Bill Hoffman with Object Management Group

The Industrial Talk Podcast with Scott MacKenzie

Apr 3 2024 • 22 mins

Industrial Talk is onsite at OMG, Q1 Meeting and talking to Bill Hoffman, Chairman and CEO of Object Management Group about "delivering 35-years of trustworthy standards to the market".  Here are some of the key takeaways from our conversation:
  • Industrial innovation and professionals. 0:04
    • Scott Mackenzie welcomes industrial professionals on his podcast, praising their innovation and problem-solving.

  • 35 years of OMG, standards, and AI evolution. 1:22
    • Bill reflects on 35 years of experience in the industry, sharing stories of growth and change.
    • Bill discusses the importance of maintaining a trade association structure to ensure independence and control over standards development.
    • Bill shares their experience in the field of computer science, mentioning their involvement in four different Lisp companies and the evolution of object-oriented languages.
    • Bill and Scott MacKenzie discuss the shift towards generative AI and the impact of inexpensive computing power and storage on the field.

  • Standards development and interoperability in the tech industry. 6:07
    • Bill discusses the importance of setting standards in the software industry, particularly in the context of interoperability and security.
    • OMG, a standards development organization, works on creating and maintaining standards for software development, with a focus on future-proofing and relevance.
    • Bill highlights the importance of IPR protection and anti-trust protection for members, allowing competitors to collaborate openly without fear of legal issues.
    • The organization prioritizes top-notch work products, but has considered patenting their process, recognizing the value in building standards that are transparent and altruistic in nature.
    • OMG's standards are thoroughly vetted and fast-tracked through ISO's publicly available specification process, ensuring future proofing and relevance in the rapidly changing market.
    • OMG responds to market realities by continuously evolving standards through revision Task Forces, allowing companies to invest in new technologies and stay ahead of the curve.

  • Technology standards and their impact on society. 12:57
    • Bill discusses the Industrial Internet Consortium (IIC), mentioning their role in setting up the organization and solving problems within the field.
    • Bill highlights the importance of knowledge graphs in the world of AI, citing their involvement in standards development for the Enterprise Knowledge Graph foundation.
    • Bill discusses the convergence of technologies and how it's leading to a worldwide effect, with examples in cell phones and hospitals.
    • Bill and their partner have been committed to their work for 35 years, despite job offers and challenges, due to their passion for changing society through technology.

  • Industry Standards and Innovation. 18:05
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