Our Visit to PTC

Our team is sponsored by Parametric Technology Corporation, otherwise known as PTC. PTC creates software to assist companies in product development and product life cycle management. Basically, they sell software which allows companies such as Caterpillar or Honeywell to streamline every aspect of developing a new product, from the drawing board to distribution and decommissioning.

Being a team sponsor is a very big deal. PTC has generously donated over $100,000 to City Year for the economically uncertain 2009-2010 fiscal year alone. In turn they get increased brand recognition, as our team refers to ourselves as the PTC Ohrenberger School Team. Every time we do Physical Training or introduce our team, we use the company name. Recently, our team got an even bigger helping of this company's generosity as we visited the corporate headquarters. In many ways, it felt like we were in a modern version of Polar Express.

The wonder began when our charter van picked us up at City Year Headquarters around 11:00 am. The heated leather seats were more comfortable than anything in my apartment, and it was very difficult not to take a nap. We arrived at headquarters, a sprawling, clean complex somewhere in Needham, Massachusetts. We were greeted in the lobby by a giant, 3D sculpture of the corporate logo, a disused but well-maintained hovercraft on display and a friendly, handsom clerk who instructed us to put on name tags. As our uniforms required that we already wear name tags this was somewhat akward, but we complied and were lead up to the corporate visitor's center.

We reached a conference room with a long table, swivel chairs and a beautiful view of a lake. We were greeted by representatives from the PTC's engineering and corporate relations departments. Each Corps Member gave a testimonial about why he or she had joined City Year, and the reps in turn spoke about the company. The engineer explained each step of the the typical lifecycle for product development. He used Caterpillar's development of a new bulldozer as an example, taking us from brainstorming to documentation, CAD design (computerized drawings and blueprints) to production, distribution and ongoing maintenance. He explained that PTC software helps clients in every step of this process.

After his presentation came a catered lunch consisting of gourmet sandwiches, salad, cookies, and the best potato chips I have ever tasted. Taking a bathroom break, I noticed a hand drier called the AirBlade. Designed by James Dyson of vacuum fame, it's like a wind tunnel for your hands and is the closest thing to Star Trek's sonic shower that I have ever encountered in real life.

Our team headed to a theater to watch a presentation of PTC software in action. We sat in the coolest chairs ever. Everything swiveled, including the arm and the cup holder. We then witnessed a somewhat dry but informative presentation about Windchill, one PTC's development software programs. The client purchases Windchill and uploads into their server. Everyone working on a new product, such as a cellular phone, can use Windchill to generate a 3D model of the entire thing or any of its component parts. They can take out and manipulate individual parts, or view the entire thing or a specific part according to its electrical schematic. Any changes made to the device or the documentation pertaining to it are updated in real time and visible to everyone on the network. The software allows companies to design, build and test their products virtually without having to create expensive prototypes.

I asked if the software could be used for medical purposes, i.e. if someone’s heart or brain were mapped out could it be uploaded on to the software program and doctors could use it to treat the patient. The engineer said that that had not been thought of before. I told him, half-jokingly, that I was looking for a job.

After the presentation we rode back to headquarters. It was tough to leave the bus but good to be back at work. So next time I write a lesson plan, or help a kid with his or her homework or have to give a stern lecture about the importance of following directions, I know that PTC played a part in making it all possible.