What can we expect at this week’s intersection of design and technology in Las Vegas?

Before a week for looking forward, let’s take a quick peek back for context.

Bill Gates at MIX06

MIX06: “The Next Web Now.”

3 years ago, Microsoft launched this hip series of conferences, inviting a cross-platform audience of business decision makers, developers and designers (…wait… designers?!).

The inaugural keynote explored the opportunities that would emerge as the internet “evolves… and ‘web’ and ‘application’ concepts merge.”

It was the only MIX keynote to star Bill Gates as Microsoft’s Chief Software Architect, and featured a fireside chat between Bill and Tim O’Reilly, and Bill’s mea culpa about the state of IE6.

It was a simpler time back then. My Mom wasn’t even on Facebook yet.

MIX07: “A 72-Hour Conversation”

Ray Ozzie and ScottGu at MIX07

The conference’s sophomore year was billed as a “72-hour conversation” at a time when the rampant success of social networking was all the buzz.

Ray Ozzie took the helm, WPF/E got its new look and name, and so we saw .NET boldly go cross-browser, cross-platform – at least, in CTP form.

MIX08

Loosely, the following year’s theme was (loosely) connected things: their impact on the individual, their impact on the organization.  “Small pieces, loosely joined” was I believe how Ray put it.

And there were Rich Internet Applications. Silverlight 2.0, the highly anticipated enabler, went Beta.  Designers (I thought) were finally somewhat understood, even if their Microsoft toolset was still fermenting.

SteveB and GuyK at MIX08

There was an explicit expectation set by Ray, Steve and Company that MIX08 represented but one of several steps on the road to something big at the PDC coming in the autumn.

PDC2008

Then, months later, Silverlight 2.0 was unleashed on the wild, with 3.0 already on the radar. But wait… were we even talking about the presentation layer any more, or, with Silverlight’s eventual impact firmly impressed upon us, had we moved on to discuss awesome sky-plumbing instead?

We’re talkin’ Azure, Live Services too numerous to mention, data and enterprise service buses and meshes in the sky, a bookstore that got there first, Models and Domain-Specific Languages (see Don Box’s characterization of this dreadfully wond’rous craic), and so much more, all available streamed online now for your viewing pleasure.

MIX09

So we begin MIX09 with feet tentatively on the presentation layer, but eyes on this intriguing Cloud on the horizon.

The MIX09 Session List alone would suggest an emphasis (by session number) on:

• Silverlight (31) and UI/UX (16),
• Azure (11) and Live Services (8),
  and
• ASP.NET (14)

I mentioned previously that I visit MIX for the buzz.  This week I’m there again to meet, to chat, and to think — and especially, to ask what awesome things should we do with all this  stuff? What could I do for my clients? For their organizations? For my own projects?

Even if you’re not able to attend, the keynote will be streamed live, and you’ll have a chance to ask ScottGu some questions online 30 minutes after it’s over.

We’re three years into this MIX journey to The Next Web.  This week, we expect to gain insight into Microsoft’s perspective on the road ahead.  I’m going to try to write here daily, and figure out how to use this Twitter thing as well.  Inspired by keynote speaker Bill Buxton, I may even try my hand at a little sketching, and change up my technology choices as an audience member for the keynote and sessions. (hint: I’m thinking of leaving the laptop behind).

Right – that’s enough context – I’m off to Vegas to Mix things up a little!