I had the pleasure of attending this event today.  The last item was Q&A with Bill Gates and there were a number of questions that you will be able to watch and listen too in the future.  However, the one that I thought was most interesting was this one:

"What will Bill be doing in his part time capacity with Microsoft and what will the Bill and Melinda Foundation focus on?"

His reply was roughly (I made a few scribbled notes, so I hopefully have the gist, if not the words):

Ray Ozzie and Craig Mundie will take care of the "one Microsoft and R&D function"

Bill will focus on 3 areas:

• Search - still have lots to deliver from the various teams - we have just started to see the beginning of this - in both internet and enterprise areas
• Office - Bill has always had a keen interest in this area and it will continue.  Things to be included are Modelling and declarative rules
• Natural User Interfaces - more voice, touch, gesture and general non-keyboard interaction with technology

For the foundation:

• Healthcare systems - including disease management in poorer countries
• Malaria vaccine
• Use of mobile phones in disconnected regions to share skills, diagnosis and information
• Micro finance transactions to facilitate these operations
• Metrics to enable measure of success and targeting
• Would like to think that within 10 years had a big impact - reduce big diseases in poorer countries by having a vaccine / treatment for around 1/2 of the illnesses (could not say which ones as investing in many areas, but hoped for it to include Malaria)

 

That was it - much more to follow (about the rest of the event)

David