For some time now, we’ve been promised to be wowed by VDI (Virtual Desktop Infrastructure) and it’s merits as a way to bring the workstation experience to either thin clients or remote desktop sessions. The problem is has always been that the workflow in most Architectural firms has required the specs common to 3D...
Architectural IT take note: You’re in a good spot to sit back and watch the Cloud for a little while longer. You’re also in a good spot to start consider some of the more mature options. Google Apps. Office Online. GMail. All great cloud apps. None of them have a place in your organization...
How times change. Back in 2007, I lamented that technology is “all code.” In those days, as a AEC technology specialists, we were coming to the end of that age – when everything we wanted to do was all code. Today, it’s a very different story. Not too surprisingly, we have tools available to...
For many companies, trust in IT is waning. This is particularly true in organizations with long established IT. Gone are the days when we were the experts in everything. Simply put, there’s too much to know and many of our users are much better with the application of technology and user interfaces than we...
Distributing Coordination ResponsibilitiesWhen you take responsibilities that really are best done by one person, say managing a Samples Library, writing AIA contracts or organizing and distribute it among multiple people, problems will happen. It’s a simple case of no leadership and central decision making. How one person goes about it will undoubtedly conflict with...
The most common complaints I hear today about technology today is: Cost Planned Obsolescence Unnecessary Features I couldn’t agree more! But that’s about where my sympathy (if you would like to term it as such) ends. Perhaps one of the lost aspects about technology is that it’s constantly changing. Let’s consider for a moment...
A criticism that I’ve had over the years from various Architects is that IT appears to spend more time researching and protecting systems than supporting the actual practice of Architecture. It’s hard to argue with this on the surface: Security issues, rapid mandatory upgrade cycles and the BIM movement have made a lot of...
Among several firms here in Portland, there has been discussion as of late regarding the future of 3D services in house and its the roles, responsibilities and capacities. Much of the “3D” work done in house these days is really nothing more than SketchUp models and exports from Revit. In this discussion, concerned 3D...
It can be said that so much of what we do in Technology is replacing antiquated ways of functioning. One hopes that the drive for doing this is at least loosely rooted in improving a process or outcome that justifies the investment. Making Paper Process Electronic There has been considerable drive to turn our...
