Unraveling Changes in Computer Technology
Computer technology is a great mystery to many people, especially when it keeps changing at a rapid and confusing pace. Old Independence Regional Museum is offering some interesting assistance on this subject during a program on Sunday, August 21, at 2 p.m. Titled “Computer Technology: What it has done for us and where we are going,” the program will feature two speakers who are experts in the field.
Johnny Babb has worked in the Information Technology field for 7 years and now serves as the network administrator for the Citizens Bank of Batesville. He holds a BS in Business with a specialization in Economics, plus three Associate degrees, including CIS/Networking, AAS-PC Hardware Repair. His experience includes being the MSP Team Lead for Ozark Information Services.
When asked what he likes about working in that field, Babb replied, “The biggest draw for me is figuring out how different technologies work. I love to demystify the apparent magic.”
David Branscum works as the lead technician for Ozark Information Services in Batesville, where he has been employed for five years. He is heavily involved in networking and mentoring fellow technical staff. He received his BA in Computer Science from Lyon College in 2008.
Years ago many folks with home computers started saving files of information and photos on what was termed floppy discs, which were inserted in the computer floppy drive. Then came CDs and DVDs that were advertised to secure information placed on them for decades. But soon it was learned that bites of that saved information could degrade. Computers that can read these discs are changing so fast that before long there will be no type of machine that can open these discs.
“What should I do about the family photographs that I stored on CDs? I just bought a new home computer and it doesn’t even have a CD drive! I had to buy an auxiliary one,” stated Twyla Wright, museum curator. “I now store files on flash drives.” Branscum answered, “Floppy discs are no longer being manufactured and had a short shelf life. CDs and DVDs are now being phased out for newer technologies. I would start transferring files you want to save to some form of online storage.”
Some people are now storing files on the “Cloud.” Branscum explained that the cloud is really a marketing term for anything that doesn’t live in one’s house or business. It is really a combination of shared infrastructure and shared services. Folks have been using the “cloud” for years without using that term; just think Gmail.”
Another subject that Babb and Branscum will talk about is the different forms of social media and how it’s use may differ between generations. As for what changes are on the horizon in the computer world, Babb said, “Information Technology people are notoriously bad at these predictions. “Many of us referred to the IPad as a toy and thought it would go away, but we were wrong. Even Bill Gates was quoted in 1993 saying that his company was not interested in the Internet!”
Museum Curator Wright invites, “Come ready to ask questions and have fun as we learn more about living in this complex computer world.”
The program will be free and open to the public. Normal museum hours are: Tuesday-Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and from 1:30 to 4 p.m. on Sundays. Admission is $3.00 for adults, $2.00 for seniors and $1.00 for children. The museum is located at 380 South 9th street, between Boswell and Vine Streets in Batesville.
Old Independence is a regional museum serving a 12-county area: Baxter, Cleburne, Fulton, Independence, Izard, Jackson, Marion, Poinsett, Sharp, Stone, White, and Woodruff. Parts of these present-day counties comprised the original Independence County in 1820’s Arkansas territory.
