by Back and the end of January we told you that Microsoft was reviving their interest in community. But I’m not sure anybody saw this particular change coming.
During WinHEC Shenzhen 2015, Microsoft introduced a new Most Valuable Professional category, called the Microsoft Windows Hardware Engineering MVP Program. This category recognizes engineers who develop software for electronic, electro-mechanical, or integrated circuitry for consumer hardware systems. Being an MVP in this category requires solid knowledge of the WDK as well as WDF.
While there is a File System Storage MVP category (and several well-known kernel mode devs are members including myself and OSR’s Scott Noone), there hasn’t been a Microsoft MVP category that recognizes device engineers, component developers, and driver developers who work on a wide array of devices since the Driver and Kernel Development Program was ended in 2011.
There are three things that make the Hardware Engineering MVP Program particularly interesting:
- The program has a distinctly international emphasis. With hardware innovation occurring world-wide, it makes sense to have world-wide representation in the program.
- The program is aimed at device, driver, and component developers who work on devices ranging from peripherals and component parts, to smart phones, tablets, laptops, desktops, servers and embedded systems. It also encompasses makers from both the commercial and educational sectors. So, it’s unusually broad in its scope.
- The program promises to be more than just an honorary title or a bunch of Microsoft marketing hoopla. Microsoft has specifically asked for the MVP members to provide actionable feedback and “contribute to strategic business decisions regarding Windows hardware development.”
The program was announced during WinHEC in Shenzhen today. “It’s about community, community, community” one of the MSFT program managers told me in a phone call. The MVPs who were in attendance at WinHEC were treated Wednesday evening to a special invitation-only event recognizing them and proving them a chance to interact directly with key MS executives. Don Box (well known writer and Microsoft Distinguished Engineer) spoke to the MVPs.
The inaugural members of the Windows Hardware Engineering MVP Program were drawn from the global community. Given the location of WinHEC this year and Microsoft’s recognition of the importance of China and Taiwan as hubs of emerging technology, there is a particular emphasis on members from those geographical areas. New MVPs can be named at any time during the year as warranted.
The term for the new MVPs will officially begin on 1 April 2015 (the start of the new quarter). The Microsoft owner of the Windows Hardware Engineering MVP Program is Asobo Mongwa.
Congratulations to the inaugural members of this program!
Microsoft Windows Hardware Engineering MVP Program
Inaugural Members
Listed in alphabetical order within geographical area.
North America
Don Burn
Brian Catlin
Scott Noone
Tim Roberts
Peter Viscarola
China
Bingjing Ge
Deqiang Han
Hongfeng Liu
Jiong Shi
Jacky Wang
ShouBin Yang
Raymond Y Zhang
Jiewen Zheng
Taiwan
Sam Hsieh
Andy Huang
Chao-Jen Huang
Chun-Liang Liu
Winfred Lu
OSR Open Systems Resources, Inc.