From its humble beginnings as a few dedicated staff within the School of Agriculture who saw the need to help analyze data collected by the College Experiment Station, Enterprise Information Technology Services, as it is called today, has through its 50 years of existence been true to the mission of the University to educate its students, to conduct research, and to provide service to the State of Georgia and beyond. Chronicled in the posts below are the trends and highlights for each of the 5 decades that computing and technology have been contributing to the growth and continued success of the University of Georgia.
Please post any comments you have to this general post. Following this general post are postings detailing the five decades, with associated themes, and a post seeking comments for the future of computing at UGA.
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Monday, October 1, 2007
1957-1967: The Decade of Decision
In 1957, the Department of Experimental Statistics in the School of Agriculture, later to be known as the University of Georgia Computer Center, began operations in the Annex of the Agricultural Extension Building with a 602A Punch Card Calculator (programmed by plugging wires into a plug board) and a staff of two. At that time, the main purpose for the computing equipment was to analyze data collected by the College Experiment Station.
Dr. James L. Carmon in the Animal Husbandry Department at the University of Georgia became Head of the Department of Experimental Statistics and Director of the Computer Center.
HIGHLIGHTS: Center moves to Lumpkin House, 1960; First purchased computer (IBM 1620), 1962; Around-the-clock operations, 1965; NASA'S Computer Software Management and Information Center (COSMIC) started, 1966.
Dr. James L. Carmon in the Animal Husbandry Department at the University of Georgia became Head of the Department of Experimental Statistics and Director of the Computer Center.
HIGHLIGHTS: Center moves to Lumpkin House, 1960; First purchased computer (IBM 1620), 1962; Around-the-clock operations, 1965; NASA'S Computer Software Management and Information Center (COSMIC) started, 1966.
Sunday, September 30, 2007
1967-1977: The Decade of Growth
The Computer Center, as it was now officially called, moved to the Boyd Graduate Studies Research Center in 1968. This building is still the home of the primary UGA Data Center. By 1970 the Computer Center, as it was now officially called, had grown to a staff of 72 programmers, analysts, consultants, researchers, clerks, machine operators, and administrative personnel. The University System of Georgia Computer Network (USCN) was launched in early 1970, with UGA as the home. The Control Data Corporation hardware, purchased with monies received from over 20 National Science Foundation grants, provided high-end computing services to all 33 University System institutions.
HIGHLIGHTS: Began implementation of the Conversational Programming System (CPS), first in the country to do so, 1967; User Services started, 1968; USCN started, 1970; Office of Computing Activities formed from Computer Center, Administrative Data Processing, and University Libraries, 1973; Library Automation Project (later called MARVEL) started, 1976.
HIGHLIGHTS: Began implementation of the Conversational Programming System (CPS), first in the country to do so, 1967; User Services started, 1968; USCN started, 1970; Office of Computing Activities formed from Computer Center, Administrative Data Processing, and University Libraries, 1973; Library Automation Project (later called MARVEL) started, 1976.
Saturday, September 29, 2007
1977-1987: The Decade of Personal Empowerment
The decade of personal empowerment is earmarked by the selection of the personal computer as Time Magazine Man of the Year in 1982. The decade saw a proliferation of computer labs offering ubiquitous access to personal microcomputers and computer terminals on campus, many providing access to two mainframe-resident instructional delivery systems. MUSIC (Multi-User System for Interactive Computing) gave students a free, interactive computing system for instruction in computer skills essential in the technology-oriented workplace. PLATO (Personal Learning and Training Opportunities) installed on dedicated Control Data Corporation mainframe to provide supplemental classroom instruction in the arts and sciences.
UGA entered the supercomputing age during the decade with the installation of the CYBER 205 and CYBERPLUS supercomputers from Control Data Corporation. The Advanced Computational Methods Center is established to provide the means by which the educational, research, and service objectives of the University in advanced, high-performance computing are to be met.
HIGHLIGHTS: Computer Center first in country to install CYBER 18/30 (for USCN use), 1977; Georgia Information Distribution Center (GIDC), a data search and retrieval service functions as "Resource Sharing Center" in a project with EDUCOM, 1979; COSMIC celebrates 15 years, 1981; Advanced Computational Methods Center established, 1984; IBM 4381 installed to support expanding efforts of University Libraries, resulting in 50% increase in average transaction volume, 1985; Punch card services terminated, 1987.
UGA entered the supercomputing age during the decade with the installation of the CYBER 205 and CYBERPLUS supercomputers from Control Data Corporation. The Advanced Computational Methods Center is established to provide the means by which the educational, research, and service objectives of the University in advanced, high-performance computing are to be met.
HIGHLIGHTS: Computer Center first in country to install CYBER 18/30 (for USCN use), 1977; Georgia Information Distribution Center (GIDC), a data search and retrieval service functions as "Resource Sharing Center" in a project with EDUCOM, 1979; COSMIC celebrates 15 years, 1981; Advanced Computational Methods Center established, 1984; IBM 4381 installed to support expanding efforts of University Libraries, resulting in 50% increase in average transaction volume, 1985; Punch card services terminated, 1987.
Friday, September 28, 2007
1987-1997: The Decade of the Internet
The decade is bracketed by the launch of UGA's first email system, known as PROFS, in 1987, using mainframe technology and providing the service to faculty and staff only, to the development of an Internet-based email system, known as ARCHES, which was used by all UGA faculty, staff, and students at the University. BITNET, a "store and forward" email and file sharing network for universities, was accessible through PROFS. The campus broadband network was built during this decade, and UGA connected to a regional network known as SURANet in 1989, connecting the University to the Internet via the National Science Foundation's NSFnet.
UGA joined the World Wide Web in 1995, with University Computing and Network Services (UCNS), as the central computing organization was called during the better part of the decade, handling all aspects of Web development. UCNS also collaborated with what is now the Center for Teaching and Learning to implement a Learning Management System to provide an e-learning solution to support classroom instruction. WebCT was the selected solution.
In an effort to better involve the campus, and at the same time create an advisory and governance structure for technology at UGA, the Campus Information Technology Forum was created in 1992. This structure has evolved to include multiple related groups. 1994 marked the first year of the Network Operations Center (NOC), which was coordinated with the creation of departmental Domain Network Liaisons (DNLs) to foster distributed, shared responsibility for the UGA campus network.
HIGHLIGHTS: PROFS, campus email/calendaring for faculty and staff installed, provides access to BITNET, 1987; MSD (Microcomputer Software Distribution) started, 1987; Grant from Apple Computer establishes first Macintosh Lab on campus, 1988; Cyber 205 de-commissioned, with support for research-intensive computing applications moving to ETA10 (CDC spin-off from 205), expanded IBM mainframe, and Unix-based computing servers (ETA ceased operations the same year), 1989; MUSIC system modernized to provide student email services, 1991; first presence on Web, 1995; UGACard (student, faculty, staff ID card) available, 1995; Incident Handling Team (security issues) formed, 1996; ARCHES replaces MUSIC as single email system for UGA students, faculty, and staff, and also provides Web space for personal pages, 1997.
UGA joined the World Wide Web in 1995, with University Computing and Network Services (UCNS), as the central computing organization was called during the better part of the decade, handling all aspects of Web development. UCNS also collaborated with what is now the Center for Teaching and Learning to implement a Learning Management System to provide an e-learning solution to support classroom instruction. WebCT was the selected solution.
In an effort to better involve the campus, and at the same time create an advisory and governance structure for technology at UGA, the Campus Information Technology Forum was created in 1992. This structure has evolved to include multiple related groups. 1994 marked the first year of the Network Operations Center (NOC), which was coordinated with the creation of departmental Domain Network Liaisons (DNLs) to foster distributed, shared responsibility for the UGA campus network.
HIGHLIGHTS: PROFS, campus email/calendaring for faculty and staff installed, provides access to BITNET, 1987; MSD (Microcomputer Software Distribution) started, 1987; Grant from Apple Computer establishes first Macintosh Lab on campus, 1988; Cyber 205 de-commissioned, with support for research-intensive computing applications moving to ETA10 (CDC spin-off from 205), expanded IBM mainframe, and Unix-based computing servers (ETA ceased operations the same year), 1989; MUSIC system modernized to provide student email services, 1991; first presence on Web, 1995; UGACard (student, faculty, staff ID card) available, 1995; Incident Handling Team (security issues) formed, 1996; ARCHES replaces MUSIC as single email system for UGA students, faculty, and staff, and also provides Web space for personal pages, 1997.
Thursday, September 27, 2007
1997-2007: The Decade of Leadership
The following statement from the 2000 Study of Revision of Management Structures to Accommodate a Chief Information Officer at UGA offers both a concise assessment of the state of technology at UGA at the turn of the new millennium and the need for centralized, focused leadership for IT at UGA:
The University is a large, complex organization and its information technology support reflects that. A tradition of decentralization to the grass-roots level has fostered innovative responses to information need. There has been little overall vision, but there has been reasonably effective reaction to immediate need.
With this strong statement for a need for overall vision, the requirement for the position of CIO at UGA was firmly established. Dr. Walter B. McRae, who had assumed the position of CIO on an interim basis became UGA’s first Chief Information Officer. After guiding UGA through Y2K and other significant projects, Dr. McRae retired in 2001. Dr. Barbara A. White is the current Chief Information Officer and Associate Provost at UGA.
Planning for information technology is critical to its success, and critical to setting the vision and course of information technology to create a sustainable environment that enhances “innovative responses to information need.” In recognition of this, a process known as Compact Planning now guides the IT planning process at UGA. Compact Planning is a negotiated, bilateral process between IT leadership and its constituents (e.g., UGA faculty, staff, and students) to ensure that the focus of IT is the consumer of those IT services.
HIGHLIGHTS: As charter member of Internet2 (high-speed educational/research network), collaborated with other University System research institutions in the Georgia GigaPOP (a “point of presence” capable of transmitting 1 billion bits of data per second) initiative (in association with Southern Crossroads – SOX), 1997; Logical and physical design of ATM network (Project Venus) completed, 1998; Assessment plan begun for Y2K impact; 1999, Research Computing Resource (RCR) established as expansion of BSCR (Biological Sciences Computing Resource), 1999; Position of CIO created and Dr. Walter B. McRae is named first UGA CIO, 1999; cable modems installed in high-population residence halls to provide Internet access for students, 2000; National WebCT conference held at UGA, 2000; Student Technology Support (student-centric technology assistance group) established with funding from recently implemented Student Technology Fee, 2001; migration to Gigabit Ethernet (next-generation network implementation) in process, 2001; UCNS, Administrative Information Systems, and other units on campus combine to form Enterprise Information Technology Services (EITS), 2001; Campus Information Technology Partnerships (CITP) established to offer dedicated support for departmental computing, 2001; MyID (single-sign on identifier) gains acceptance as preferred authentication method for technology services, 2002; Wireless Network (PAWS) established as campus wireless network, 2002; Student Learning Center opened, 2003; First Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) hired, Stanton Gatewood, 2003; UGAMail replaces ARCHES, 2003; UGA portal (MyUGA) launched, 2003; Network infrastructure improvements and enhancements, including deployment of packet shaping technology to manage bandwidth, increased bandwidth for off-campus traffic (via Internet 2), and extension of campus network to Graduate and Family Housing, 2004; Research Computing Center established, 2004; Boyd Data Center expansion begun to accommodate departmental hosting services, 2005; Activation of local branch of Southern Light Rail, a high-speed network connecting UGA to other research institutions throughout the nation, 2005; Compact Planning (a collegial, participatory planning process) introduced by CIO Dr. Barbara A. White, 2005; Securing Sensitive Data Initiative launched to increase security of UGA’s information systems, 2005; Completion of first full year of Compact Planning, 2006; ASSETS (Automated Security Self-Evaluation Tools) launched as part of Securing Sensitive Data Initiative to target the inventory and identification of unit-specific sensitive data, 2006; recommendations and proposals for moving UGA core administrative systems from current legacy, and in some cases, outdated Mainframe environment to a modern, web-based enterprise, along with eliminating reliance on the SSN as the UGA ID number, 2006; implementation of the next-generation, 10 Gigabit core network progresses, with Foundry chosen as equipment vendor, 2006.
The University is a large, complex organization and its information technology support reflects that. A tradition of decentralization to the grass-roots level has fostered innovative responses to information need. There has been little overall vision, but there has been reasonably effective reaction to immediate need.
With this strong statement for a need for overall vision, the requirement for the position of CIO at UGA was firmly established. Dr. Walter B. McRae, who had assumed the position of CIO on an interim basis became UGA’s first Chief Information Officer. After guiding UGA through Y2K and other significant projects, Dr. McRae retired in 2001. Dr. Barbara A. White is the current Chief Information Officer and Associate Provost at UGA.
Planning for information technology is critical to its success, and critical to setting the vision and course of information technology to create a sustainable environment that enhances “innovative responses to information need.” In recognition of this, a process known as Compact Planning now guides the IT planning process at UGA. Compact Planning is a negotiated, bilateral process between IT leadership and its constituents (e.g., UGA faculty, staff, and students) to ensure that the focus of IT is the consumer of those IT services.
HIGHLIGHTS: As charter member of Internet2 (high-speed educational/research network), collaborated with other University System research institutions in the Georgia GigaPOP (a “point of presence” capable of transmitting 1 billion bits of data per second) initiative (in association with Southern Crossroads – SOX), 1997; Logical and physical design of ATM network (Project Venus) completed, 1998; Assessment plan begun for Y2K impact; 1999, Research Computing Resource (RCR) established as expansion of BSCR (Biological Sciences Computing Resource), 1999; Position of CIO created and Dr. Walter B. McRae is named first UGA CIO, 1999; cable modems installed in high-population residence halls to provide Internet access for students, 2000; National WebCT conference held at UGA, 2000; Student Technology Support (student-centric technology assistance group) established with funding from recently implemented Student Technology Fee, 2001; migration to Gigabit Ethernet (next-generation network implementation) in process, 2001; UCNS, Administrative Information Systems, and other units on campus combine to form Enterprise Information Technology Services (EITS), 2001; Campus Information Technology Partnerships (CITP) established to offer dedicated support for departmental computing, 2001; MyID (single-sign on identifier) gains acceptance as preferred authentication method for technology services, 2002; Wireless Network (PAWS) established as campus wireless network, 2002; Student Learning Center opened, 2003; First Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) hired, Stanton Gatewood, 2003; UGAMail replaces ARCHES, 2003; UGA portal (MyUGA) launched, 2003; Network infrastructure improvements and enhancements, including deployment of packet shaping technology to manage bandwidth, increased bandwidth for off-campus traffic (via Internet 2), and extension of campus network to Graduate and Family Housing, 2004; Research Computing Center established, 2004; Boyd Data Center expansion begun to accommodate departmental hosting services, 2005; Activation of local branch of Southern Light Rail, a high-speed network connecting UGA to other research institutions throughout the nation, 2005; Compact Planning (a collegial, participatory planning process) introduced by CIO Dr. Barbara A. White, 2005; Securing Sensitive Data Initiative launched to increase security of UGA’s information systems, 2005; Completion of first full year of Compact Planning, 2006; ASSETS (Automated Security Self-Evaluation Tools) launched as part of Securing Sensitive Data Initiative to target the inventory and identification of unit-specific sensitive data, 2006; recommendations and proposals for moving UGA core administrative systems from current legacy, and in some cases, outdated Mainframe environment to a modern, web-based enterprise, along with eliminating reliance on the SSN as the UGA ID number, 2006; implementation of the next-generation, 10 Gigabit core network progresses, with Foundry chosen as equipment vendor, 2006.
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
2007-20017:??????
What is the future of information technology?
Will personal entrepreneurship continue to flourish on the Web?
A writer at eWEEK.com makes this claim: "Web-based applications have not replaced, and will not ever replace, desktop-based applications." Agree or disagree?
What is the future of entertainment downloads?
MySpace, Facebook, Second Life ... how far will we travel into virtual life, and how will this affect our "real" life, and will there be a time when we will not be able to tell the difference?
...???
Will personal entrepreneurship continue to flourish on the Web?
A writer at eWEEK.com makes this claim: "Web-based applications have not replaced, and will not ever replace, desktop-based applications." Agree or disagree?
What is the future of entertainment downloads?
MySpace, Facebook, Second Life ... how far will we travel into virtual life, and how will this affect our "real" life, and will there be a time when we will not be able to tell the difference?
...???
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