SiliconBeat

It’s been fashionable for years to knock Microsoft for not being hip, cutting edge, innovative. Choose your dart. The folks at Redmond have heard it all. But, of course, the picture is more complex. In its most recent fiscal year, Microsoft spent $8.2 billion on research. That sum makes it one of the largest research organizations in the world.

So when I was offered the chance last month to chat with Craig Mundie, Microsoft’s Chief Research and Strategy Officer, I jumped on it. Mundie spent a day at the University of California at Berkeley as part of a week-long visit to universities across the country.

According to his official bio: “Mundie is responsible for directing the company’s technical strategy and long-term investments. In this role, he oversees Microsoft Research and other technology and research initiatives, the company’s health and education businesses, and a number of technology incubations. Mundie also works with government and business leaders around the world on technology policy, regulation and standards.”

On a basic level, Mundie is the guy in charge of figuring out the future for Microsoft. So, what he thinks matters. He’s been at the software company since 1992. And Mundie makes a convincing case that the conventional wisdom about Microsoft and innovation is wrong.

During a presentation to students and faculty at Berkeley, Mundie began by demonstrating the World Wide Telescope. And if you haven’t downloaded this yet, you should. Especially if you have a five-year-old at home, like me. The WWT pulls together almost every astronomical image in the world to create a kind of “Google Maps” for the universe.

There were a few highlights from Mundie’s official presentation to students and faculty: Read the rest of this entry »