What’s remarkable about all of this is watching the effects of the Pareto Principle at play:  we eventually determine that a basic subset of our new technologies is all we really need to use to satisfy our Web Development wants and needs.  Something like AHAH is getting us most of what we really wanted from AJAX: to dynamically change HTML in a page in a manner similar to the way only part of our desktop applications update.  Hopefully, the next step is to get over markup and just dynamically push and update images over the web;  imagine bandwidth so broad that we just move “desktops” around. 

I realize that RDP, VNC, Citrix and the like have done this for ages, but these are not cross-platform standards, per se.  We need the browser concept, but one where what we are browsing is images and partial updates to imates.  Most web design is done cutting up pictures as it is.  We could even use vector technologies (such as SVG)  to overwrite text over these images.  However, it is possible that the same inertia that keeps the desktop metaphor alive will keep the markup/webpage metaphor alive and constraint future innovation. 

So much to keep after!

Dr. Babb

significant digits × base^exponent

Why, you might ask, does this matter?  Well, for students of Computer Information Systems, it is important to understand both the power and limitations of your tools.  Moreover, consider the power and problems associated with such programs as they deal with complex algorithms related to financial, or perhaps scientific, matters.  Look at Fabrice Tourre’s story:  a mathematician and Stanford Operations Research graduate; he knew quite well the power of programming as a tool for implementing the forecasting models and “exotic financial instruments” which have caused such a stir.  The programs written to implement credit default swaps and other similar tools are all subject to the inherent drawbacks of the floating-point implementation in computing.  This is so as our machines for calculating are ultimately limited in their ability to express the depth of rational numbers.

None of this is to say that the limits of the floating point are the cause of this (or any other) financial crisis, but it is important to understand what your tools are capable of (and what they are not).  So, be mindful of what every CIS student should know about floating-point numbers.

Dr. Babb

Quickly, check out these Drupal implementations:

http://openatrium.com/ (Open Atrium – a very cool FOSS groupware)

http://mapbox.com/ (think Google Maps and Earth are cool?  think some more…)

http://groups.drupal.org/aegir-hosting-system (manage many Drupal sites to extend your part of the cloud)

In the wake of these and other frameworks, I am left wondering what the utility of “ground-up” development is for today’s CIS student.  Don’t get me wrong, a sound foundation in the logical, data and mathematical foundations of programming is imperative, but I think we should be “tilting” at the quick and rapid utilization of these FOSS frameworks oriented to accessing and co-opting the cloud.  I think of a recent Wired interview I read with Mark Zuckerberg who said something to the effect of: “I wasn’t interested in programming machines, I was interested in programming systems.”  This systems perspective is exactly what the CIS student is tuned into.

Dr. Babb

Samsung warns that excessive use of 3D-TVs can cause disorientation so severe, that one could fall off the couch. Also:

“Pregnant women, drunk people and “those who are sleep deprived” should not watch 3-D television because of potential health issues, electronics manufacturer Samsung says on its Web site.”

“Viewing in 3-D may cause disorientation for some viewers,” the warning says. “Accordingly, DO NOT place your TV television near open stairwells, cables, balconies, or other objects that can be tripped over, run into, knocked down, broken or fallen over.”

Following the Cisco trip, participants toured Walgreen’s regional distribution center in Dallas. Students were exposed to a variety of complex technology and machinery, including very large and very small robots, security and supply chain management systems.

The immersion excursion is an annual trip sponsored by the IDM department at WTAMU. The trip serves three purposes. First to recognize and reward exceptional CIS students who aspire to be an active part of a world class organization. Second, to expose these students to the corporate environment and professional culture that drives these cutting edge organizations. Finally the immersion excursion serves as an opportunity for the IDM department to showcase its best and brightest students to potential recruiters, with the goal of building relationships that will benefit all parties involved.

The 2010 participants were:

Brad Kent
Yuri Chavira
Salvador Gomez
Nathan Tarrant
Edgar Cardenas
Ivan Cardenas
Becca Boyer
Skyler Schmidt
Brenton Thurber
Laura Castro
Dustin Hume
Brandon Boyd
Eyoel Mengesha
Kolten Wilder

Congratulations on a successful immersion excursion!

The IDM department would also like to thank the faculty who made the trip possible: Amjad Abdullat, Christopher Furner, Mark Keith, Jeff Babb, De’Arno De’Armond, James Webb and Shawna Simmons.

It’s a competitive event, with only around 30 students accepted around the country. However, it’s relatively new and not well advertised, so I think a few WT students might get a chance. Plus, we have a connection to DSU, as the son of their Department Head works at WT.

They will pay for roundtrip transportation, meals and give you a place to stay (I’m guessing it’s a dorm). They will also give you a $4,140 stipend, so it’s not a bad gig.

The downside is: You will have to spend spend 9 weeks in South Dakota learning about cybersecurity. It’s quite an honor to be accepted, so I would encourage anyone who is eligible to apply.

Requirements:

1. You need to be a US citizen or legal resident
2. You need to be a Sophomore or Junior CIS major
3. You need a 3.0 GPA or better

You can find more information and http://dsu-dsc03.dsu.edu/reu/application.aspx

The application deadline is April 10, so I would get your application in ASAP.

Best of Luck!

Feb 18th Officer’s Election Meeting:

Salvador Speaks

and the club listens…

…and more are listening. 

Feb 27th Website Design Meeting:

Tech Clubbers Intently Planning

Remember to turn up for the future Tech Club activities!  We’re having fun!

Dr. Babb

This year, we are bringing 14 hand selected CIS students to Dallas to visit CISCO and Walgreen’s distribution center.  This year’s participants are:

• Brad Kent
• Yuri Chavira
• Salvador Gomez
• Nathan Tarrant
• Edgar Cardenas
• Ivan Cardenas
• Rebecca Boyer
• Skyler Schmidt
• Brenton Thurber
• Laura Castro
• Dustin Hume
• Brandon Boyd
• Eyoel Mengesha
• K.C. Wilder

Participants are nominated by a committee of professors based on their performance in the classroom and our appraisals of their career potential.  This year, we had a very big list of candidates, stemming from our large freshmen class, so those who didn’t make the final cut this year will still be considered next year.

This is the 3^rd immersion excursion. In 2009, 10 students traveled to Houston to vist a HP server manufacturing facility and the NASA space center.  In 2008, 10 students traveled to Seattle to visit Microsoft and Boeing.

Besides direct exposure to some of our recruiters, students get a feel for how things work in the real world, and receive a certificate recognizing that they were hand selected for outstanding achievement.

Congratulations, stay tuned for pictures.