Dwight Fischer, Plymouth State University

We in the field need to have our feelers out on where our careers are going. We need to continually earn our keep in this environment. This week’s ComputerWorld has a Special Report on the IT Profession: 2010. It’s worth a read. Here are some summary points I pulled from these and other articles.

· The IT worker of the future will be more of a versatilist. They’ll need to know more and more about the business context. They’ll need skills more than just those at the keyboard. They’ll need to be able to develop relationships with business units, develop and communicate ideas, maybe present. They’ll need to be active problem-solvers, individually and in groups. They will need to be perpetual learners. This isn’t a career for wallflowers. We need movers and shakers. ITS students, heed notice. You, my friends, will be leading us in another decade or two.

Here’s another quip:

Line Between Business and IT Blurs.

“The IT department will still exist, but the sharpest tech workers will move effortlessly between IT and business units.

As more CIOs move toward business and IT alignment over the next several years, the makeup and structure of IT will change. IT and business unit employees will work more closely together — and in some cases, interchangeably.

But today’s technology leaders say this trend doesn’t signal an end to the independent IT department, which still plays a critical role in companies by providing the structure, expertise and continuity needed to build and maintain a strong infrastructure.” http://computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&taxonomyName=careers&articleId=112368&taxonomyId=10 ComputerWorld July 17, 2006

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For students who like their wireless in the res halls, the convenience comes with a price.

“extra security required in the dorms leads some students to regret creating their own wireless networks.

“Having wireless is more of a pain then its worth. Living in such close proximity to others I am always having someone try to hack into my network and that slows down my connection,”

From Wireless Internet on the Rise

I wish we had the resources to provide wireless access throughout the residence halls, but given the density of population, it would take quite a bit to handle the load.

So plug in at home with a long wire…or come to the Library, HUB or other sites on campus.

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• More on the future of IT Professionals
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