New Horizons in Computer Learning Centers in NC

In my introductary article on this blog, I mentioned using my new notebook computer. This new computer, which has many bells and whistles and was a real bargain, is vastly more powerful and compact than the first computers I learned on and began using. I began taking computer programming classes in 1968, a year before the first lunar landing. My current notebook computer is light years ahead in advancement and power compared to those computers that controlled the lunar trip and landing.

I began my IT career in October of 1970 with a large accounting firm in their management advisory services department. Our processing was done by an IBM 360 computer that had a total of 32K of memory. That's right, not megabytes, not gigabytes, but 32,000 bytes of memory. Our IT department did all the computer processing for our accounting firm as well as a host of clients. In those days, only a small percentage of companies owned computer systems.

When I began learning about computer programming, software, hardware, systems analysis, project management, etc, there were very few colleges and institutions that offered computer education, especially in business systems. The "Harvard" or "MIT" of business computing education in the early seventies was IBM and in particular the IBM Education Center in Washington, DC. I was fortunate to attend the IBM Systems Analysis class there circa 1972. Since then, the explosion of computer hardware and software that came as a result of the personal computer and personal high tech devices has resulted in very few people that can be referred to as computer experts. This has made it increasingly difficult to stay current with even niches of computer related categories. The competitive nature of the business and the need to trim budgets has added another level of need to stay current on technology.

The younger person that requested these articles brought up several topics that that are pertinent now but have been important issues for years.Virtual machines and project management. Project management seemed like a self evident reality to him but I assured him that it is still an important issue because it relates to the human equation of implementing projects. I was very fortunate to get into the computer field when I did but I also was fortunate to get exposed to so many interesting people and projects. Here are a few of the more interesting ones:

After systems analysis and design training at the IBM Education Center,I was given a local Chamber of Commerce as my account in my early twenties.

I learned and used the following programming languages: Assembler, Cobol,RPG (many forms), PL/1 , APL, Fortran, Basic (many forms).

I taught computer science for 5 years.

I attended a seminar by Frederick Brooks, a project manager for the IBMSystem/360 and OS/360. Mr. Brooks presented a seminar based on his experiences and subsequent book, "The Mythical Man-Month", essays on software engineering and project management.

I had a lengthy discussion with Admiral Grace Murray Hopper, a world famous computer pioneer, often given credit for making popular the term "computer bug."

I owned a small software consulting firm for almost half of my career that allowed me to represent small and large companies. I represented a number of those companies on business trips to New York City.

I attended quite a few international computer conferences and got"persuaded" at the last minute to speak after a no show.

I was coproject leader on a large Y2K project that was coupled with another project for one of the largest companies in NC. The project utilized a large in house staff, programmers from India and was completed successfully ahead of schedule.

So, what was the point of me telling you all of this aside from giving me a chance to stroll down memory lane and rest on my laurels. It gives me a unique perspective as a technical person and business man. In recent years I have become more of a computer user and less technical. However, from time to time I rely on my technical knowledge to get out of a fix.

One thing is crystal clear to me and many others. That there is so much software, so many devices and the technology changes so rapidly that it is hard to keep up. Which bring me back to my conversation with the young man who is becoming more computer technical. We recently conversed about, you guessed it, virtual machines and project management. This immediately jogged my memory. "There is nothing new under the Sun."Many years ago we used a technique on the IBM/360 computer to allow larger programs to run, thus using virtual memory. Project Management. What can I say. When dealing with humans, project management will always be a challenge. I was immediately reminded of "The Mythical Man-Month" by Frederick Brooks.

Virtual machines often are referred to as using software to run multiple servers on one piece of hardware. This can save money. I assured the young man that project management is not the self evident piece of cake that it appears to be. He stated that New Horizons Computer Learning Centers has classes on both subjects. He is currently learning some other technical skills there. Having not been active in the computer field for several years, I was not that familiar with New Horizons. I did emphasize the fact that in this economic downturn, both saving money through the use of virtual machines and proper project management, could be a very desirable set of skill sets.

IT, Information Technology, once considered by some to be an unnecessary expense, is now becoming the backbone of efforts to make companies more efficient as well as competitive. I am told there will be more articles to come on IT in NC and from other people's perspectives.

Old IT Guy

I am writing this introductory article on my new laptop computer with loads of internal memory, a large disk drive and many bells and whistles, reflecting on the many changes that have occured during my lifetime. I was asked to write these opening articles by a younger person, embarking on a career that is more high tech in a world that is driven by high tech devices and marketing.

As I write this, I am constantly reminded of the cloud that hangs over the country and the economy, the cutbacks in many industries across the country and why people should be worried, why they should not buy a house and why they should only expect doom and gloom. Yet, my relatively short life on this planet and my backgound in math, logic and business tell me something else. North Carolina, compared to many places in the US and the world has fared relatively well. We have experienced some setbacks in the real estate market and banking as well as the unemployment rate, but even during my adult life I have experienced a much worse economic climate. I remember the long lines at the Employment Security Commission (I could view them from my office), long gas lines (and I don't mean the minor inconvenience we experienced recently) and mortgage interest rates that topped 20%. And of course, my parents stories of growing up during the Great Depression, added to my understanding gleaned from books and documentaries.

If you get your information from newspapers or television, you may believe that real estate markets are collapsing across the country. State economies are a lot like real estate markets. They are not all equal. While NC has been impacted by the recent downturn in the economy and job markets, NC is one of the fastest growing states in the country. Even within the state of NC, there are differences in the economic scenarios. Charlotte has experienced rapid growth in recent years and is in the top twenty largest cities in NC. However, things have cooled somewhat recently with the banking problems of Wachovia and Bank of America.

The cities that I believe are poised for growth in the mountains, Piedmont and coastal regions are Asheville, Greensboro and Wilmington. Greensboro, part of the Triad metro area, unlike Charlotte has experienced steady growth and also unlike Charlotte, has had much good news recently. The Fedex air cargo hub is scheduled to open this summer and Fedex recently announced plans for a ground cargo hub. Honda Jets has both it's world headquarters and a production facility in or near Greensboro. Greensboro has the best roads in the state, a large concentration of colleges and excellent hospitals. Downtown Greensboro has revitalized and the exceptional longterm plans of the city fathers are beginning to pay dividends.

I have long believed that there are many similarities between North Carolina and California. Consider the following common characteristics:

• Large land mass
• Long coast line
• Temperate climate
• Mountains
• Large metro areas
• Movie production
• Wine production
• Many colleges and universities
• Gold mining
• Top 10 states in population
• National and state parks
• Interstate 40 connects NC to CA

It is apparent that NC is poised for growth like California experienced after World War II. This time the catalyst may be the baby boomer migration coupled with already high growth rates.

NC has a reputation for a favorable business climate. Honda Jets locating their world headquarters in Greensboro is another example of that. There are many reasons for this and one is the proliferation of educational institutions in the state. Some of the finest colleges and universities are located in NC and the community college system in NC is one of the finest anywhere. The Research Triangle near Raleigh has a long established tradition of high tech industry and software development. The NC School of the Arts in Winston Salem and new initiatives by GTTC in the Triad are geared to attracting more businesses like Honda Jets.

If you are based in NC or contemplating locating to NC, perhaps you should rethink your take on the economy in NC. People and companies are moving here in droves. Interest rates are at the lowest levels in many decades. He who hesitates is lost.

Old IT Guy.