Why IT Now http://whyitnow.org Where IT and Creative Job Opportunities, Education and Government Intersect Tue, 27 Jul 2010 19:34:23 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 © info@webprofessionals.org () info@webprofessionals.org() 1440 The Zing is Back in Information Technology info@webprofessionals.org No no http://whyitnow.org/wp-content/plugins/podpress/images/powered_by_podpress.jpg Why IT Now http://whyitnow.org 144 144 WhyItNowhttp://feedburner.google.com Getting the Gold: California Conference Leads the Way http://whyitnow.org/getting-the-gold-california-conference-leads-the-way.htm http://whyitnow.org/getting-the-gold-california-conference-leads-the-way.htm#comments Tue, 27 Jul 2010 19:34:23 +0000 Bill http://whyitnow.org/?p=722

Getting the Gold: California Conference Leads the Way

Sacramento, CA July 22, 2010.  Leading Career Technical Student Organizations (CTSO), education professionals and Information Technology representatives will be gathering together at a roundtable to explore how to improve student outcomes in California. The goal of this event is to explore how to best support students in the classroom and to empower them with leadership and career skills to ensure success in a global economy.

The roundtable will be held in conjunction with the 2010 Career Technical Student Organization Enrichment Conference taking place in Sacramento, CA on August 2nd-4th, 2010. California’s Career Technical Student Organizations offer services to 2.5 million students and their teachers and administrators interested in learning more about and promoting Career Technical Education (CTE) in California.

Sponsored by the WhyITNow.org initiative and established to promote IT and New Media education and jobs in California, the roundtable discussions will cover topics ranging from how to implement effective practices and gaining industry support.

Roundtable participants will include stakeholders representing a wide range of views and experiences, such as middle school, secondary and post-secondary education, professional associations, Education and Career Technical Student Organizations include the Future Farmers of America (FFA), DECA, California SkillsUSA, Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), California Association FHA-HERO, and the California Health Occupations Student Association (Cal-HOSA).

Participating panelist included:
•    Alyssa Mangan, FFA Advisor from Elk Grove High School
•    Cindy Beck, State Advisor, Cal-HOSA
•    Dara Dubois, State Advisor, SkillsUSA
•    Jayne Campbell, Competitive Event Coordinator and Past President, FBLA
•    Melissa Webb, Home Economics Careers & Technology Education Programs Consultant, California Department of Education, California Association FHA-HERO
•    Ryan Underwood, California DECA Executive Director
“To remain competitive in a global economy and to ensure prosperity we must foster innovation, creativity, and education excellence in California” said Bill Cullifer, Chair of the WhyITNow.org initiative.

For additional information about the WhyITNow.org initiative visit http://www.whyitnow.org

]]> http://whyitnow.org/getting-the-gold-california-conference-leads-the-way.htm/feed 0 Closing the Innovation Gap: Inteview with Judy Estrin, Author and IT Entrepreneur http://whyitnow.org/closing-the-innovation-gap-inteview-with-judy-estrin-author-and-it-entrepreneur.htm http://whyitnow.org/closing-the-innovation-gap-inteview-with-judy-estrin-author-and-it-entrepreneur.htm#comments Wed, 26 May 2010 21:54:18 +0000 Bill http://whyitnow.org/?p=709

Closing the Innovation Gap – Interview with Judy Estrin, Author and IT Entrepreneur from the Heart of the Silicon Valley of CA

In this fourteen minute interview with Judy Estrin, author of Closing the Innovation Gap – “Reigniting the Spark of Creativity in Global Economy” published by MGraw Hill,  I asked Judy the following set of questions:

* What prompted you to write the book Closing the Innovation Gap?
* Who’s the intended audience and who would you recommended read this book?
* What is the essential knowledge that you would like readers to know?
* Do you see IT innovation as a job creator or job eliminator for IT professionals?

Follow the “play” button below to listen to the entire

Meet the Author

At the crack of dawn of my 21st birthday, I was sitting in a dark basement lab, working with researchers at the University College in London and BBN in Boston. We all knew we were working on something important. Little did we know, however, that the software we were developing would become the cornerstone of the Internet and the World Wide Web. Later that day, after a birthday lunch, I attended a computer communications seminar taught by Bob Metcalfe, a researcher at Xerox Palo Alto Research Center (PARC), one of the country’s premier research labs. Bob’s networking scheme, called Ethernet, is now used in computer networks throughout the world.

To most people, getting up before dawn to test trans-Atlantic data transmission and then attending a computer science seminar may sound like a boring way to spend one’s 21st birthday. But to me, being involved in the creation of something so new and significant was exciting and fun. The professors and researchers that I encountered at UCLA and Stanford inspired me to pursue a career of innovation. After graduating from Stanford in 1976, I spent 25 years as one of the leaders in the creation and growth of the computer networking industry. In 1998, when I became CTO at Cisco, the benefits of the Internet were finally available to a broad base of consumers.

My life and career benefited from an environment of thriving innovation. I was fortunate to be born at a time when the nation understood the importance of science, technology and innovation, and encouraged taking risks. I’m convinced that my son’s generation will not have the same opportunities that I enjoyed, as the country has become increasingly focused on short-term gains. This book was born from my need to try and do something about this shift.
Judy Estrin’s bio

Judith Estrin
Chief Executive Officer
JLABS, LLC

Judy Estrin is CEO of JLABS, LLC, formerly known as Packet Design Management Company, LLC. She is the author of Closing the Innovation Gap, published in September, 2008. Prior to co-founding Packet Design, in May 2000, Estrin was chief technology officer for Cisco Systems. Beginning in 1981 Estrin co-founded three other successful technology companies: Bridge Communications, Network Computing Devices, and Precept Software. In 1998 Cisco Systems acquired Precept, and she became Cisco’s chief technology officer until April 2000.

Estrin has been named three times to Fortune Magazine’s list of the 50 most powerful women in American business. She sits on the boards of directors of The Walt Disney Company and FedEx Corporation as well as the privately held Packet Design, Inc. She also sits on the advisory councils of Stanford’s School of Engineering and Stanford’s Bio-X initiative. She holds a B.S. degree in math and computer science from UCLA, and an M.S. in electrical engineering from Stanford University.

]]> http://whyitnow.org/closing-the-innovation-gap-inteview-with-judy-estrin-author-and-it-entrepreneur.htm/feed 1 00:01:01 Closing the Innovation Gap - Interview with Judy Estrin, Author and IT Entrepreneur from the Heart of the Silicon Valley of CA In this fourteen minute ... Closing the Innovation Gap - Interview with Judy Estrin, Author and IT Entrepreneur from the Heart of the Silicon Valley of CA In this fourteen minute interview with Judy Estrin, author of Closing the Innovation Gap - "Reigniting the Spark of Creativity in Global Economy" published by MGraw Hill,nbsp; I asked Judy the following set of questions: * What prompted you to write the book Closing the Innovation Gap? * Who's the intended audience and who would you recommended read this book? * What is the essential knowledge that you would like readers to know? * Do you see IT innovation as a job creator or job eliminator for IT professionals? Follow the "play" button below to listen to the entire Meet the Author At the crack of dawn of my 21st birthday, I was sitting in a dark basement lab, working with researchers at the University College in London and BBN in Boston. We all knew we were working on something important. Little did we know, however, that the software we were developing would become the cornerstone of the Internet and the World Wide Web. Later that day, after a birthday lunch, I attended a computer communications seminar taught by Bob Metcalfe, a researcher at Xerox Palo Alto Research Center (PARC), one of the countryrsquo;s premier research labs. Bob's networking scheme, called Ethernet, is now used in computer networks throughout the world. To most people, getting up before dawn to test trans-Atlantic data transmission and then attending a computer science seminar may sound like a boring way to spend one's 21st birthday. But to me, being involved in the creation of something so new and significant was exciting and fun. The professors and researchers that I encountered at UCLA and Stanford inspired me to pursue a career of innovation. After graduating from Stanford in 1976, I spent 25 years as one of the leaders in the creation and growth of the computer networking industry. In 1998, when I became CTO at Cisco, the benefits of the Internet were finally available to a broad base of consumers. My life and career benefited from an environment of thriving innovation. I was fortunate to be born at a time when the nation understood the importance of science, technology and innovation, and encouraged taking risks. I'm convinced that my son's generation will not have the same opportunities that I enjoyed, as the country has become increasingly focused on short-term gains. This book was born from my need to try and do something about this shift. Judy Estrin's bio Judith Estrin Chief Executive Officer JLABS, LLC Judy Estrin is CEO of JLABS, LLC, formerly known as Packet Design Management Company, LLC. She is the author of Closing the Innovation Gap, published in September, 2008. Prior to co-founding Packet Design, in May 2000, Estrin was chief technology officer for Cisco Systems. Beginning in 1981 Estrin co-founded three other successful technology companies: Bridge Communications, Network Computing Devices, and Precept Software. In 1998 Cisco Systems acquired Precept, and she became Cisco's chief technology officer until April 2000. Estrin has been named three times to Fortune Magazine's list of the 50 most powerful women in American business. She sits on the boards of directors of The Walt Disney Company and FedEx Corporation as well as the privately held Packet Design, Inc. She also sits on the advisory councils of Stanford's School of Engineering and Stanford's Bio-X initiative. She holds a B.S. degree in math and computer science from UCLA, and an M.S. in electrical engineering from Stanford University. IT,Innovation,,IT,Innovators info@webprofessionals.org no No IT Innovators Award Presented to MyWEBoo Inc., Monta Vista HS and Santa Clara County http://whyitnow.org/it-innovators-award-presented-to-mywebboo-inc-monta-vista-hs-and-santa-clara-county.htm http://whyitnow.org/it-innovators-award-presented-to-mywebboo-inc-monta-vista-hs-and-santa-clara-county.htm#comments Mon, 24 May 2010 21:10:35 +0000 Bill http://whyitnow.org/?p=693

The WhyITNow.org initiative, established to promote jobs, innovation and education excellence announced last week top leadership at the Santa Clara County CA Office of Education, as well as a local Career Technical Education (CTE) teacher and student, were recently honored for their innovation in the classroom and educational CTE program by the California based non profit association for Web professionals and its WhyITNow.org initiative.

County Superintendent of Schools Charles Weis, Ph.D. was recognized by the WhyITNow.org initiative established to promote jobs, IT innovation and education excellence for his innovation and vision shown in launching the county’s CTE program in fall 2009.

Less than a year after its inception, the program has inspired countless students – including Diane Keng. The student at Monta Vista High School in Cupertino, CA and her CTE marketing instructor Carl Schmidt were also honored by the WhyITNow.org initiative for their information technology innovations.

The award celebrates Diane’s MyWEBoo, a system she created that helps people manage personal files and data located on several different web services. The company – Diane’s third start-up – allows users to plug in web services as “drives” and manage their content stored on Facebook, YouTube and other platforms all on one space.

“In order for the United States to continue to lead the world in innovation and creativity, we must develop an advanced information technology ecosystem that is able to refresh itself with IT talent and creative thinkers. Exciting things are being developed by the tech community and by many in education and recognizing individuals and organizations both private and public that continue to innovate is a good way to shine a spotlight on the importance of IT innovation “said Bill Cullifer, WOW Executive Director and WhyITNow.org initiative.

Diane and Schmidt are just two examples of the exceptional students and teachers involved in the county’s CTE program. Last fall, the SCCOE created the department with the goal of providing career technical education assistance to its local school districts. A countywide conference convened in October, leading to the May completion of a three-year strategic plan by 13 school districts, three Regional Occupational Programs and five community college partners.

]]> http://whyitnow.org/it-innovators-award-presented-to-mywebboo-inc-monta-vista-hs-and-santa-clara-county.htm/feed 0 00:01:01 IT Innovators Award Presented to MyWEBoo Inc., Monta Vista HS and Santa Clara County The Zing is Back in Information Technology IT,Innovators,,IT,News,,Why,IT,Now info@webprofessionals.org no No Why Information Technology Now: Interview with Christina C.Wade, Cal Poly Pomona Student http://whyitnow.org/why-information-technology-now-interview-with-christina-c-wade-cal-poly-pomona-student.htm http://whyitnow.org/why-information-technology-now-interview-with-christina-c-wade-cal-poly-pomona-student.htm#comments Tue, 04 May 2010 16:19:05 +0000 Bill http://whyitnow.org/?p=686

I was in Southern California late last month to participate as a luncheon keynote speaker at the 14th annual Information Technology (ITC) competition taking place at the California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. Students from universities and community colleges competed head on in an all day event.

In addition to supporting the event as a guest speaker, I made it a point to learn more about the ITC Competition from a student perspective and how the event might support IT jobs, innovation and productivity in California.

In this eight minute podcast, I sat down with Christina C.Wade, VP – Internal Affairs of the Marketing for the Management Information Systems Student Association (MISSA) at Cal Poly Pomona.

I walked away inspired by this interview with Christina as she shares her thoughts regarding the value of the competition to business and industry including the students that compete. Christina also makes a compelling case for why students should consider a career in Information Technology (IT) and what California policy decision makers need know and do to support IT education here at home.

]]> http://whyitnow.org/why-information-technology-now-interview-with-christina-c-wade-cal-poly-pomona-student.htm/feed 0 00:01:01 I was in Southern California late last month to participate as a luncheon keynote speaker at the 14th annual Information Technology (ITC) competition taking place ... I was in Southern California late last month to participate as a luncheon keynote speaker at the 14th annual Information Technology (ITC) competition taking place at the California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. Students from universities and community colleges competed head on in an all day event. In addition to supporting the event as a guest speaker, I made it a point to learn more about the ITC Competition from a student perspective and how the event might support IT jobs, innovation and productivity in California. In this eight minute podcast, I sat down with Christina C.Wade, VP - Internal Affairs of the Marketing for the Management Information Systems Student Association (MISSA) at Cal Poly Pomona. I walked away inspired by this interview with Christina as she shares her thoughts regarding the value of the competition to business and industry including the students that compete. Christina also makes a compelling case for why students should consider a career in Information Technology (IT) and what California policy decision makers need know and do to support IT education here at home. IT,Events,,Why,IT,Now info@webprofessionals.org no No Why Information Technology Now: Interview with Zefren Edior, President IT Competition, and Director of MISSA Cal Poly, Pomona http://whyitnow.org/why-information-technology-now-interview-with-zefren-edior-president-it-competition-and-director-of-missa-caly-poly-pomona.htm http://whyitnow.org/why-information-technology-now-interview-with-zefren-edior-president-it-competition-and-director-of-missa-caly-poly-pomona.htm#comments Mon, 03 May 2010 16:37:25 +0000 Bill http://whyitnow.org/?p=680

I made a trek to Southern California late last month to participate as a luncheon keynote speaker at the 14th annual Information Technology (ITC) competition taking place at the California State Polytechnic University, Pomona.

As the executive director for the WebProfessional.org and Chair of the WhyITNow.org initiative representing IT jobs, innovation and productivity in California, it was a delight to participate in the event and to mingle with students from colleges around California who participated in the Intercollegiate Information Technology Competition

In this seven minute podcast, I sat down with Zefren Edior, President IT Competition, and Director of Marketing for the Management Information Systems Student Association (MISSA) at Cal Poly Pomona. Zefren is an outstanding representative and has a bright future ahead of him in Information Technology. I walked away inspired by the interview and Zefren’s commentary on the value of the competition, why students should consider a career in Information Technology and what California policy decision makers should know and do to support IT education.

In addition to introducing the WhyITNow.org initiative several hundred students and faculty and Cal Poly Pomona, I also introduced a state wide “Mobile Innovators” challenge tapping into Cal Poly IT students to demonstrate a Mobile App concept from scratch against the clock while presenting the benefits of the Mobile App challenge and its benefits to small business in front of a live audience.

About Information Technology (ITC) competition

Students from colleges and universities demonstrate their expertise in the Information Technology field. Teams of students receive a case-study (a real-life business project created by a company or organization) to work on within a two-week time period. Their work is then analyzed, judged and critiqued by industry professionals to identify the best entries.

The competition is at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. This is the 14th year of this annual event. The competition includes cases in the following categories:

• Business Systems Analysis
• Computer Forensics
• Web Application Development
• Telecommunications
• Programming

Prizes of $1000, $500, and $250 are awarded for each case.
This competition gives students the opportunity to showcase their talents and skills in front of industry professionals. This experience helps them prepare for their careers, develop their professional network, and increase their knowledge of the Information Technology field

]]> http://whyitnow.org/why-information-technology-now-interview-with-zefren-edior-president-it-competition-and-director-of-missa-caly-poly-pomona.htm/feed 0 00:01:01 I made a trek to Southern California late last month to participate as a luncheon keynote speaker at the 14th annual Information Technology (ITC) competition ... I made a trek to Southern California late last month to participate as a luncheon keynote speaker at the 14th annual Information Technology (ITC) competition taking place at the California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. As the executive director for the WebProfessional.org and Chair of the WhyITNow.org initiative representing IT jobs, innovation and productivity in California, it was a delight to participate in the event and to mingle with students from colleges around California who participated in the Intercollegiate Information Technology Competition In this seven minute podcast, I sat down with Zefren Edior, President IT Competition, and Director of Marketing for the Management Information Systems Student Association (MISSA) at Cal Poly Pomona. Zefren is an outstanding representative and has a bright future ahead of him in Information Technology. I walked away inspired by the interview and Zefrenrsquo;s commentary on the value of the competition, why students should consider a career in Information Technology and what California policy decision makers should know and do to support IT education. In addition to introducing the WhyITNow.org initiative several hundred students and faculty and Cal Poly Pomona, I also introduced a state wide ldquo;Mobile Innovatorsrdquo; challenge tapping into Cal Poly IT students to demonstrate a Mobile App concept from scratch against the clock while presenting the benefits of the Mobile App challenge and its benefits to small business in front of a live audience. About Information Technology (ITC) competition Students from colleges and universities demonstrate their expertise in the Information Technology field. Teams of students receive a case-study (a real-life business project created by a company or organization) to work on within a two-week time period. Their work is then analyzed, judged and critiqued by industry professionals to identify the best entries. The competition is at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. This is the 14th year of this annual event. The competition includes cases in the following categories: bull; Business Systems Analysis bull; Computer Forensics bull; Web Application Development bull; Telecommunications bull; Programming Prizes of $1000, $500, and $250 are awarded for each case. This competition gives students the opportunity to showcase their talents and skills in front of industry professionals. This experience helps them prepare for their careers, develop their professional network, and increase their knowledge of the Information Technology field IT,Events,,IT,Innovators,,Why,IT,Now info@webprofessionals.org no No Leading IT Innovation Experts Gather to Discuss Innovation Strategies at Interop Las Vegas http://whyitnow.org/leading-it-innovation-experts-gather-to-discuss-innovation-strategies-at-interop-las-vegas.htm http://whyitnow.org/leading-it-innovation-experts-gather-to-discuss-innovation-strategies-at-interop-las-vegas.htm#comments Wed, 28 Apr 2010 15:30:31 +0000 Bill http://whyitnow.org/?p=670

Leading IT Innovation Experts Gather to Discuss Innovation Strategies, Ways to Improve Operational Effectiveness and How to Overcome Barriers to IT

With a financial downturn in the world economy and shrinking budgets, it is not surprising that innovation in Information Technology (IT) is in high demand. Leading IT and innovation experts will convene at Interop 2010 Las Vegas April 27, 2010 from 12:15 PM–1:00 PM to address key IT innovation issues, including making an impact on improving operational effectiveness and beating barriers to IT using proven innovation strategies.

“Many of the most significant corporate success stories have been because of IT innovations,” said Bill Cullifer, coordinator and session moderator and the chair of the WhyITNow.org initiative. “Leading executives understand that IT innovation is a major factor for their companies’ bottom lines and future growth. Unfortunately, not all organizational decision-makers understand or do a good job evaluating or implementing the strategic importance of IT.”

These trends have been researched and recorded by global management consulting firm A.T. Kearney through its Strategic IT Practice and global survey of IT and business executives.

“IT Innovation has been a top priority for businesses over the last decade,” said Bob Haas, partner and Strategic IT director at A.T. Kearney. “Yet, most companies consistently talk about the need for IT Innovation, but don’t follow through with consistent, focused investments and executive commitment.”

Sponsored by the WhyITNow.org initiative, a grass roots coalition of industry and education professionals, the “Realizing the Promise of IT Innovation” panel will focus on IT innovation during a weak economy, thriving in a chaotic economy, gearing up for prosperity and learning about current industry studies, best practices and efforts to improve education and career opportunities in IT.

Additional conference highlights include an invitation-only industry roundtable on the topic of IT effectiveness and innovation.

]]> http://whyitnow.org/leading-it-innovation-experts-gather-to-discuss-innovation-strategies-at-interop-las-vegas.htm/feed 0 00:01:01 Leading IT Innovation Experts Gather to Discuss Innovation Strategies, Ways to Improve Operational Effectiveness and How to Overcome Barriers to IT With a financial downturn ... Leading IT Innovation Experts Gather to Discuss Innovation Strategies, Ways to Improve Operational Effectiveness and How to Overcome Barriers to IT With a financial downturn in the world economy and shrinking budgets, it is not surprising that innovation in Information Technology (IT) is in high demand. Leading IT and innovation experts will convene at Interop 2010 Las Vegas April 27, 2010 from 12:15 PMndash;1:00 PM to address key IT innovation issues, including making an impact on improving operational effectiveness and beating barriers to IT using proven innovation strategies. ldquo;Many of the most significant corporate success stories have been because of IT innovations,rdquo; said Bill Cullifer, coordinator and session moderator and the chair of the WhyITNow.org initiative. ldquo;Leading executives understand that IT innovation is a major factor for their companiesrsquo; bottom lines and future growth. Unfortunately, not all organizational decision-makers understand or do a good job evaluating or implementing the strategic importance of IT.rdquo; These trends have been researched and recorded by global management consulting firm A.T. Kearney through its Strategic IT Practice and global survey of IT and business executives. ldquo;IT Innovation has been a top priority for businesses over the last decade,rdquo; said Bob Haas, partner and Strategic IT director at A.T. Kearney. ldquo;Yet, most companies consistently talk about the need for IT Innovation, but donrsquo;t follow through with consistent, focused investments and executive commitment.rdquo; Sponsored by the WhyITNow.org initiative, a grass roots coalition of industry and education professionals, the ldquo;Realizing the Promise of IT Innovationrdquo; panel will focus on IT innovation during a weak economy, thriving in a chaotic economy, gearing up for prosperity and learning about current industry studies, best practices and efforts to improve education and career opportunities in IT. Additional conference highlights include an invitation-only industry roundtable on the topic of IT effectiveness and innovation. IT,Events,,IT,News,,Why,IT,Now info@webprofessionals.org no No IT Trends: The Fourth Wave is Here http://whyitnow.org/it-trends-the-fourth-wave-is-here.htm http://whyitnow.org/it-trends-the-fourth-wave-is-here.htm#comments Fri, 23 Apr 2010 18:34:46 +0000 Bill http://whyitnow.org/?p=664

If you think Information Technology is on the brink of a major change, you may already be too late

Courtesy of HP Enterprise Services

From smart sensors that track the temperatures of products to personalized data, the latest information push is already here. HP Fellow Charlie Bess explains how your company reacts next will determine competitive showdowns and slowdowns.

If you think Information Technology is on the brink of a major change, you may already be too late. The accelerating growth of enterprise data gathered in real time is transforming IT. Automation will explode. Simulations will be deployed extensively. In response, businesses must master the capability to retrieve intelligence from this monumental surge of new ways to value IT.

Equally important, they must execute the adjustments necessary to compete.

According to Forrester Research, Inc., IT has been buffeted by three distinct transformative waves over the past half century. HP Fellow Charlie Bess says the fourth came crashing into the enterprise zone almost unnoticed in 2008.

“We’re entering a new wave with computers in things rather than as things,”

Bess says. For example, new jet engines monitor pressure, temperature and even speed. New technology provides diagnostic and predictive maintenance data, decreasing downtime and increasing longevity. Likewise, HP and Shell are collaborating to develop a wireless sensing system to collect and store extremely high-resolution seismic data. This technology could transform the ability to pinpoint abundant new oil and gas reserves.

Business Processes Must Evolve

Historically, each 16- to 20-year IT wave represents a paradigm shift in business processes accompanied by sweeping gains in productivity. These include:

1. The centralized mainframe wave (enterprise view of information)

2. The distributed personal computer wave (individual view of information)

3. The interconnected network/Internet wave (shared view of information between and across organizations).

The fourth wave will align IT and the business to a greater and far deeper extent than ever before. “The business is IT, and IT is the business,” Bess says. “Every individual at all levels will have IT skills, and IT professionals will have business skills.” Four key elements of the fourth wave include:

* Intelligent sensors. Businesses will increasingly use devices to pinpoint location, temperature and motion, for example. Using this abundance of data to identify enterprise events will provide competitive advantages.

* Computing abundance. Multi-core processors and cloud computing mean computing power can be harnessed to simulate and predict likely outcomes.

All that sensor data, then, turns into a deep understanding of corporate context.

* Targeted information. Data flows will be personalized to the roles and availability of individuals. Each individual’s contribution will be maximized with precisely tailored information, focusing his or her attention on tasks that require action.

* Application ebb. Standalone software issues will largely become moot.

Aggregations of services will deliver most of the value in the fourth wave.

Though it began in 2008, the fourth wave has been slowed by the struggling economy. Yet certain transformations have continued. “Interesting stuff will come out of this recession,” predicts Patrick Gray, president of Prevoyance Group, a Charlotte, North Carolina-based strategy consultancy. “Lots of IT projects are frozen right now. But resourceful workers are still cobbling together solutions to face these challenges.”

The Changing Workforce

Gray believes cultural pressures unleashed by an influx of new workers will further disrupt embedded IT functions. A workforce versed in social media and smart-phone applications will drive solutions once relegated to standalone IT departments.

Organizations keeping pace with these shifting undercurrents will possess significant competitive advantages, says Bess. Businesses that focus on innovation are poised to glean insight from data and emerge from the downturn with considerable momentum. Examples: Google, Amazon and eBay were among the few organizations to thrive following the tech bubble implosion a decade ago.

“IT was originally brought into the organization to maximize value and improve efficiency. Where that is happening and the business outcomes reflect it, IT has a reserved seat at the table,” Bess says. That’s the ultimate signature of an organization that understands the implications of the fourth wave. “It significantly alters the relationship between IT and the business, transforming how this value and efficiency is generated.”

]]> http://whyitnow.org/it-trends-the-fourth-wave-is-here.htm/feed 1 Mobile Innovators Challenge to be Announced at California State Polytechnic University http://whyitnow.org/mobile-innovators-challenge-to-be-announced-at-california-state-polytechnic-university.htm http://whyitnow.org/mobile-innovators-challenge-to-be-announced-at-california-state-polytechnic-university.htm#comments Sat, 17 Apr 2010 00:11:19 +0000 Bill http://whyitnow.org/?p=662

Mobile Innovators Challenge to be Announced at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona Intercollegiate Information Technology Competition

In collaboration with the WhyITNow.org initiative supporting information technology (IT) innovation and jobs in California, WebProfessionals.org is developing a “Mobile Innovator Challenge” that will stand out among the current mobile competitions available in the U.S.

This competition is being formally announced on April 17 at the 14th Annual Intercollegiate Information Technology Competition at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. At that event, students will participate in a live demonstration of the concept.

Background Information
“Social media adoption by small businesses has doubled from 12% to 24% in the last year and Mobile Apps are projected to grow from $4.1 billion in 2009 to $17.5 billion by 2012 according to recent surveys. Yet, many small and medium sized businesses are struggling to understand the technology at a time when they need to innovate to survive,” said Bill Cullifer, WebProfessionals.org executive director and Chair of the Mobile Innovators Challenge. “California needs innovation and jobs now more than ever and this challenge is an excellent opportunity to link business and industry, small business and those seeking employment in IT,” said Cullifer.

Mobile Innovators Challenge

In the Mobile Innovators Challenge industry professionals, students and teachers will design and develop mobile apps for small businesses or non-profit organizations. This represents an opportunity for participants to:

• Gain industry recognition
• Acquire industry knowledge and skills
• Win prizes
• Integrate real world learning projects into the classroom
• Give something back to the community by designing, developing and promoting a fully functional mobile application for an organization in need
• Network with other professionals and students

WebProfessionals.org believes that today’s IT professionals can and must:

• Balance their skill sets with an ability to analyze a situation and produce a viable solution
• Apply technology and design development techniques and business strategies appropriately for the circumstances.

About the Intercollegiate Information Technology Competition
Students from colleges and universities demonstrate their expertise in the Information Technology field. Teams of students receive a case-study (a real-life business project created by a company or organization) to work on within a two-week time period. Their work is then analyzed, judged and critiqued by industry professionals to identify the best entries.

The competition is at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. This is the 14th year of this annual event. The competition includes cases in the following categories:

• Business Systems Analysis
• Computer Forensics
• Web Application Development
• Telecommunications
• Programming

Prizes of $1000, $500, and $250 are awarded for each case.
This competition gives students the opportunity to showcase their talents and skills in front of industry professionals. This experience helps them prepare for their careers, develop their professional network, and increase their knowledge of the Information Technology field.

]]> http://whyitnow.org/mobile-innovators-challenge-to-be-announced-at-california-state-polytechnic-university.htm/feed 0 Why Information Technology (IT) Now: Interview with Dr. Chuck Weis Santa Clara County Office of Education http://whyitnow.org/why-information-technology-it-now-interview-with-dr-chuck-weis-santa-clara-county-office-of-education.htm http://whyitnow.org/why-information-technology-it-now-interview-with-dr-chuck-weis-santa-clara-county-office-of-education.htm#comments Thu, 08 Apr 2010 15:28:27 +0000 Bill http://whyitnow.org/?p=657

Why IT Now Interview with Dr. Chuck Weis, Superintendent, Santa Clara County Office of Education

In this four minute interview with Dr. Chuck Weis, Superintendent and Alyssa Lynch, CTE Director Santa Clara County Office of Education, I asked a number of questions ranging from:

* Why consider Career Technical Education (CTE)?
* Why is Career Technical Education (CTE) important?
* How does Information Technology (IT) fit into the mix and why IT now?

The tag line for Santa Clara County Office of Education is, “A Champion for Students, Schools and Community” and after this interview with Dr. Weis and Alyssa Lynch I believe it. Check out today’s podcast for a terrific perspective on CTE and IT as well as a summary of what Santa Clara County Office of Education has in store for CTE today.

FACTS ABOUT SANTA CLARA COUNTY
PUBLIC SCHOOLS

County Statistics
Population (CA Dept. of Finance Estimate 01/2009) 1,857,621
Land 1,291 square miles
State Statistics
Population (CA Dept. of Finance Estimate 01/2009) 38,292,687
Counties 58
School Districts 1,043
Schools 10,222
Public school students 6,252,011

District Total Enroll. # of schools
County Office Of Education 3,854 144 (sites)
Alum Rock Union Elementary 13,816 28
Berryessa Union Elementary 8,342 14
Cambrian Elementary 3,142 6
Campbell Union Elementary 7,269 13
Campbell Union High 7,746 7
Cupertino Union 17,581 25
East Side Union High 26,259 22
Evergreen Elementary 13,380 18
Franklin-Mckinley Elementary 10,044 17
Fremont Union High 10,339 6
Gilroy Unified 10,732 16
Lakeside Joint School District 82 1
Loma Prieta Joint Union Elemen 405 2
Los Altos Elementary 4,248 9
Los Gatos Union Elementary 2,828 5
Los Gatos-Saratoga Joint Union 3,178 2
Luther Burbank 576 1
Milpitas Unified 9,649 14
Montebello Elementary * 10 1
Moreland Elementary 4,003 6
Morgan Hill Unified 9,704 15
Mountain View Whisman 4,460 8
Mountain View-Los Altos Union 3,660 3
Mt. Pleasant Elementary 2,963 5
Oak Grove Elementary 11,759 20
Orchard Elementary 830 1
Palo Alto Unified 11,430 19
San Jose Unified 31,918 52
Santa Clara Unified 14,729 25
Saratoga Union Elementary 2,261 4
Sunnyvale 6,172 11
Union Elementary 4,576 8
SANTA CLARA TOTAL 261,945 398

* closed July 2009

Enrollment by Ethnic Group
# %
African American 7,836 3.0%
American Indian/Alaska Native 1,035 0.4%
Asian 67,779 25.9%
Filipino 12,889 4.9%
Hispanic/Latino 96,442 36.8%
Pacific Islander 1,831 0.7%
White (not Hispanic) 63,487 24.2%
Multiple or No Response 10,646 4.1%
Total 261,945 100%

Santa Clara County Teachers
Number of teachers 12,749
Average SCC teacher’s salary $71,619
Average CA teacher’s salary $65,808
Student-to-Teacher Ratio/Class Size
SCC student-to-teacher ratio 20:01
California ratio 21:01
SCC average class size 25
California average class size 25

Santa Clara County K-12 Public School Enrollment 1999- 2009
1999 – 2000 254,782
2000 – 2001 254,004
2001 – 2002 248,777
2002 – 2003 250,435
2003 – 2004 251,198
2004 – 2005 253,065
2005 – 2006 254,622
2006 – 2007 255,722
2007 – 2008 259,116
2008 – 2009 261,945

School Districts
Elementary 21
Unified 6
High School 5
Community College 4
Total 36
Public School Sites *
Elementary 239
Middle 55
High School 51
K – 12 2
Total 347
* Excludes: Continuation (n=18), Community Day (n=9), Alternative (n=10), Special Ed (n=1), Juvenile Hall (n=1), and County Community (n=1) Schools; Includes Charters (n=34).

Sources: CDE 2008-2009 data and California School Directory

Date last updated: January 11, 2010

]]> http://whyitnow.org/why-information-technology-it-now-interview-with-dr-chuck-weis-santa-clara-county-office-of-education.htm/feed 0 00:01:01 Why IT Now Interview with Dr. Chuck Weis, Superintendent, Santa Clara County Office of Education In this four minute interview with Dr. Chuck Weis, Superintendent and ... Why IT Now Interview with Dr. Chuck Weis, Superintendent, Santa Clara County Office of Education In this four minute interview with Dr. Chuck Weis, Superintendent and Alyssa Lynch, CTE Director Santa Clara County Office of Education, I asked a number of questions ranging from: * Why consider Career Technical Education (CTE)? * Why is Career Technical Education (CTE) important? * How does Information Technology (IT) fit into the mix and why IT now? The tag line for Santa Clara County Office of Education is, "A Champion for Students, Schools and Community" and after this interview with Dr. Weis and Alyssa Lynch I believe it. Check out today's podcast for a terrific perspective on CTE and IT as well as a summary of what Santa Clara County Office of Education has in store for CTE today. FACTS ABOUT SANTA CLARA COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS District Enrollment and number of schools Enrollment by Ethnic Group Santa Clara County Teachers and Student-to-Teacher Ratio/Class Size Santa Clara County K-12 Public School Enrollment 1999- 2009 School Districts and Public School Sites County Statistics Population (CA Dept. of Finance Estimate 01/2009) 1,857,621 Land 1,291 square miles State Statistics Population (CA Dept. of Finance Estimate 01/2009) 38,292,687 Counties 58 School Districts 1,043 Schools 10,222 Public school students 6,252,011 District Total Enroll. # of schools County Office Of Education 3,854 144 (sites) Alum Rock Union Elementary 13,816 28 Berryessa Union Elementary 8,342 14 Cambrian Elementary 3,142 6 Campbell Union Elementary 7,269 13 Campbell Union High 7,746 7 Cupertino Union 17,581 25 East Side Union High 26,259 22 Evergreen Elementary 13,380 18 Franklin-Mckinley Elementary 10,044 17 Fremont Union High 10,339 6 Gilroy Unified 10,732 16 Lakeside Joint School District 82 1 Loma Prieta Joint Union Elemen 405 2 Los Altos Elementary 4,248 9 Los Gatos Union Elementary 2,828 5 Los Gatos-Saratoga Joint Union 3,178 2 Luther Burbank 576 1 Milpitas Unified 9,649 14 Montebello Elementary * 10 1 Moreland Elementary 4,003 6 Morgan Hill Unified 9,704 15 Mountain View Whisman 4,460 8 Mountain View-Los Altos Union 3,660 3 Mt. Pleasant Elementary 2,963 5 Oak Grove Elementary 11,759 20 Orchard Elementary 830 1 Palo Alto Unified 11,430 19 San Jose Unified 31,918 52 Santa Clara Unified 14,729 25 Saratoga Union Elementary 2,261 4 Sunnyvale 6,172 11 Union Elementary 4,576 8 SANTA CLARA TOTAL 261,945 398 * closed July 2009 Enrollment by Ethnic Group # % African American 7,836 3.0% American Indian/Alaska Native 1,035 0.4% Asian 67,779 25.9% Filipino 12,889 4.9% Hispanic/Latino 96,442 36.8% Pacific Islander 1,831 0.7% White (not Hispanic) 63,487 24.2% Multiple or No Response 10,646 4.1% Total 261,945 100% Santa Clara County Teachers Number of teachers 12,749 Average SCC teacher's salary $71,619 Average CA teacher's salary $65,808 Student-to-Teacher Ratio/Class Size SCC student-to-teacher ratio 20:01 California ratio 21:01 SCC average class size 25 California average class size 25 Santa Clara County K-12 Public School Enrollment 1999- 2009 1999 - 2000 254,782 2000 - 2001 254,004 2001 - 2002 248,777 2002 - 2003 250,435 2003 - 2004 251,198 2004 - 2005 253,065 2005 - 2006 254,622 2006 - 2007 255,722 2007 - 2008 259,116 2008 - 2009 261,945 School Districts Elementary 21 Unified 6 High School 5 Community College 4 Total 36 Why,IT,Now info@webprofessionals.org no No Why Information Technology (IT) Interview with Clint Johns, Irvington H.S. http://whyitnow.org/why-information-technology-it-interview-with-clint-johns-irvington-h-s.htm http://whyitnow.org/why-information-technology-it-interview-with-clint-johns-irvington-h-s.htm#comments Fri, 02 Apr 2010 18:54:06 +0000 Bill http://whyitnow.org/?p=605

Why Information Technology (IT) Interview with Clint Johns, Irvington H.S. Freemont, CA

In this four minute interview, Clint shares his thoughts on IT education in the high school and what he would like to see improved.

]]> http://whyitnow.org/why-information-technology-it-interview-with-clint-johns-irvington-h-s.htm/feed 0 00:01:01 Why Information Technology (IT) Interview with Clint Johns, Irvington H.S. Freemont, CA In this four minute interview, Clint shares his thoughts on IT education in the ... Why Information Technology (IT) Interview with Clint Johns, Irvington H.S. Freemont, CA In this four minute interview, Clint shares his thoughts on IT education in the high school and what he would like to see improved. Why,IT,Now info@webprofessionals.org no No