic fuel injection systems used in every American car on the road today. I know this to be true because I was the Group Project Leader. (more…)

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Leadership in engineering

John Gyorki
December 12th, 2007.

In this issue, we announce the Leadership Awards we have been promoting throughout this year. The Design World community elected several companies to represent those with the highest operating standards and reputation for ethical conduct, quality products, superb services, fair practices, and exceptional employees. The readers cast their votes and told us who the winners are. Read about it in the foldout section. We are proud to celebrate these companies; their leaders and employees. They represent but only a few of many similar, well-managed firms that we enjoy doing business with every day. (more…)

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What’s Happening in Vegas?

Larry Boulden
November 26th, 2007.

We at DESIGN WORLD recently received two press releases from CAD startup SpaceClaim.  The first announced that they would be exhibiting this week at Autodesk University, Nov. 27-30 in Las Vegas.  And the second press release announced the  ”recall” of the first.

Hmmm… never seen that before.

Turns out that SpaceClaim was apparently disinvited to AU.  Disfellowshipped.  Booted.

Neither SpaceClaim nor Autodesk is talking much about the situation.  But the independent CAD bloggers are having a field day with it.  One notes that Autodesk has “asked” other competitors not to participate in the past.  Not frequently, but it has happened, that blogger says.

Another one suggests that SpaceClaim might want to go to Vegas anyway.  Get a suite, throw open the doors, and network in the hotel halls, where much of the real business gets done anyway.

So what will happen?  We have no clue.  The two companies, Autodesk and SpaceClaim, are both being very gentlemanly, very discreet about all this.  So, Gentle Readers, I’m asking you.  Are you going to Vegas for Autodesk University this week?  If so, will you post a response to this entry and tell us all what you saw and heard about the SpaceClaim/Autodesk dustup?  Inquiring Minds Want to Know…

–Larry B

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What’s in a name?

John Gyorki
November 20th, 2007.

Just because you give something a new name, it does not mean that the something automatically becomes the thing you renamed it. For example, I recently received an e-mail message from my Internet provider, SBC Yahoo, which said it was going to improve my e-mail “experience.” They claimed that they were thinking of my best interests, so they were going to start placing advertising on my otherwise uncluttered e-mail service. How thoughtful of them! Just what I need, more distracting images flickering and jumping in front of my eyes while I try to concentrate on writing messages.

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Aiming higher

Scott McCafferty
October 13th, 2007.

Michael Jordan and I share a very similar life experience, but vastly different career paths. Like Mike, I was cut from my high school basketball team not once, but for three consecutive years. Finally, as a senior in high school, I earned the right to wear a high school basketball uniform as a member of the varsity squad. Unfortunately, my playing time mostly consisted of assisting in lopsided games where we won by 20 or more points. My final stat line was scoring a total of 8 points my senior season. While we all know what Jordan accomplished in the NBA and college ranks, my basketball career went onto greatness by playing college intramurals and recreation league games. In my mind, though, I was still like Mike.

My senior basketball season taught me one of my most valuable life lessons. I set the goal to make the high school team, and did everything possible to prepare myself, but I never re-evaluated my goal to go beyond simply making the team. I never set another goal of playing in the game. (more…)

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