Sorry for my long break from blogging. Thanks to JCS for asking me to come back, as it was just the push I needed to get this post out. A few other readers have also noticed my absence from the blogosphere, thanks to all of you for your encouragement and support.

My silence does not mean I've been idle and it does not mean I've run dry on topics. In fact, it's been quite the opposite. My recent experiences over the last few months have given me plenty of reflections to write about, but very little time to write them! The biggest news I have to announce is that I changed jobs within HP. I moved out of the research lab and into the business.

I am now leading what I call the newest startup in HP--the HP Experience Software Business (ESB). ESB is within the Emerging Businesses unit in HP's Personal Systems Group. I coined the term "Experience Software" to refer to software that drives and is driven by the user experience. I have found that taking an experience-centered approach to software and business is as important as taking an experience-centered approach to design, research, and technology (which I've written about in the past). Putting the experience first is really a mindset that affects everything you do, ranging from deciding what feature you put in a product to asking your friends what they like or dislike about their coffee cup. I want to thank my experience-driven researchers in HP Labs for teaching me the importance of experience over the last few years- they knew the importance of this long before it became fashionable!

While I am no longer in HP Labs (after almost 12 years!), I am still very involved with the Labs. I am on one of the advisory boards that is responsible for approving, guiding, and reviewing the research projects. In fact, I rely on HP Labs research even more now than I did when I was a lab director there. I feel very fortunate to be able to work with the researchers- to get consulting advice in their areas of expertise, to listen to their newest and oldest ideas to inspire ideas for my new business, and hopefully to bring some of their great ideas to market!

I'll try to post more now that I have the monkey off my back regarding my silence in the blogosphere. I plan to keep my posts in the same flavor unless you suggest otherwise. (Any suggestions?) And, while I can't reveal everything we're doing, some posts will give hints about the areas that we're thinking about. In the mean time, please wish me luck with ESB!

p.s. We have a new blogging system that makes it easier to leave comments. Like any other blogger, I love to hear what my readers are thinking; so please feel free to leave comments.