COFES is a unique event that brings together executives from design, engineering, architectural, development and technology companies together with a select group of end users of technology to understand the role engineering technology will play in the future survival and success of business.

This year’s event was well attended with over 260 attendees (http://tinyurl.com/cofes2010) with a handful of participants not able to make the journey due to air travel restrictions from Europe. Most Europeans were delayed in their return journey, but speaking personally I can at least be grateful for being stranded in sunny climes and in the hospitable company of Al Dean and Martyn Day, publishers of Develop3D.

Of the first time attendees to COFES, I was delighted to host Kristian Talvitie from PTC, Frank Patz-Brockmann from Contact Software, Vinay Wagle from CADCAM-E and Rupert Poon from Romax Technology. Hopefully they found our briefings and discussions worthwhile, as did all with whom I spoke.

Highlights of the event included the many varied discussions in both formal and informal session. Amongst the many topics were those on new product developments, industry and end-user trends, and the opportunities and challenges facing the industry and our customers.

Insightful keynotes of specific note were delivered by Peter Marks (Blind Spotting : FACTS FIRST) and Bo Burlingham (Got Mojo?). I understand that videos and sound recordings (of these and other sessions) are due to be posted on-line at the COFES web site in the near future and I thoroughly recommend taking a few minutes to listen to/watch them.

My particular technology suite briefing focused on ‘Cloud and Channel’; a thought provoking session with excellent interaction from the many and varied participants. Based on the fact that there was standing room only for this meeting, this is a topic that’s near and dear to many of the attendees’ hearts; end user and suppliers alike. My thanks to Kenneth Wong from Desktop Engineering for his published excerpts which can be found on his observations pagehttp://www.deskeng.com/virtual_desktop/ .