A group of 15 university students from around the world convened in Redmond, Wash., recently to form the inaugural Microsoft� Office Information Worker Board of the Future, an advisory panel the company formed to help determine how to better serve tomorrow's work force.

During a week of workshops, brainstorming sessions and presentations, the students offered insight into the technologies and issues important to them. The Microsoft Information Worker Business Group created the board to help ensure its future products and services meet the workplace needs of the so-called Internet Generation, or NetGen, the largest and most tech-savvy generation ever.

"Technology isn't the only thing in the workplace that evolves. So do the needs and expectations of workers, as each new generation enters the work force," said Peter Rinearson, corporate vice president of the Information Worker Business Group at Microsoft. "The direct, open feedback of these students is exactly what every global company like Microsoft needs to ensure it keeps up with the evolving needs of today's customers -- and tomorrow's."