Session Abstract

You might not think that the (fantasy) worlds of Dungeons and Dragons and being a Microsoft MVP would overlap that much. Desktop Role Playing Games and the Microsoft stack are not obvious bedfellows. But, if you are geeky enough, you will find a way. In this session we'll have fun disclosing all the ways a completely normal set of real world needs can be supported by the tech we know and love. We'll start with extended online role playing via Teams, create automatic session write ups, build a Linux VM on Azure for Virtual Table Top hosting (and do some nifty things to start and stop the server via Teams), explore content management, collaboration and, inevitably, use Copilot Chat, dedicated Agents and ideation. You might not be a gamer; but this session aims to show how Microsoft tools can easily extend beyond the obvious knowledge worker roles to improve productivity in unexpected places.

Simon Hudson

I am an entrepreneur in the technology and health sectors, with a background in physics and medical devices, wound care and strategic marketing, plus Microsoft and related technologies. I have 2 active companies (Novia Works Ltd., a small MS365 consultancy, and Sustainable Ferriby, a community energy not-for-profit); I was the founder of Cloud2 Ltd. and Kinata Ltd. I am fascinated by the impacts that technology has on people, business and society. I'm frequently an early adopter but have little time for marketing fluff and manipulative bandwagons. I am a Microsoft MVP and Entrepreneur in Residence at the University of Hull. I'm also a lead author on the growing Maturity Model for M365 (https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/community/index_mm4m365/?WT.mc_id=M365-MVP-5004811/) I'm interested in far too many things to keep up with them all. My articles and editorials have been published in a variety of knowledge management, clinical benchmarking and health journals as well as PC Pro magazine. I am a co-facilitator of the M365 North User Group. Other musings appear in my blog at https://noviaworks.co.uk. I am passionate about rather too many things, including science, music (I write and play guitar & mandola), skiing, classic cars and sustainability and technology.