The Debugger           Summer 1993

Table of Contents

  • Editor's Notes
  • From the Chair - Gary Buterbaugh
  • Carol's Corner - Carol Miller
  • News from Tompkins' Lab - Don Rosenberger
  • Using Ada to Implement an Abstract Data Type - Katherine McKelvey
  • Working for Allegheny Power Service Corporation - Benjamin J. Zettlemoyer
  • Looking Backward with a Forward View - Bob Durbin
  • Upgrading the Academic Computing Labs - Bill Creighton
  • The Comics Page
  • Century Club
  • Faculty
  • EDITOR'S NOTES

    This issue of The Debugger is a little longer that most, which is somewhat surprising since some sources of articles (students) are not around as much in the Summer. Pamm and Vickie (the student editors who helped so much with the last issue) are off on internships so they haven't been here to help write or help nag writers of articles. Nevertheless, there is plenty here.

    Gary has put together an alumni survey that occupies the middle section of the issue. Carol, who didn't think she had much to say, easily fills five pages with news about alumni. Don Rosenberger and Bill Creighton have a lot to say about computing equipment developments on campus - Don discusses the department's lab and Bill covers all the others. Kathy McKelvey makes a strong case for the use of Ada and wants to know if any of you are using it. And there are two student written articles: Benjamin J. (Jamie) Zettlemoyer (a Spring/Summer Intern) has acquired an appreciation of professors; and Bob Durbin tells us a sad tale about the Department of Defense and his experiences there. Finally, this issue gives the first listing of some recent members of the Century Club.

    There is still no fiction in The Debugger (except maybe the cartoon). There wasn't room for Rob Cameron's fictional piece; but, next time is a possibility. There is another thing that this issue lacks and definitely needs - one or more alumni written articles. How about sending something in? We would like to know what is happening to you, in your own words.

    Jim Wolfe, Editor

    P.S. I know I cheated on drawing the cartoon; but I figured that reader recognition should take precedence over artistic authenticity.


    From the Chair

    Gary Buterbaugh

    My contribution to The Debugger this time will be an explanation of the questionnaire you will find in the center of this issue. If you are one of the 800 or so alumni who receive The Debugger, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE spend the few minutes that it will take to fill out the questionnaire and return it to us.

    The purpose of the questionnaire is to conduct a study to determine if the assertion that computer professionals spend most of their time on people-oriented rather than computer-oriented tasks holds for our alumni. We often make this type of statement in talking to potential students to counter the belief that you must be a "computer nerd" in order to be a computer professional.

    Although questions 8 and 9 are the heart of the questionnaire, the remaining questions will give us the statistics about the respondents that will permit us to analyze and publish the results. The results will probably be published in the next issue of The Debugger.

    Thanks for helping us out. Please fill-out and return the questionnaire right away. We would like to have your responses no later than October 1, 1993.


    Carol's Corner

    Carol Miller

    It's Summertime!!!!

    I hope the living is easy for everyone. It is for me. I seem to be working much more efficiently this summer than last. You don't suppose it has anything to do with air conditioning, do you?

    IUP is relatively quiet this summer. You probably heard that Gary is now Dr. Buterbaugh. After several years and a lot of hard work, he graduated from Pitt in May and then threw a big party in the Blue Room - lots of fun and good food. The department took him out for dinner to celebrate. We had a great time at both events.

    The other big news is now semi-official. Mr. Maple is retiring in December and we're really going to miss him around here. The Maples have bought a lot in Asheville, NC and are debating the merits of living in the south. I don't think there should be anything to debate. Actually, I think they just don't want to move so far away from us. What do you think?

    Tia Watts is still working on her PhD. She is planning a leave of absence for Fall and Spring to devote more time to that endeavor. Hopefully, it will give her a big jump on getting finished.

    I had some visits this Spring/Summer from a few of you who really believe I do want you to stop in and say hello when you're in the neighborhood.

    In the last issue I told you that I had had a letter from Roy and Julie (Paserba) Lampe (12/87) and that they had a baby girl in December named Kayla Marie, remember? Well, they brought Kayla in to meet the Computer Science Department (since she'll be coming to school here in about eighteen years). She is adorable and really a happy baby. It was really nice to see all three of them. I'm only sorry it couldn't have been a longer visit. We miss the pitter patter of little feet around this office since the Lawton's moved (more on that later). Julie's cousin Dan hasn't stopped in yet.

    Bob Lackey (8/92) stopped in one day. I mentioned Bob in the last issue, too. Again, he says that if you're looking for a job, bring your suit and resume to DC and start pushing it around.

    Scott Hollingsworth (8/92) also visited on his way from a conference. He is working for Intellex in Mechanicsburg, PA and really enjoys his job. I'm glad he stopped. It was really nice seeing him.

    George Downs (5/90) dropped in to say hello while he was in the area. I hadn't heard anything from George since he graduated. George is working in Latrobe, PA these days.

    Deb (Greene) Fritz (5/79) attended the Computer Science banquet in April. A great time was had by all. Deb is a member of the Computer Science Corporate Advisory Board which had its meeting that same day. She brought pictures of Timothy John. He is adorable and just celebrated his first birthday. Next time, bring him in person, Deb.

    We had a graduation announcement from Kim Davis (5/87). She just received her Master of Science in Computer Science from Johns Hopkins University. Kim worked here in the office, and I, for one, am real proud of her. Congratulations, Kim!

    Brad Moyer (5/88) sent email and is still working at Kodak in New York. He had just gotten back from a trip to Ft. Lauderdale which he received as a recognition award from Kodak. Brad is married and by now may have three children, a little girl who is three, a little boy who is one and they are expecting their third on August 1. By the time you read this I'm sure number three will have arrived. Brad also let me know that Lynda Schmidt (5/87) is expecting her first. Brad figured I already knew that Lynda. Does that tell you anything? I think I should at least get a birth announcement.

    Tom Campbell (5/87) is working at DuPont Merck in Wilmington. He has also become a father. He and his wife had a little girl on October 23, 1991. Hope things are going well for you, Tom.

    Off and on I keep giving you news of Mike Gutzat. (Mike really keeps in touch guys, so I hope it makes some of you feel guilty.) Last issue I told you Mike was job hunting. Well, he is now working for Jan Abbotts & Associates which is a financial computer software consulting firm down in Delaware. Mike's wife, Mary is at DuPont as a toxological Associate and is preparing to work on her masters. Good luck to both of you and keep in touch.

    Mike Csuy (5/85) sent a nice long fax catching us up on his life since IUP. I will give you a condensed version. After graduation Mike moved to Columbus, Ohio to work for Nationwide Insurance. A year later he moved to Philadelphia to work for GE Consulting and worked at Lukens Steel while free lancing at night for the City of Philadelphia Payroll Department. After that he worked for another consulting firm named Comp-U-Staff where he was contracted to DuPont Textile Fibers Department. Then to ARMS, another consulting firm where he was sent to Merck & Co. While at Merck he formed a partnership with a friend and they began a firm called ASK; and they both were contracted to DuPont Merck. After his partner moved to North Carolina a year and a half later, Mike formed a corporation called Intellex (hey, is this the same Intellex the Scott Hollingsworth is working for?) which specializes in ADABAS/Natural and Software AG products. He has three individuals working for him at various sites while he has been contracted to DuPont. He even found time to get married in January of 1991, and if I understand what Mike has said between the lines, she has really whipped him into shape. Mike, you have really done it all since you left IUP. You've really gained a tremendous amount of experience and I hope everything continues to go well for you and best of luck in your marriage to Elizabeth. She sounds like a super person. Mike's business number is 215 873-0584 for anyone who is interested in his services (or to say "hi").

    Ed Meinfelder (8/89) also keeps me up to date on what he is doing. I heard from Ed just the other day. He is working at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory in Green Bank WV. Initially, his job was to write software to track a satellite and point an antenna to it to receive astronomical information. Now, he is working on a subsystem for the new Green Bank Telescope which is like a BIG Satellite (495 feet tall and 328 feet wide). Ed is a programmer on the project and really likes his work. However, Green Bank is really remote. It's an hour's drive to the nearest supermarket. What happens when you have a Big Mac Attack????? Wonder if Big Mac's freeze well. That's another program.

    Ed also gave me an update on Denise Cattley (8/88). Denise is married to Jeff Hornberger, living in Ohio, just bought a house and is changing jobs. She will be working as a programmer for the financial division of an encyclopedia company (Ed thinks, so if Ed is wrong, it will give Denise a reason to write and let me know).

    Matt Fuller (12/90) has started his own business in Pittsburgh along with a friend he met while working at Pitt. It is called Twisted Pair and focuses on bridging the gap between PCs and Macintoshes which they both feel is an area that has been neglected. Their Internet name is: twistpair@aol.com and the phone number is 412 488-0828 for anyone who is interested in contacting them. Or, call me and I can give you the info.

    On June 26, Janie Pike (5/92) married Ron Kustaborder in Erie. They had a beautiful wedding and a gorgeous day for it. Janie is still working for HRB Systems in St. College and she and Ron bought a house in Tyrone. They honeymooned in the Poconos; and, so far, the marriage seems to be working. Just kidding, Janie and Ron. I have no doubts. Best of everything to both of you.

    Last issue I told you Julie Roxby (5/92) was now working at Mellon Bank. Well, I saw Julie at Janie's wedding and it seems all is going well in Julie's life. The bad news is she is working for the portion of Mellon that has been sold, so her future is a little cloudy. It was really nice seeing you, Julie. Keep in touch.

    I heard from Mike Bigrigg (5/91) recently through email. Mike just finished his MS at Pitt and is working full time this summer Tartan Laboratories before starting back this fall to continue his studies. It was really nice to hear from you Mike, even if you did have an ulterior motive.

    Tonya Jeschonek (5/92) and Jen Baldwin (5/91) are renting a house at the beach for the summer. They plan on living it up on the sand for the summer. Have a great time and take a dip for all of us.

    Adam Beck (5/92) is living in Amherst, New York at the present time. His girlfriend, Lisa, is finishing her masters, and Adam is working at MAILBOXES, ETC until Lisa is finished.

    Brian Lawton (5/93) is working System Automation in Silver Spring. Brian likes his job, but I think the area leaves something to be desired. As I told you earlier when discussing Kayla Lampe, our office has been very lonely since Brian left. His daughter, Briana, had become the office mascot, and we've become very close friends with Brian, Mindi (Brian's wife) and Briana. On July 10, I attended Bri's second birthday party at Brian's parent's house and had a really great time. But, the office IS empty these days.

    Heard from Mark Lacy (5/87) who is presently job hunting. His job with the PA Fish & Boat Commission did not work out quite as well as he had expected, and he is seeking another area of work. Other than that, things are going well for Mark. So, if I hear of anything, Mark, I'll let you know.

    That reminds me, thanks to everyone who has sent me information about jobs that are available within their companies. I really appreciate it and I can get the information out to those who are looking. We haven't been getting much from companies these days. I don't know if they have other sources or if no one is hiring. I do know as I said earlier, for those of you who are interested, that it is fairly easy to get a job in DC if you have the time to go down and spend a week or so. Go down, get a paper and start sending out resumes and hit the pavement and take them to companies. David Science (5/93) did this immediately after graduation and had a job within two weeks. Not only that, but he was staying with a friend and one of the neighbors stopped them one evening and asked if they knew of anyone who was looking for an apartment, his roommate was leaving to start grad school, so Dave got into a town house with two other guys. He spends his weekends in Indiana anyway. He doesn't know I see his RX7 parked at Angie's house every weekend. Not only me, my mother saw them sunbathing when I was taking her to the mall. I thought she was going to have a stroke. Guess I don't have to go into further details on that one, do I?

    When I started this letter, I thought it was going to be one of the shorter ones. Now I think I'd better stop before Jim Wolfe decides he has to edit it and since we all know how important this entire letter is, we don't want that to happen.

    Please, please keep in touch.


    News From Tompkins' Lab

    Don Rosenberger

    Once again, it is time for an update on Tompkin's Lab. I am concerned that many of our readers may become bored with my regular status report. However, the editor and I are having a hard time thinking of interesting new topics to address in this corner. If you are curious about a topic which you know we deal with in the lab, and would like to see more information concerning the topic, please send your recommendation to Jim Wolfe or myself.

    The Novell network has a new server. The added disk space and power will allow us to get Windows on the air, and have enough room to add a few Windows applications. We are currently installing and/or testing Turbo Pascal 7.0, Microsoft ACCESS for Windows, and

    Harvard Graphics for Windows. To prepare for the use of Windows, all faculty PCs have been upgraded to at least four MB of RAM. For PCs, we have tried to standardize on DOS version 5.0 and Windows version 3.1. Faculty will be getting new DELL 486's with 8MB of RAM in the near future. Their Zenith 386's will come to the lab at that time. The original Novell server (from 1989) was temporarily placed into use as a student workstation. I am planning to reactivate it as a Novell server (version 2.1) in the lab to support CO345 more aggressively, and to provide a platform for Novell training for the lab staff.

    We will also be surplussing some of our older equipment when the faculty's current PCs come to the lab. The AT&T 6300 XTs, the Zenith XT model 158s, the IBM PC model 5160, and the Macintosh 512Ks with the 400KB drives will all be exiting the lab. If possible, I would also like to replace the Digital VT220 terminals with Zenith 159s wired to the Novell ethernet. This will permit students to do their homework in Pascal, etc during those periods when a faculty member reserves the back room of the lab.

    The NeXT network is still an active training environment. CO362 (UNIX and C) is currently using the workstations for classwork. I have plans for my staff to produce some multi-media demonstrations on the workstations. We are also trying to configure an HP Laserjet series II printer for use with the NeXTs.

    The Macintoshes have undergone several significant upgrades. We have installed After Dark and Fileguard. Fileguard will help us to protect the MAC hard disks from accidental or intentional system reconfiguration by our student users. For protection from computer viruses, we have upgraded to Disinfectant version 3.2.

    New equipment continues to come in. The deliveries this summer include a ROLAND desktop color plotter, a TEKTRONIX Phaser 200e color printer, and a WANGTEK tape backup system. The tape backup will be connected to my PC to backup the Novell network. We are still looking at alternatives for sites for the plotter and printer.

    ISCC plans to re-wire Stright Hall shortly. Twisted-pair ethernet hookups will be available to all faculty. Since our current coaxial cable segment for the third floor is twice the length recommended for ethernet segments, I have recommended that all PCs on that floor convert to the twisted-pair cabling. The conversion should reduce packet losses and signal noise, and result in greater PC response times. ISCC will also provide asynchronous hookups to communicatons servers, permitting faculty to get rid of their DOV boxes, and communicate at much higher speeds. The ethernet and communications drops can also be installed in classrooms, permitting faculty to login to Novell/Pathworks from the classroom computers on carts. This should enable the faculty to perform demonstrations of applications which are the same as the performance in the labs, not merely similar.

    As always, the lab staff and I are striving to provide the best support possible to our curriculum. If you find yourself in the neighborhood, please drop in.


    Using Ada to Implement an Abstract Data Type

    Katherine McKelvey

    Some of you, perhaps, remember me as a classmate. However, I didn't exactly belong to a particular year as a student since my classes were scheduled to fit with my children's times at school. CO110 was my first course, 1978 January; and CO220 was my fifth course from the core, 1979 January.

    Some of you remember me both as a classmate and as a teacher. During the 1979 Fall semester, I was concurrently a half time teacher of CO250 Numerical Methods and a student in the department.

    Most you were acquainted with me as a teacher. In 1982 Fall, one of the years in which the department admitted about three hundred new students, I joined the department full time and was one of the three faculty advisors for the Freshman class.

    Prior to 1978, I was trained in Mathematics and earned a PhD from Carnegie Institute of Technology in abstract algebra. I taught Mathematics for nine years including several years as a graduate teaching assistant and two years in the Mathematics Department at IUP.

    My principal contribution to the curriculum of the department is the CO419 Software Development with Ada course. One of the reasons that I enjoy working with Ada is that its features lend themselves very nicely to the implementation of abstract data types. Of course a former algebra teacher revels in data abstraction.

    The generic units of Ada allow the programmer to implement a Stack data type, for example, without specifying the type of element to be placed on a stack. Then a program can declare an instance of the stack type, instantiate the generic, for any kind of element which is appropriate to the application. A tower of Hanoi program could instantiate stacks for records representing disks of various sizes, while another program might instantiate stacks for integers.

    The combination of Ada packages and private types permit the encapsulation of an abstract data type the way high level languages protect the integer data type. In a high level language you cannot access and change the individual bits of an integer variable and you can only perform the usual arithmetic operations with integer variables. An Ada package may contain both a type declaration and procedures and functions having arguments of that type. If you declare the type to be private then the compiler will hide the structures used to implement it from programs which make use of the type. Furthermore the only operations permitted for the type are the procedures and functions contained in the package along with the type declaration.

    If you implement a stack using an array, an application program would not be able examine the individual array components of a stack or change them just as you cannot change the bits in an integer. If you only include PUSH and POP procedures and EMPTY and FULL boolean functions, these would be the only operations available for the type. An application program could only clear a stack by including a loop which POPs the stack until it is EMPTY. It could only find out what the third element from the top was by using three POPs, et cetera.

    In Ada the operators like + and mod can be overloaded. If you define a Polynomial abstract data type, you may define a function, named "+", which will add two polynomials. Under appropriate conditions, in a line of code, you could use the plus symbol as an infix operator between two polynomials, P + Q, so that expressions involving addition of polynomials can be written the same way they would appear in mathematics.

    You can declare and raise exceptions. Just as the attempt to divide by zero will abort a program with a system error message, in Ada you could declare an EMPTY_STACK exception and write your POP procedure in such a way that a program will be aborted with a system message if it attempts a POP of an empty stack.

    Ada is an ideal language to use for implementing abstract data types. Packages containing private types are fundamental in this process and generic units facilitate the creation of a template for an abstract type which can later be instantiated with a specific type parameter.

    Some of you have been using Ada in your work; one alumnus recommended Barnes' book in a letter to The Debugger. I used the second edition of the book this spring and liked it very much. I would appreciate hearing from any of you who are using Ada in your work. For what sort of applications are you using Ada? My bitnet address is "lnewxab@iup" or internet "lnewxab@grove.iup.edu".


    Working for Allegheny Power Service Corporation

    Benjamin J. Zettlemoyer, Spring/Summer Intern

    In my view, college should mean growth. As a student, I never really believed this. I doubted my professors, their experience and their incessant stories about the "real" world. As an intern, college and growth take on more meaning. Each day, as an intern, I find wisdom and truth in what those professors said while struggling to solve the day's challenges. As a future alumnus, I am sure to continue realizing just what those professors were really trying to say.

    In the past, my feeling was that professors were more interested in pursuing status and degrees to be concerned with the average student. After all, through the eyes of a professor, most students have enough trouble just getting to class much less learning. At least that is what I thought. Being on an internship has changed this however. The faculty at IUP really are aware of the "real" world.

    For the past four months, I have been "on assignment" with Allegheny Power Service Corporation. (APSC) An internship really is a remarkable experience and for me, a milestone. APSC could not have been a better place to work. The people there are friendly and helpful. (The people in my area also became good friends.) The atmosphere is relaxed but serious; a perfect place for an intern to learn the fundamentals of true batch programming while becoming aquainted with an effective and professional information services staff.

    At the start of the internship, work was tough. I was new, nervous, and thought the DEC VAX was all of the computing that I would need to know. This turned out to be a tremendous weakness for me. A lot of students at IUP are "weaned" on a DEC VAX. I was no exception. Even though some of my projects were in batch mode, most were on-line. Having everything on-line is an incredible luxury, only realized when one moves into a completely batch environment.

    One of the best things about APSC was the area that I fell into, EDP Operations Support. From here, I saw most of the company; from a different perspective than other interns. One of the most challenging aspects of this area was its unpredictability. As an intern, each day brought a new task and a new challenge; I was never bored. I like to think of this area as a fire department. People there were constantly solving the day to day problems of keeping the systems up and running. These people were highly skilled and highly adept at making things work and happen. The cruel irony was, however, if things were kept running smoothly, nobody noticed this incredible resource.

    A lot of interns who write for The Debugger say that the money is nice. I suppose my feelings are the same but the most valuable benefit for me was the tremendous, personal and technical growth potential. From early on, (the second day, I think) I followed a philosophy of "Carpe Diem!" (Seize the day!). I spent approximately ten hours a day in the office, trying to learn as much as possible, on top of the workload given to me.

    One thing I have come to appreciate is the value of teaching. As a student, I viewed this as just another job to do. As an intern, I have come to realize that through teaching, one never stops growing and learning; an important point to consider for those thinking of graduate school.

    In conclusion, I would like to try to convince as many students as possible to participate in the internship. The benefits far outweigh any possible detriment. My advice for intern candidates is not to worry about the money aspect, the techinal and personal growth is what the internship means and is about.


    Looking Backward with a Forward View

    Bob Durbin

    After more than 10 years working for the Army I came to IUP for a second undergraduate degree in computer science. The increasing impact of the computer led me to seek an education that allows me to use the computer as a tool and not be used by it. I offer this little story to The Debugger about the chaos experienced by users who attempted to apply computer solutions with little or no knowledge of computer science.

    In 1981 when I graduated with my first undergraduate degree, computers in the home and small office fell somewhere between science fantasy and the realm of the dedicated hobbyist. The basic Apple was available at over $2400 and a person could buy a Commodore 64 for $650 without monitor or disk drive. My only course in computer science involved typing simple programs on punch cards. Interactive computing was possible on an IBM typewriter terminal using continuous feed paper. It was more novel than practical with most users trying to discover the latest cute (read insulting or vulgar) replies programmed by the operator.

    Time magazine named the computer "man of the year" in 1981 and I took my first army correspondence course on computers. I wanted to learn at least enough to fake my way through all the fuss. I soon learned that the Department of Defense had a bureaucratic policy that made it all but impossible to get new technology prior to obsoleteness. The last major upgrade was in 1966 when Honeywell installed standardized Department of Defense Mainframes. (By the way the Honeywells are still in service on at least one classified interactive data network.) The government's idea was to buy only proven systems and solutions. The review process took years and technology being used lagged 15 to 20 years behind what was available. Only the largest and most important offices had any type of automation equipment beyond the mechanical calculator.

    Then the micro computer revolution changed everything. Suddenly a government worker could spend $500 at K Mart and have a micro computer that made work easier and his boss happy. The primary application for these crude systems was primitive word processing. The improvement to productivity was sudden and dramatic. With greater productivity came greater expectations, supervisors who used to accept manual corrections now expected perfect documents. As a result of the continuous corrections, productivity began to decline again; office automation created a burden rather than a benefit. However, nobody was about to give up his word processor.

    More problems started appearing. Micro computers and word processors owned by individuals moved when the people moved, and with the equipment went all past work, formats, and procedure. Even when the new clerk owned the same equipment he often trashed the previous person's work because he could not figure it out. The result was chaos that grew worse with the number of users and dependency on automation equipment. And the problems that were to come as a result of unstructured amateur programming had not even happened yet.

    For those of you who have not figured it out, the government's first recourse to problem solving is to spend more money. Try to imagine a finance officer coming to your boss (or to you) and saying, 'Here is money to buy computers and you can have more money for computers if you ask.' No one turned down any money. That happened 1982 to 1984. All of the rules for acquiring automation equipment failed. Lots of people bought lots of different computers. Micro computers became status symbols gathering dust behind the desks of supervisors.

    Many failures came about among which were attempts to use the TRS-80 to support a repair parts system and 64K Apples to keep maintenance records using CPM and Ashton-Tate's Dbase. Now enters into the fray the amateur programmer and his unstructured applications. Those who advocated abandonment of all automation and a return to the days of the manual typewriter began to gain some voice.

    By about 1985 or 1986 all Department of Defense automation problems became the local computer science professional's problem. Never mind that the CS pro had nothing to do with the situation. Never mind that the CS pro was doing a good job maintaining and running the government's large systems. The CS pro got the blame. Typical government logic is that the blame for any problem of this magnitude belongs to the person who could have prevented it if he had known about it.

    The good news was that the CS professionals (i.e., "Experts" -- The government always has to have experts.) got involved. New rules came fast. Personally owned computers and printers were forbidden in the office, and the use of a personally owned computer to do work at home was discouraged. The IBM PC became the standard for every office in the Army. A limited number of Apple Macintoshes were permitted for some offices having special needs. With justification, purchasing an office computer became a routine action separated from the bureaucratic requirements of the larger systems.

    The moral of this story is that standardization and conformity can be good things. The sad news is that it had happened at least once with mainframe standardization in 1966. The bad news is that revolutionary chaos may come again when amateurs start applying LAN solutions to small offices. The good news is that there is no need to worry about the computer science professional. There are enough amateurs (and some professionals) applying computer solutions to problems they do not understand to keep honest computer scientists employed about as long as they want to work. I wonder if that had anything to do with the result?


    Upgrading the Academic Computing Labs

    Bill Creighton, ISCC

    This Fall term, for the first time in a long time, students at IUP will have access to a reasonable amount of current microcomputing technology in four public computing labs. Over the course of the summer Academic Computing has been quite busy installing new 486 level systems from Dell in the labs located in Johnson, Leonard, McElhaney, and Mack. These microcomputer systems operate at 33mhz and all are networked to facilitate the management of software, access to the mainframe, and the use of wide-area networking services, i.e. the InterNet.

    The Johnson facility will expand to 70 microcomputers. We have completely reorganized the layout of the facility in order to accommodate the additional equipment and to improve the organization and access of all the equipment in the lab. The bulk of additional space was gained by eliminating the program preparation and debugging area. The manner in which students work has changed over the years. Most of the work, both in the creation of a program and in the debugging of a program, is now done on-line. The need for additional micros far exceeded the need for table space and we decided to respond to the equipment need.

    The Mack facility is being completely refocused. In the past this lab was used to provide access via terminals to the mainframe. Our plan is to have 60 micros available for use in Mack when it is completed. The lack of electrical power will force us to open for the Fall term with some lesser number of micros, probably about 40. We hope to have the electrical problems resolved and the lab fully populated by the end of the Fall semester.

    Each of the labs will have access to the mainframe. Johnson's proximity to Stright allows it to connect via an ethernet segment. Each of the other labs will be connected using an ISDN line and communications bridges. With these devices we will be able to run two 64kb channels and emulate 128kb throughput. Having the ability to use the mainframe for file access, communications, and the use of the Stright laser printer for output of a high-quality final copy of printed output will improve the overall services available to student users of the labs.

    Improved printing capabilities will also be available in each of the upgraded public labs. Epson dfx5000 printers have been installed. This printer was selected because of the service it has provided while in use in the Davis computing lab. In that facility it has operated with very little downtime in spite of heavy use and it produces a good near-letter quality output. Having a similar unit in each of the labs allows us to maintain a plentiful supply of ribbons and also allows the repair people to become better able to recognize and repair the problems that do come along occasionally.

    The improvement of these lab spaces has taken a great amount of time and energy over the summer. The goal has been to provide improved equipment and access for all student users of these labs as they perform their computer related work beginning this Fall semester. We realize that there is the need for continued improvement. Not all labs have been upgraded to an ideal level and there are still not enough units in public spaces to meet all of the needs for computing that exist on campus. Specifically the institution needs to persist in its efforts to create additional facilities in which faculty can effectively present computing concepts to students. The increasing emphasis on the use of computing by all departments across campus makes the competition for the equipment in the labs and the facilities in which faculty can conduct classes quite intense at times.

    It is our belief that this most recent microcomputing upgrade will be appreciated and used by both students and faculty.

    Remember

    We are always looking for alumni articles - send one in for the Fall issue.


    The Comics Page

    Su93 cartoon

    CENTURY CLUB

    You can become a charter member of the IUP Computer Science Department's Century Club. Membership in the Century Club is obtained by pledging at least $100 to be given through the Foundation for IUP for the Computer Science Department. Century Club members will receive a gift (tee shirt, mug, glass, etc.) for their membership each year.

    1993 Century Club Members So Far

    Gerald Maguire 1975
    Beverly (Green) Landry 1985
    Mark Landry 1985
    John Paladino 1985
    Matt Arezina 1986
    Alvin Rearick 1988
    Jennifer Baldwin 1991

    A pledge of $100 is less than $10 per month. Please consider this opportunity to help. To join, cut off the form in the next column, complete it and commit yourself to giving $100 for the 1993 calendar year.