Autodesk and F.I.R.S.T.

US companies, once viewed as early adopters in corporate computing and the internet, are falling behind global competitors in driving productivity and growth because of technology shortfalls.

The reason behind the shift is that US companies dedicate the majority of their fresh capital to fortifying older systems while companies in Europe and Asia invest in newer solutions. Companies are reluctant to implement new solutions for the same reason patients avoided heart surgery 30 years ago; 100% risk of death if you take no action, 66% chance of sudden death during the procedure.

And I see the results as I visit college and university classrooms, and firms large and small. No denying, we’re lagging behind. Autodesk and FIRST have been trying to change this for years.

Since 1992, Autodesk has been a huge supporter of FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology). Headquartered in Manchester, New Hampshire, FIRST was founded in 1989 by Dean Kamen, of Segway® fame, with the goal of getting young people excited about science and technology.

The FIRST Competition involves some 43,000 high school students on more than 1700 teams competing in over 40 regional events every year for a shot at the championship event.

Autodesk donates more than $17 million worth of software each year and has donated approximately $123 million worth since their sponsorship began.

How ironic a guy that refused to change because “no computer is faster than me with a set of sapphire tip pens,” is preaching the benefits of embracing technology.

Cheers!

Civil 3D Tutorials*
Register Today to access to our comprehensive library of Civil 3D Tutorials for as low as $20.

*Access to the Library is a free service to our clients.