Microsoft museum

Microsoft museum

Finally, to prove I did do some work while I was there, here are some photos of the final day.  This, as you might recall, was the day I had hoped to go to the Boeing Factory, but instead I attended some final sessions with Microsoft after a realised that there was information in the sessions that was relevant to me (originally from the agenda I’d thought not).  So, I didn’t get to see Boeing, but I did get to go to the Microsoft museum in the afternoon once we’d wrapped up for the day.Here I am outside the Redmond visitor centre with Meghan from Microsoft and Paul, another conference attendee.

Media_httplh6googlecomautbull001r9rrnn6viqiaaaaaaaacuwhxinuqtqctqs400p1020163jpg_jcfvsyhjhhkctuu

It’s hard to believe just how big Microsoft is in Redmond, but basically 65,000 people work in the 150 buildings they have spread around Redmond — it’s a company town! As you can image, traffic is a logistical nightmare, and Microsoft seem to have made a lot of investment in shuttle buses, bike stations (with showers etc.) and other ways of easing the traffic.Inside the visitor museum, I got to hang out with the guys (that’s Bill down the bottom left). I think this was taken in the late 70’s.

Media_httplh5googlecomautbull001r9rrc96viriaaaaaaaacu4vc9cmt8sml0s400p1020169jpg_mxcciiyjgpdbvim

We also got to play with some cool displays. This one had facial recognition software and drew a hat on your head, like in the Microsoft ad campaign.

Media_httplh6googlecomautbull001r9rrgn6visiaaaaaaaacvao4nsgfogfpws400p1020167jpg_yfqlhpbyvexydsu

Finally, I had to get a photo of this — Bill Gates first ever business card.

Media_httplh3googlecomautbull001r9rrud6vitiaaaaaaaacvixqrcj7ga42is400p1020170jpg_ibbbvcnhwsgcnxk