Newspapers / Daily Tar Heel (Chapel … / Sept. 28, 1988, edition 1 / Page 20
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CompuFest '88Wednesday, September 28, 1 988 Center provides computer services for Umiiveirsit By NANCY WYKLE Staff Writer In this age of computers, it is easy to get lost in all the information and technicalities one encounters. The UNC Microcomputing Support Cen ter provides the most comprehensive computer services available on campus. Anne Parker, director of the center said the center offers help and information to students, faculty and staff in the areas of user support, training and outreach, research and development, and instructional computing. "We want to help people make informed decisions about (computer) usage," Parker said. The program is designed to help, educate and make computer usage a productive experience. Computer usage has increased dramatically on campus since the center began operations in 1985, Parker said. In the UNC microcom puter labs, attendance has increased from 33,000 in 1985-86 to 130,000 in 1987-88. Sherry Graham, director of user Microcomputer Lab Usage by Semester Excluding residence halls and IRSS 70,000 60,000 50,000 40,000 30,000 20,000 10,000 0 60,000 8 x increase in usage fr " 51,600 " 46,500 r j y 36,100 21,000 7 150 4 x increase in computers r " i s ', " ' TT j i Cf. rrv'J . L... I iirtm i t'rn ' ;; -rfl , r ;.,. i , L;..V,-I , Fall 1985 Spring 1986 Fall 1986 Spring 1987 Fall 1987 Spring 1988 40 Computers 100 Computer! 115 Computers 135 Computers 150 Computers 155 Computers Compoteir system provides students with BN Formation By WILL SPEARS Staff Writer The INFO computer system gives UNC students and faculty members access to information about every thing from campus sporting events and public lectures to phone numbers and club activities. With three loca tions Davis Library, the Under graduate Library and the Student Union sponsors say INFO is fairly simple to use and is constantly improving itself. INFO, sponsored by UNC's aca demic computing services depart ment, is a traditional computer keyboard and monitor, and direc tions are listed on the computer terminals. A Dec Vax computer located in the basement of Phillips Hall is programmed with information for INFO. INFO is the result of a collabo ration of ideas between Stephanie Ahlschwede, Student Congress Stu dent Affairs Committee chairwoman, and Associate Provost John Harrison. "I went home the summer after my freshman year and realized that I needed a better method of storing information," Ahlschwede said. I had to have an infinite number of papers just to know what was going on around the campus. I wanted to find some way to combine all the necessary materials. Ahlschwede took her idea to Harrison, who had already planned to start a computer system of depart mental information to be used by UNC faculty and staff. Ahlschwede proposed that the system be expanded to include information to be used by students. "The idea occurred to me out of my own inability to keep up with the thousands of papers across my desk," Harrison said. I thought that, rather than use filing cabinets, it would be nice to have a place for people to find "We' re making new information available daily' Associate Provost John Harrison T information about sporting events, entertainment, club meetings and such." However, with the addition of different kinds of information came an addition to the cost. Academic Computing Services funded the project. INFO is working very well, but still needs improvements, said Judith Hallman, ACS manager of informa tion services. "It's going well, she said, "but I wish it were going faster. I think that the calendar section is probably the most helpful. We would like to get more service information on it. The news section is weak. Eventually, we want to put press releases in there. Also, the keyboard is sometimes difficult to use." Harrison agrees there are still some improvements to be made. "The system is improving as we go," he said. "We're making new information available daily. As students look at it more often it will become easier." Other improvements to be made in the system include an increase in the number of terminals, said Ahl schwede. She is currently contacting campus groups to see what they would like to put in INFO about their organizations. A similar computer system at N.C. State University was the model for INFO. UNC students now have direct access to the NCSU system through INFO. "This is really handy," said Hallman. "If you have a date and aren't interested in what's going on at UNC, you can just go to INFO and check out the events at NCSU that night." - University Registrar David Lanier said he has printed his academic calender in INFO. Lanier also said he uses the system to aid in the distribution of information. "INFO is not a replacement of distributing printed information, it is merely a supplement. So often when informa tion is handed out, it winds up on the floor." Associate Athletic Director Richard Baddour agrees that INFO will not replace the manual distribu tion of information. "The system is a complement, not a replacement," he said. "It is an additional resource. We would not consider it an alter native to passing out information." INFO is as beneficial to the faculty as it is to the students, Lanier said. The system ensures that the faculty has access to information they may otherwise miss. Future plans for INFO include adding bus and transportation sched ules, phone listings and course schedules, Ahlschwede said. "INFO would be very helpful for those who are unaware. It could be a valuable resource for them," said Gene Davis, Student Congress Rules and Judiciary Committee chairman. "Previously, if you wanted to become involved and express your ideas, you had to ask around to find anything out. Now you have this computer system with lists and descriptions of groups. Groups should really take advantage of this, because it's bas ically free advertising. With INFO, the student can easily find activities to interest him." support for the center, said the user support program tries to expand every year either by adding new labs in residence halls or enhancing the equipment already available. Since the program began, it has been successful every year in its expansion. The user service, located in the Undergraduate Library, is available to help with problems one may encounter while using a computer, Parker said. User service deals with problems ranging from troubleshoot ing to selecting the computer best suited to an individual's needs, Parker said. Because the center uses only, Apple Macintosh and computers from the IBM family and compatibles, the user service staff may not be able to answer a question about a different type of computer or the question may take longer to answer, Parker said. - But if no one is able to help, user - service will find another contact through its resource and referral information, Parker added. The user service also has software available for copying and for people who would like to try various kinds before making a purchase, Parker said. The center also offers microcom puter labs with about 250 compu in different areas of campus inclw the libraries, Venable, Greea1 Gardner and some of the resid halls. Parker said about 60,000 will occur in these labs. The labs are free to use software is available for those dont bring their own, Parker,sai Lab assistants are stationed a' different centers around campus, the exception of the residence I to help people who are not familiar with computers or to with any problems that may while a student is typing a term p or utilizing a computer for classv she said. The support center also pro free training classes that can t people how to write a term p do statistics or run data bases said. . Faculty members also benefit the Microcomputer Support Q Parker said. Instructional course available for faculty members wish to learn how to intej computers into classes or soft work into labs. Another branch of the Micro puter Support Center is the rea and evaluation group, Parker Dont miss our nsarby psrmansnt exhibit I he best available high-tech computer systems, softwai service and support you can find anywhere are alrea in your backyard all year long. And we'll be here long aft this party's over to make sure your important projects n smoothly. You can depend on Data Way for state-of-t art technology solutions. And we're here to provi systems that work for your needs, systems to fit eve specification, from economical single users to the m performance-demanding professional application. C Data Way, where advanced technology isn't just weekend fling, it's a daily relationship. Authorized dealer for PC compatible computers and ' laptops, including Advanced Logic Research ALR 386725, ALR 386720 and ALR 28620 series, Hyundai, NEC, Toshiba, Epson, Panasonic, AST and Mitsubishi. Novell DCAIO-Net and 3-Com Network systems. Turnkey document imaging and retrieval systems. Printers, plotters, ink jet and laser printers including Hewlett-Packard, Panasonic, NEC, Genicom, OTC, Alps, Olridata, Citizen, Epson, Brother and more. Authorized Aldus Pagemaker and Xerox Ventura desktop publishing systems and training. Computer overhead projection presentation systems. Hitachi CD-ROM drives and CD-ROM software. e WORM ssbsysttsas for optical mass storssc Modems, scanners and fax systems. Authorized software dealer for scientific and technical software, word processing, foreign language, data base, CAD, accounting, spreadsheets, graphics and more. Full line of computer accessories. Mass storage and memory upgrades for all systems lada&iBg DEC Vax, Apple and PCs. On-site service and installation. . Systems analysis and consulting. See our computers at the Lotus software exhibit, and then visit permanent exhibit located just near campus for a real show. Data Way, inc. historic Carr Mill Mall, just off Franklin Strttt, Chapl HillCarrtooro S37-74S9 Today, tomorrow end throughout tha yesr. We're et hanc
Daily Tar Heel (Chapel Hill, N.C.)
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Sept. 28, 1988, edition 1
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