CompuServe Messages

Martin, Very good assessment of the need for an educated and well-trained user base. Before I joined Adesk I spent a number of years delivering 3D Studio training, so the topic of education and training is very near and dear to my heart. There are a lot of resources for general education on topics like film-making, animation, photography, etc. but if you look for training using your tool of choice (3DS) it's another matter. If you think it is difficult to find talented, experienced 3D Studio animators, try to find some who can also design curriculum and teach! Some very talented instructors hang out on this forum but we need a lot more of them. <We can only clone Ted Boardman so many times before genetic degradation sets in :)> Autodesk has an education division and within that is a department for customer education and training. We are trying to support the need for 3D Studio education and training with everything from getting 3DS into schools, developing a professional training network (ATC's), and developing more training materials. I would love to see 3D Studio customers have a rich choice of training options in the way of credit courses, professional seminars, and books and tutorials; but Autodesk and other developers of these materials can't push a rope. The user base has to stand up and let the need be known. Your message sets an important precedent. Technical Directors, managers, and owners of graphics production companies need to call for increased education and training in the 3DS world. 3D Studio users also should contact your dealers, local colleges and universities, and favorite bookstores and pester them for what you need. Once a vocal and proactive user base proves that it exists the education providers will respond. Also, don't think that tens of thousands of 3DS seats and credits in a few movies will do the trick. Users of 3D Studio have to speak loudly and forcefully if they want to see their options for education and training grow. A couple of cases in point: 1. I attended the Multimedia Authorized Training Center conference on Monday. Common questions are; "Where is the training market?", "What kinds of training do users want?" and "How do we develop the right curriculum?" You know what you want and need, so tell them. 2. I attended the Siggraph Educator's Conference on Friday. The panel discussions of how industry and education could work together didn't include anyone from the software development world, and when software was mentioned it was always Alias/Wavefront and Softimage. If you want to see degree programs and credit courses using 3D Studio you, the users, have to let them know. 3DS users have been great at providing the wish list that drives software development; it's time to start a wish list for education and training. Steven