ASQ Section 614 - Columbia Basin

Serving Central and Southeastern Washington and Northeastern Oregon

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The Cloud, Big Data, Big Brother: What and who can you trust?

Click here to download the pdf flyer.

Toni Austin, Bechtel National, Inc.

February 4 at the Richland Shilo Inn

"The Cloud" is one of those trendy tech terms a lot of people use but can't always define clearly. What is the cloud? When do you encounter it? How can it benefit you or your business? If you use any kind of social media or online data drive, you're already using the cloud; you just may not realize it. And you may not understand how it relates to data gathering and storage or the security issues related to such activities.

With the advent of low cost Internet "appliances," we have seen an explosion in the creation of information content, both on the publicly available Internet as well as within more private Intranets. As a result, our attention is now focused on the content that we create and seek as opposed to the technology that we used to create that content. We see crowd sourcing for funding philanthropic tasks as well as providing a new source of "skilled" labor for business pursuits. The biochemists have turned over protein structure problems to the gamers of the world who have provided solutions to protein folding problems.

As we navigate the brave new world of virtual information, how do our paradigms of usability and quality fit into a rapidly changing environment?

Join us on February 4 to explore some of the rapid trends and the challenges they pose to conventional thought and process. The meeting will pose challenges that we each face daily at home and at work as we rush to adapt and use the latest information technology.

About the presenter

Toni Austin is an adjunct faculty member in the Computer Science Department at WSU's Tri-City campus. She has served in this role since the 1980s. She currently teaches a course titled "The Impact of Computers on Society." Toni is also Manager of IS&T Systems Engineering for Bechtel National, Inc. on the WTP project. Toni's organization is responsible for the Software Quality Program, IT Configuration Management function and the Release Management function.

Logistics

LOCATION:
O'Callahan's/Shilo Inn, 50 Comstock, Richland, Washington
5:30 p.m. - Check in/Networking (no host cocktail service)
6:00 p.m. - Buffet Dinner
6:45 p.m. - Presentation

DINNER BUFFET MENU:
The Chef and crew at O'Callahan's Restaurant always provide a fine and varied buffet dinner for us at the Shilo Inn. The buffet usually includes two entree choices, plus accompanying vegetable, a number of tasty salads, and a vegetable and/or fruit tray.

Your choice of coffee, tea or decaf is included with dinner. And don't forget to save room for dessert!

COSTS:
$20 ASQ members
$24 non members
$5 presentation only

Reservations are requested by January 27. E-mail Alvin with your name, phone number, company affiliation, and type of reservation, or call him at (509) 371-2221.

Note: All no shows will be billed unless cancelled 48 hours in advance.