Email Autodesk

Maybe you don’t want to get so involved that you have Autodesk collecting data from your PC.

Maybe you don’t want to yap directly with developers.

Well you could just send them an email. But who do you send it to?

Here is a link to provide feedback to the team of your choice. Select the product and type in your feedback. Doesn’t get much easier than that.

What an opportunity!Want to provide more than 100K of random data snapshots of your work habits that the CIP colllects? You could provide direct feedback to Autodesk on their software and tools. They are always looking for people who want to participate. Guru or Newbie – they need them all.

It is called Usability Feedback. I have seen the Usability Lab in San Rafael. Part of it is just small offices to have face to face discussions. They ask you a bunch of questions and analyze your answers. Another area actually reminded me of an interrogation room. One way glass, cameras, recording equipment and more. All for the benefit of the software developers to actually “see” how people use the software.

You may not actually go to San Rafael to interact with the Usability team, they can do a lot over the web. You can connect up and use the software and complete surveys and much more.

Want to get Involved? Click Here and fill out the form to submit your name.

Here is the description from the Autodesk website.

“Usability is the ease with which you can use a product, and learn quickly in order to accomplish your objectives. Usability feedback sessions provide a venue for you to give feedback and contribute to the development of Autodesk products.

Autodesk is continually seeking people who possess various levels of industry expertise and familiarity with our products. Usability feedback sessions are conducted in the United States as well as internationally and generally take 1–2 hours. Sessions take place at an Autodesk facility or via the Web.

If you would like to participate, please submit the form. If your information matches an upcoming feedback session, we will contact you.”

What is scarier than Autodesk? – A Lot!

By choosing to be involved in the CIP (Customer Involvement Program), then you are choosing to have Autodesk collects some random information from you. They use this information to learn about your PC configuration and what type of machine you are using.

According to one of the official Autodesk blog on DWF, Autodesk “is not evil”. Read more about the info they collect and what they do with it on this post.

Okay – I agree that Autodesk is not evil. I don’t think they are trying to get any secrets from you. They are not going to snoop around where they are not invited. By getting on the CIP you are not opening up your machine to anything they want to grab. If they violate the trust that we have in them, they will do more damage than just some random collection of data could possibly do.

Are there some out there that think Autodesk is second cousin to “The Evil Empire”? Sure, but hopefully they are few and far between.

So here are a few things that scare me more than Autodesk taking a few K bytes off my machine…

1. After a great meal out, I give my credit card to some waiter that I do not know. They disappear for 5 to 10 minutes in the back of the restaurant and then return with my card. I have no idea what they have done with my card, or if they have written down my info.

2. I just purchased a used car. I had to give the dealer my social security number, drivers license, address and phone number. I don’t know them, how they store this info, how they destroy this info when they are done or who else might work there that is not as honest as I am.

3. The barber who cuts my hair stands behind me with very sharp objects. At any time they could loose it and stab me or cut my juggler vain. Kind of scary – huh?

4. I purchase things on the internet all the time. I provide my credit card info. I have no idea who is on the other end of my transaction. Amazon has my data. What are they doing with it? They tempt me with books and music ads that fit my purchasing style. So they have gathered and stored my buying habits.

5. Miscellaneous scary stuff… I buy movie tickets online. I pay my bills online. I use software that automatically updates via the net. I am connected to the internet just about all the time. Sniffers, snooping software, adware, spyware, it is all out there.

I practice safe surfing, but still… my info is out there.

Scary stuff – a lot scarier that Autodesk…

Well here is something interesting…

If you do a mix of interactions with Autodesk, then they may be able to find out who you are. Is that a concern to you? You may not be anonymous if you submit trouble reports and get involved with the Customer Involvement Program.

The Customer Involvement Program (CIP) is an Autodesk program to gather basic data from customers so that they can improve the software. It is an Opt In program and you don’t need to get involved. But…

You should think about getting involved. There are many ways to provide feedback to Autodesk. The CIP is one of them. I will continue to blog on this subject as we work through the issues of what information they gather and what they do with it.

For now, you can check it out in your 2008 products by going to the Help Menu.

You can turn it on and off from your Help pulldown.

More from the Autodesk website…

PLEASE NOTE: Customers that participate in the CIP Program and also submit Error Reports to the Customer Error Reporting (CER) program may provide enough common information so their CIP information is no longer anonymous and may be linked to all data you have provided Autodesk, including, without limitation, your email address. If you are uncomfortable with this situation, please do not participate in one or both programs.

How do I participate or stop participating?

You can choose to participate or stop participating at any time by accessing the Customer Involvement Program dialog in the product help menu. Your choice applies to all Autodesk products installed on the computer your choice is made.

Where is my data transmitted, stored and processed?

When your products send CIP data to Autodesk, it is sent in an encrypted form over the internet. When Autodesk receives the information, security technologies and procedures protect that information from unauthorized access, use, or disclosure.

The CIP information will be stored and processed on Autodesk computers in the United States. At times, however, CIP information may be processed and stored in other countries where services are being provided by a licensee, agent or service provider of Autodesk. In these cases, the personnel working with the information are required to maintain confidentiality.

Disclosure of data

Autodesk may at times aggregate CIP information and share that information with partners. This information cannot be used to identify individual users. No CIP information is used or shared for advertising purposes.

Autodesk may also disclose CIP information in special cases when we believe in good faith that the law requires it, or if in good faith we believe there may have been a violation of law or other interference with or violation of Autodesk

Anybody want to volunteer to have Autodesk collect info about your working habits?

Well at least they ask… Google just does it without asking.

I saw this screen when I opened my newly installed copy of Revit Architecture 2008

Now I am not a “conspiracy theory” or “big brother’s watching” kind of guy, but this did stop me short. Do I want Autodesk collecting info from my machine directly without me knowing what they are getting? So I did a little checking…

Have I made up my mind yet… I am still thinking it through. Not that I distrust Autodesk. I have probably given them more info about me than they could ever collect from my AutoCAD or Revit use. But I am still thinking it through. More to come. In the mean time…

Here is some info from the Autodesk website…

What is the Customer Involvement Program?

The Customer Involvement Program (CIP) is a program that dramatically improves the way Autodesk designs software and measures performance and quality. It lets customers be involved in helping make Autodesk products better meet their needs and the needs of the larger community of users.

Included in nearly all of Autodesk latest product releases, CIP automatically collects information about software features usage, system configuration and software errors from those customers that choose to participate. About once a day, a small file containing CIP information is sent to Autodesk

How old is your hardware?

When are you buying a new system.

Let us know… Then we can either be jealous or laugh at you (just kidding)

Take the Survey!

Here is some very interesting news… Autodesk rocks the BIM world again…

Acquisition to Enable Construction, Plant Design and Marine Design Customers to Leverage Building Information Modeling and Digital Prototypes for Increased Productivity and Collaboration

SAN RAFAEL, Calif., May 31 – Autodesk, Inc. today announced that it has signed an agreement to acquire NavisWorks, a privately-held company based in Sheffield, England that provides software for 3D coordination, collaboration and sequencing in design and construction for approximately $25 million in USD cash, subject to a working capital adjustment. The acquisition underscores Autodesk’s commitment to help its customers derive the greatest possible value from the information created during all phases of the design process.

Read all about it

With my tongue firmly placed in my cheek (in other words, I am poking fun here…)

Some interesting notes from my review of trademark policies on the Autodesk website.

Children under the age of 13 are not allowed to use the Autodesk website or transmit or otherwise submit personal information to Autodesk. (Please pass this on to your kids.)

You may not use, download, upload, copy, print, display, perform, reproduce, publish, license, post, transmit, or distribute any information from the Autodesk website in whole or in part without the express written authorization of Autodesk. (Does copying part of the trademark page violate this rule?)

AUTODESK AND/OR ITS RESPECTIVE SUPPLIERS MAKE NO REPRESENTATIONS ABOUT THE SUITABILITY OF THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE INFORMATION, CONTENT, DOCUMENTS, AND RELATED GRAPHICS PUBLISHED ON THIS WEBSITE FOR ANY PURPOSE. ALL SUCH INFORMATION, CONTENT, DOCUMENTS, AND RELATED GRAPHICS ARE PROVIDED FOR YOUR USE AT YOUR OWN RISK AND “AS IS” WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. (This one is in BOLD text. It must be important. So don’t assume that the website states any facts – just kidding – I love Autodesk. They are very honest folks – who can take a joke once in a while… I hope)

THE INFORMATION, CONTENT, DOCUMENTS, AND RELATED GRAPHICS PUBLISHED ON THIS WEBSITE COULD INCLUDE TECHNICAL INACCURACIES, ERRORS, OR OMISSIONS. (are there typos in the system requirements – or do I really need to buy a better machine than my old 386)

AUTODESK AND/OR ITS RESPECTIVE SUPPLIERS MAY, BUT IS NOT OBLIGATED TO, MAKE IMPROVEMENTS AND/OR CHANGES IN THE… PRODUCT(S), AND/OR THE PROGRAM(S) DESCRIBED HEREIN AT ANY TIME. (you mean that they may not fix the bugs in my copy of AutoCAD 13)

All of these comments are just done in fun. I hope that if I ever violate any on the trademark laws that the legal folks at Autodesk will understand that it just reflects my utter ignorance of such legal matters.

(HAR HAR)

Legal Note: This post uses satire, parody and lampooning to have a little fun. No animals were harmed in the creation of this post. The Surgeon General has determined that taking things too seriously can be harmful to your health. Drink your milk. Stop smoking. Get some exercise. This post is carbon neutral, does not create greenhouse gases and does not deplete the ozone.

When your client provides you with CAD files to “jump start” your design process, this may be a red flag.

Will the client be providing CAD files ?

If the Client provides files, you will do well to ask these kinds of questions…