Expiration dates for free technology previews on Autodesk Labs for fiscal year 2017

Since we just started a new fiscal year on February 1, I figured it was time to repost an updated version of my milk carton blog article.

Most technology previews are like milk cartons. They have expiration dates on them. When a technology preview expires, the technology preview no longer operates. A preview has a time-bomb in it that makes it stop working on a particular date. We do this so there is a sense of urgency to try a technology preview and get back to us. Our customers are busy people, and without this, they would just say "I'll get to that later." When a technology preview expires, any data that has been created by it continues to be valid. It's just that the data cannot be edited using the technology preview since the preview does not run anymore. Certainly new data can't be created either. This time-based approach allows us to get timely feedback, early in the technology life cycle, on the general idea, user interface, performance characteristics, and correctness of the results.

Here is a list of active Autodesk Labs technology previews and their associated expiration dates. The list is sorted by expiration date — so act fast if you want to provide feedback on these technology previews before they retire or graduate.

Expiration Date	Technology Preview
February 26, 2016	Revit Credit Manager for LEED Manage your LEED credits with ease.
February 28, 2016	Autodesk Open Translation Project Help evolve and improve open learning.
February 28, 2016	Corridor Optimization for InfraWorks 360 Use equations to find the most efficient roadway alignment.
February 28, 2016	Molecule Viewer Explore the tiny world of molecular design.
February 28, 2016	Suitability Maps for InfraWorks 360 Leverage mapping data with corridor optimization.
March 31, 2016	Project VUE Viewing for Autodesk Navisworks Import Intergraph Smart™ / SmartPlant® 3D models to Navisworks.
May 1, 2016	2D to 3D Tool for Inventor Create 3D models in Autodesk Inventor from 2D data.
May 1, 2016	Project Arro Test and optimize your design ideas.
May 2, 2016	Project Scorch Perform fire simulations within a structure.
May 5, 2016	Project Kameleon Try new infrastructure model content authoring tools.
June 30, 2016	Dynamo Plug-in for Robot Structural Analysis Connect Dynamo to Robot Structural Analysis.
June 30, 2016	Project Boulder for InfraWorks 360 Match 2D flood simulations with 3D immersive models.
June 30, 2016	Project Draco Bring life to illustrations with kinetic textures.
June 30, 2016	Project EnergyPlus Cloud Experience EnergyPlus raised to the power of cloud.
June 30, 2016	React Structures Connect your BIM process to intuitive structural analysis.
July 31, 2016	Project ECMFin Conduct financial analyses on the desired energy conservation measures.
July 31, 2016	Project Scandium for Moldflow Extend your simulation capabilities.
August 30, 2016	Project Monolith Try voxel-based modeling engine for multimaterial 3D printing.
August 31, 2016	Project Aquila Try web-based facility energy management.
November 17, 2017	NextGen Learning Help us evolve the learning resources we supply.
November 17, 2017	Project PRAXIS Try workflow authoring/publishing via the cloud. (Part of NextGen Learning)
January 31, 2017	Export LMC for AutoCAD Drive your METABEAM laser cutter directly from AutoCAD.

Technology previews have a specific end date so no one confuses them with perpetual functionality that is associated with a product offering or subscription service. In fact, technology previews are offered for free to Subscription, non-Subscription, and educational customers alike. A development team is focused on a technology preview for a project interval. While they are, they want the feedback and the ability to make a decision so they can continue development of the technology or quickly move on to something else. We appreciate it when we debut technology previews, people try them right away, and they provide us with an up or down vote. Your experience shapes the future of our technology indeed. As I always say, "Trying a technology preview, liking it, but not telling us, is the same as not trying it."

Checking the expiration dates to see what can still be tested is alive in the lab.