Retrospective on the 1990’s

Carey Williamson

Department of Computer Science University of Calgary

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My Background

UofS1981-85

Stanford1985-1991

UofS1991-2001

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Highlights and Outlook

Computer Science: Through the 90’s and Beyond

The Global SceneThe National SceneThe Local Scene

People and EventsFaculty and StaffStudentsDepartment Activities

Future OutlookThe DisciplineThe Department

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Computer Science in the 1990’s

The “Era of the Internet”Explosive growth in the deployment, use, commercialization, and value of the InternetInternet host census:

1.2 million in USA in January 199456.4 million in USA in January 2001

Birth of the World Wide Web (circa 1993)Internet traffic volumes grow 10-15% monthlyMoore’s Law continues to hold as wellThe “Y2K Problem” looms

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The Global Scene

Emergence of the “knowledge economy”Predicted shortfalls of trained IT peopleIT is a “media darling” (Nortel, Pixar, W95)Explosion of the “.com” era

1990 2000

$$$ Youarehere

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The National Scene

Significant government investment in the growth and expansion of ITUniversity expansion programs in CS/CE

Ontario, BC, Alberta, others

Computational ideas spread multi-disciplinarilyThe “Software Engineering” battle ragesFederal CANARIE organization launches CA*netISI citation index study rates UofS CMPT #1Other notes:

U of S wins Vanier Cup 3 times (1990, 1996, 1998)

Toronto Blue Jays were actually good!

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The Local SceneStrong dept leadership throughout the decade

Bunt, McCalla, Cheston, Eager, Greer

Departmental name change“Computational Science” to “Computer Science”

Software Engineering battleSynopsis of issues from Gord McCalla in CACM

Administrative relocation of the departmentFrom “Engineering” to “Arts and Science”

NSERC suspends “Summer NSERC” program, phases out Research Infrastructure programEnrollments surge in CMPT; budgets very tightInternship program option created

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People and Events

FacultyStaffStudents

The GoodThe BadThe Ugly

Departmental Activities

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Faculty

R. Deters

K. Schneider M. Horsch

J. Vassileva

C. Williamson

C. McCroskyC. Gutwin

J. Greer

J-P. Tremblay

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Staff

D. Bocking

C. Bernath

S. Doucette

G. Oster

B. ven der Buhs

B. Millar (Protsko)

G. Koehn

M. Desjardins

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Students (The Good, The Bad)

Brianven der Buhs

JudyEscott

Alpesh Patel

Martin Arlitt

RemiGurski

JudiThomson

Chris Tan

DebbieFowler

NorifTakaya

Jason *

OrlandHoeber

ByronBashforth

LoriKettel

MilanZoranovic

OmarVega

KevinFroese

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Students (The Ugly)

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Departmental Activities and Events

“Warm Your Toes” party (the stuff of legends!)

A dept-wide winter-time social gatheringEntertainment, skits, faculty, staff, grad students“Jeapordy”“3D Dept Web Page”Video: “The Blair Witch Process”Video: “It Came From the Dung Lab!”

The “Tremblay Incident” (April 1, 199?)Copies of video on sale at the door (contact Gina K.)

Significant birthday milestonesBunt, McCalla, Cooke, Greer, Yang...

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Future Outlook

The DisciplineMulti-disciplinary diffusion of computingPervasive, ubiquitous computing, wireless and more

The DepartmentThe next generationContinued growth and expansion (I hope!)Revenue generation

AlumniGovernmentIndustryNon-traditional revenue sources

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1. Blatant Commercialism

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2. John Cooke’s Pension Fund

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Item #74131

3. Innovative Novelty Items on eBay

Item #74139 Item #74127

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The End

Thank You!Thanks for the memories!!

Slides are available from: www.cpsc.ucalgary.ca/~carey/talks/reunion.ppt

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