Friday, 15 August 2014

How Microsoft has impacted My life

“How Microsoft has impacted My life"





One can barely think of computers or Information technology without thinking about Microsoft: the two are, inseparable. Today, offices and homes across the globe have opened their doors to Microsoft Windows, which has become an integral part of how people work on their computers. And it all began with one man's belief that the 'computer would be a valuable tool on every office desktop and in every home. This was the inspiration for one of the world's greatest entrepreneurs Bill Gates to develop operating system for personal computers. His vision for personal computing has been Microsoft's success mantra.




Microsoft's Wide range of products in one picture


My journey with Microsoft began in 2000. We did not had a PC at our home that time. In those days, people who had PC, Mobile, car at home were considered as rich ones ;-) So there was a rich friend of mine who had PC at his home. I use to go to his home immediately after throwing my bag at home after the school. We only knew how to start his PC (which had Windows XP ) and play in built games (Hearts, Solitaire, pinball, minesweeper ). We use to play turn by turn basis until our moms start scolding and calling us to have snacks and milk.. !! But my formal learning of Windows began during my Secondary school. It was 2002, when Karnataka Education Board had introduced a computer education program for all secondary school students called  - "Mahiti  Sindhu". This project was aimed at giving free computer education and computer based education to the students of government schools. We were given a book about basics of computer. It included introduction to computer hardware parts, its working and instructions on how to operate GUI. It had exercises for us to do. We had one computer education  period per week. When we use to turn on the PC this famous image use to come. No one can forget the famous image of the blue sky and rolling pasture that graced so many computer screens for so long . Our book exercises were based on MS paint, MS word and Internet explorer. I use to tear out a section of a magazine where good paintings sent by student readers were published. Then I use to draw them in MS paint during the class. It was great fun learning MS paint. Then there were paragraphs given in the exercises which we had to type out in MS word. It gave me a good start for typing practice. There were websites given in the Internet explorer based exercise which we had to browse through. It gave me knowledge on understanding what Internet is all about.



Famous Windows XP wallpaper Pic


I bought my first PC during engineering in 2007. It had newly released windows Vista. Used it for learning few Engineering design and  simulation tools like CAD (Computer Aided Design), HDL etc. On the other hand it was most used by my friends. My hostel room was Birthday celebration room, we use to cut cake and then dance for kannada and bollywood tunes of that time played in Windows media player with visualization effect :-)






Windows media player and Hostel Group Pic


I joined IBM after my engineering , another most reputed technology giant alongside Microsoft. IBM is a company which has invented lot of processes, methods and tools to be followed in a software industry. I was given  a ThinkPad to carry out my duties, which had Windows 7. This OS enabled me to finish my job faster and enjoy work life balance. I, as a developer, used Microsoft word extensively to write solution outline , Design document, System Requirements Specifications (SRS) and unit test cases. Also used Microsoft Excel for exporting data and importing data from Lotus Notes Databases and then analyze them to design solutions, prepare weekly and monthly reports.



XBOX 360

I am fascinated by the clarity and quality of graphics by XBOX 360. Its graphic experience is next to real. There is lot of difference in a game played in your normal PC and a game played using XBOX 360. You can say they are unmatchable. I played few XBOX games in relatives home during my break before joining MBA. It was great fun. I bought a new laptop which has Windows 8.1 in it. I  am having great time in using its new , faster GUI and especially its Windows store. I can install any windows application and use it  :-) In our MBA hostel internet login portal has Bing as homepage, which shows great and unique images every day. I browse news through Bing and then go ahead with my further internet usage. We have  ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) as a curriculum. Our professor had given an assignment to prepare a report on any ERP tool. Since I am  more passionate about  Microsoft I browsed for its ERP tool and came across "Microsoft Dynamics AX for Retail". Prepared extensive report on the same and submitted.




My biggest source of Inspiration to be associated with technology field are - Microsoft founder Mr. Bill gates and Mr. Satya Nadella, an Indian who achieved greatest height in technology field by becoming a CEO of largest software company in the world, Microsoft. Find couple of inspirational videos below. Hope you people enjoy..

Bill Gates inspirational speech at Harvard



Satya Nadella's first interview as CEO of Microsoft



My Plan to bring change in society as a Microsoft Student Associate - 

1. As a member of guest lecture committee at my college, I would call Industry experts in various Microsoft technologies and arrange lectures to enable student community to know about various MS tools, their benefits. They can suggest these tools for usage in their future companies.

2. I shall arrange Workshops where students get some hands on experience of Microsoft tools.

3. I shall host online quizzes based on Microsoft technologies, its history and tools to spread the awareness of various Microsoft products.

4. I shall visit Anathashrama and rural schools to give children and teachers computer knowledge, make them understand the importance of Windows, office and other Microsoft technologies, how they can use them to do their work better and faster.

5. I shall approach some big Retail chains  and share my report on Microsoft Dynamics for Retail with them and make them understand its importance and benefits. Ask them to use it.


Thank you for taking out your valuable time and reading my blog :-)



Thanks and Regards, 

Praveen Kavaladandi
MBA 2014-16 
SCIT, Pune