AUGIWorld Magazine - November/December 2008 - (Page 5) Still, the conversation was moving so fast that the tools were not able to keep pace. The promise of BIM has outstripped the actual functionality of the product. The marketing hype had outrun reality. This is the nature of any technology innovation. We need to give the software time to mature. It needs to soak a while as the industry learns to use it. As people learn to use it, they will provide feedback to the developers and the tools will continue to mature. Then we all need to be patient as the tools slowly come around. Dictum #2 – The creative use of a tool always outruns the developer’s concept of how that tool will be used. I have seen this many times over the years and heard this comment from the developers: “We never thought you would use it like that” or “We had no idea anyone would try to do what you are doing.” Users are very creative people. They do things that are not expected. They try things that others have not imagined. They push the limits of each and every new release of software which was created to answer the challenges encountered since the debut of the previous release. When one question is challenged and solved by the software, users will come up with another challenge. When developing software, the programmers and product managers attempt to fit in just about every idea they can as to how the tool will be used. I think they make valiant attempts to stabilize the software for the users to use right out of the gate. They listen to testers and work on getting the software in shape for the release. Then they give it to the users and hear them ask for more. Users can think of things that the programmers, developers, and product managers cannot. Even if the developers do think of it, they cannot develop the tools quickly enough to keep up with user demand. So the answer again is patience. Waiting for the next release may not seem like a good enough answer today (and it is not), but it is the best answer we have. Dictum #3 - The tools always advances faster than the standards. Alongside this advanced blizzard of words related to BIM was the fact that the tools always run ahead of the standard. The standards are trying to catch up, but they are always chasing after the software tools. I have been big on standards as a way of increasing productivity and interoperability, but I realize that I am always a step behind the software release that I am trying to standardize. It has always been that way. After all, how can you standardize someNov/Dec 2008 thing that you haven’t even seen yet? So there is a three- to six-month lag in delivering updated standards. No answers needed here. We just have to continue the process of standardizing our processes after we have a chance to work the tool in our environment. How can this help you in your day-today efforts? Not much, really, but it may help you understand and plan for the next release. It may help you to understand the frustration of your users. It may help you prepare for the upgrade you have coming. It may help you to understand the stresses on the developers’ shoulders. But your stresses are your main concern. I encourage anyone and everyone to communicate as much as possible with the developers of the software you use. Keep the conversation moving. Contact your reseller to see how you can get involved. Then get involved in the process. Mark W. Kiker is president of the AUGI Board of Directors. He is a National CAD Standards Project Team Member and team member of the National BIM Standard. Mark is general editor of BLAUGI and also publishes caddmanager.com, the CADD Manager’s journal, as well as the caddmanager.com blog. He is a returning faculty member at Autodesk University. He is currently chief information officer for HMC Architects in Ontario, California, USA. Seven distribution centers nationwide Industry experienced customer service Next business day shipping Easy online ordering For quick and easy CAD-related orders, go with a supplier who knows their cursor from their chamfer. Call MasterGraphics. We have more than 3,000 products, from bond paper, toner, and inkjet cartridges for all brands of printers and plotters including Xerox, HP and Océ, to quality drafting supplies and furniture. Trust us to understand your needs. Your equipment. And most importantly, your language. MasterGraphics | Making Design Data Work To order, visit our online store at http://estore.masterg.com/augi or call (800) 873.7238 today. (800) 873.7238 http://estore.masterg.com/augi 5 http://www.caddmanager.com http://www.caddmanager.com http://estore.masterg.com/augi
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