A software developer, a hardware engineer, and a mid-level manager were on their way to a conference center located near the top of a mountain. After the conference, they were driving down the steep mountain road, and suddenly the brakes on their car failed.
The car careened almost out of control down the road, bouncing off the crash barriers, until it miraculously ground to a halt scraping along the mountainside. The car's occupants, shaken but unhurt, now had a problem: They were stuck halfway down a mountain in a car with no brakes. What were they to do?
"I know," said the manager, "Let's have a meeting, propose a vision, formulate a mission statement, define some goals, and, by a process of continuous improvement, find a solution to the critical problems, and we can be on our way.
"No, no," said the hardware engineer. "That will take far too long, and besides, that method has never worked before. I've got my Swiss Army knife with me, and in no time at all, I can strip down the car's braking system, isolate the fault, fix it, and we can be on our way."
"Well," said the software developer, "before we do anything, I think we should push the car back to the top of the mountain and see if it happens again."
Monday, May 12, 2014
Sunday, May 11, 2014
Minnesota Angel Shuts Down
Keeping tabs on the 'technology and entrepreneurial community' is important for engineers and scientists at all stages of their careers. Knowing what is 'new' and 'trending' goes beyond the 'technology' and 'gadgets'. Knowing what is going on in 'your field' also involves understanding and appreciating how enterprises are formed, evolve and are financed and also who's doing this stuff! Read the story in the May 1, 2014 Twin Cities Business magazine.
Connections
In the past year, the focus of Computer Science Associates has been refined and its role with the Department redefined.
The Industry Affiliates Council has taken on the heavy lifting and necessary role of seeking and securing high-value, annual and multi-year financial support commitments to the department from the national, regional and state's major technology and computer-centric corporations.
CSA is now serving the department by providing an organization for the region's alumni, industry professionals, tech biz managers, and interested individuals from the community to interact with the faculty, students and staff to further the understanding of the objectives and problems facing the field of computer science and the department. CSA promotes friendship among all of the participants and a connecting people with each other interested in the benefits of computing-based technologies.
The organization's focus remains on the Computer Science and Engineering department's noble mission of being the region's nexus of computer science research, education and enterprise interests.
The role of CSA has shifted from building fund raising, academic program definition, curriculum assessment, and legislative advocacy to 'fun', comradeship and a connection with purpose. Come join us. Bring along a colleague and have them bring a friend.
Let's compute some fun!
The Industry Affiliates Council has taken on the heavy lifting and necessary role of seeking and securing high-value, annual and multi-year financial support commitments to the department from the national, regional and state's major technology and computer-centric corporations.
CSA is now serving the department by providing an organization for the region's alumni, industry professionals, tech biz managers, and interested individuals from the community to interact with the faculty, students and staff to further the understanding of the objectives and problems facing the field of computer science and the department. CSA promotes friendship among all of the participants and a connecting people with each other interested in the benefits of computing-based technologies.
The organization's focus remains on the Computer Science and Engineering department's noble mission of being the region's nexus of computer science research, education and enterprise interests.
The role of CSA has shifted from building fund raising, academic program definition, curriculum assessment, and legislative advocacy to 'fun', comradeship and a connection with purpose. Come join us. Bring along a colleague and have them bring a friend.
Let's compute some fun!
Creative Industry Rebounding in Minnesota
Among all of the 'arts' filmmaking is the ultimate collaborative creative endeavor. A film project is an enormous risk and a daunting undertaking. Special application software, hi-end A/D optical and audio interfaces and the advent of low-cost desktop supercomputers has changed filmmaking forever. Much to the delight of audiences worldwide and now Minnesota's film community is getting some help from our legislators. Read the story in the April 21, 2014 Twin Cities Business magazine
CS&E Prof. Konstan comments on 'Massive Open Online Course' movement
An excerpt from a Minnesota Public Radio May 4, 2014 story
"The free online courses that top-notch universities offer to the public were once hyped as an innovation that could threaten the higher education establishment. But now many in the industry are scaling back expectations. University studies show MOOC students aren't performing as well supporters had hoped, and they're not exactly the underserved masses that many educators were hoping to reach."
Read or listen to the whole story
"The free online courses that top-notch universities offer to the public were once hyped as an innovation that could threaten the higher education establishment. But now many in the industry are scaling back expectations. University studies show MOOC students aren't performing as well supporters had hoped, and they're not exactly the underserved masses that many educators were hoping to reach."
Read or listen to the whole story
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