Jonathan C. Cluts
Director Consumer Prototyping and Strategy
Microsoft Corporation

As director of consumer prototyping and strategy at Microsoft Corp., Jonathan Cluts leads the group that creates prototypes of consumer technologies that look out five to ten years in the future. The team conceives tangible realizations of ideas and technologies that they believe will enhance consumers' productivity, lifestyle and entertainment. As part of its charter, the team also creates, manages and operates the Microsoft Home, a prototyping facility located on the company's Redmond, Wash., campus.

Cluts has worked at Microsoft for over 10 years. He has worked in the Usability, Kids, MSN and Systems groups and for the Prototyping Team twice. He was the first full-time program manager for the Prototyping Team when Microsoft initiated its consumer and interactive television efforts under Craig Mundie.

Before joining Microsoft, Cluts worked in the music business; he owned and managed several recording studios in addition to producing and performing music. He also taught computer classes and worked for Tandy and several smaller computer companies. Cluts studied music and audio engineering at Indiana University and received a bachelor's degree in liberal arts from the University of Washington. He is married to a former Microsoft employee and they have a 10-year-old son.