ESRI UC - First Day Impressions

Vision is not something that is lacking at the ESRI UC. All of the keynote speakers come with a vision. In some respects it is a variation on the same theme: GIS is the tool that is reshaping the world…in environmental management, politics, business, social sciences, etc. And although the theme is repeated, you are never bored; each presentation inundates the audience with a kaleidoscope of not just images and ideas, but accomplishments by the many people who use GIS everyday.

Each year, Jack Dangermond begins the opening session by reviewing the many achievements of users through a series of slides, each more impressive than the next because it shows just how far reaching the applications can extend in complexity.

The demonstrations of new product features are necessary to acquaint the audience with the progress of each suite. But it was good to see that more emphasis was place on the application of each feature rather than just a demo of the feature itself. And to support that emphasis is the focus that ESRI is placing on its technical support and documentation. Mr. Dangermond announced how the documentation for ArcGIS 9.2 will not just show the user how to work the function, but why you use it in the first place. That will be a remarkable step forward in the way documentation is published because users expect software to be intuitive to use. To go the extra step of instructing the user in the reasons for performing a particular workflow would be extraordinary.

Although Mr. Dangermond repeated themes he has used in past keynote addresses, he always puts the audience in a state of heightened awareness that each is making a difference in using GIS technology for the betterment of their respective organizations and the constituents they serve. You leave these first sessions at least ready to tackle the next day and perhaps the next big project back at the office.