jcs magazine 2013 nov

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Jamaica Computer Society Magazine: Conference Edition

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Jamaica Computer Society | 754-9640 | www.myjcs.com | [email protected] Page | 2

Message from the President ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3

The Jamaica Computer Society Lifetime Awards & BizTech Conference 2013 ------------------------------------------------------------ 4

JCS BizTech Conference & Showcase 2013 and Lifetime Awards Banquet Schedule ---------------------------------------------------- 5

Conference sponsors -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6

History of JCS Conferences ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 7

JCS Timeline ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8

The Governing Council of the JCS for Administrative Period 2012 - present -------------------------------------------------------------- 9

Fifty Years of Changing the Way We Do Business ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10

Microprocessors, Microcontrollers and Embedded Systems -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12

Recent Achievements (2012 - 2013) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13

The Value of Technical Training [Flashback] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 14

Intellectual Property and Websites: An Organisational Approach ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 18

Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 19

New Membership Categories ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 21

Y2K PANIC! [Flashback] ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 24

Reminiscing on the Y2K Bug -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 25

JCS Lifetime Awardee: Avril Crawford ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 28

JCS Lifetime Awardee: Cedric Harold --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 30

JCS Lifetime Awardee: Edward Alexander -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 31

JCS Lifetime Awardee: Errol Anderson ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 32

JCS Lifetime Awardee: Lorna Green ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 33

JCS Lifetime Awardee: Patrick “Pat” Terrelonge ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 34

JCS Lifetime Awardee: Shereen Jones -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 35

JCS in Photos ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 37

http://www.myjcs.com/


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Message from the President As the Jamaica Computer Society (JCS) reflects on 40 years of activities and involvement in ICT sector, we wish to look towards our goals of maximizing the effectiveness and efficiency of ICT in enterprises and personal development of IT professionals. We realize that having come this far, there is scarce opportunity to pat our self on the back as there is much more to be done. In this season, we want to honour some of the pioneers, veterans and significant contributors, even as we project a dynamic vision for the current administration to continue to react to the fluid needs of the membership and our society.

The JCS continues to support certification as the primary driver of professional development and career advancement for IT professionals. We have aligned with several bodies and institutions (such as CompTIA, Jamaica Association of Community Colleges , Mona School of Business , Northern

Caribbean University, University of Technology and Vector Institute and others) to bring certification within easy reach.

We look to assert our role as an umbrella group for Value-add resellers (VAR’s) and a policy influencing organization; we will continue to forge linkages and strategic alliances to enhance the growth, viability and sustainability of the ICT industry, even with cross-industry collaborations.

The return of our marque BizTech Conference and Showcase in October 2013 is hailed as highly anticipated and timely as the industry seeks to transition from ICT penetration to serious adoption and innovations as a true knowledge society and economy to transform individuals, firms, communities and the society in general.

We intend to stay true to our mandate and call to serve our local ICT community and general public.

Warmest regards,

Dean M Smith President, Jamaica Computer Society (2012- present)


The Jamaica Computer Society Lifetime Awards & BizTech Conference 2013 Glenice Leachman Conference Chair

As Jamaica grapples with its on-going debt burden & uncompetitive industries and markets; Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has a critical role in ensuring a path to its solution. Therefore to compete effectively we need to redouble our production using less resource with ICT being the lynchpin. As the Jamaica Computer Society (JCS) celebrates its 40th Anniversary, part of its thrust is to rejuvenate, augment and appeal the interest of both the business and technology community, hence our theme “Building ICT to Strengthen National Productivity & Competitiveness in a Globalised Economy” for this year’s Lifetime Awards and Biztech Conference. This year the JCS looks back and in retrospect it became prudent to host the 2013 Lifetime Awards & Biztech Conference out of Town; where ten (10) stalwarts who have served in the ICT Industry and the JCS unreservedly, will be honored. The conference will take the form of:

• Tutorials and Workshops o Cloud Essentials, Cloud Advance (certified courses) o Using SharePoint as a B I tool o Computer & Cyber Crime

• Vendor Showcase & Presentations • Other topical presentations such as (Data Analytics and Data Mining) • CIO/CEO Business/ICT Industry Panel discussion • Opening Plenary session • XSOMO’s ‘retro’ Party

Business partners, Industry leaders, colleagues, members, friends; we invite you to take this journey with us; as we make a concerted effort to rebuild the JCS, strengthen the Jamaican ICT industry and re-establish a strong presence in the Marketplace globally.

“Building ICT to Strengthen National Productivity & Competitiveness in a Globalised Economy”



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JCS BizTech Conference & Showcase 2013 and Lifetime Awards Banquet Schedule


Conference sponsors



Page | 7 History of JCS Conferences


JCS Timeline



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The Governing Council of the JCS for Administrative Period 2012 - present

• Dean Smith, President • Silburn Clarke, Immediate Past President • Karleen Brown, VP Membership • Jovan Evans, VP Finance and Operations • Glenice Leachman, VP Events & Marketing • Dr. Corlane Barclay, VP Certification • Natasha Sampson, VP Certification • Garfield Gordon

The Certification Committee is responsible for the establishment of standards and a programme of certification for the IT services industry in Jamaica. Co-chaired by Corlane Barclay and Natasha Sampson

The Membership Committee seeks to increase the quality of the service offerings to our membership and ensure that the objectives of the JCS, as they relate to development and support of membership, are efficiently and cost-effectively discharged. This committee organises the Monthly Members ICT Meetings. Chaired by Karleen Brown, VP Membership

The Events and Marketing Committee has among its activities the planning and staging of all major events of the Society including the Annual BizTech Conference, the specialist ICT TechForum, the BizTech Knowledge Fora, the CompTIA Training Programme and all other major events. The Convener of this Committee is Glenice Leachman, VP Events & Marketing and Silburn Clarke, Immediate Past President.

The Finance and Operations Committee is in charge of all activities which are geared towards managing the day-to-day operations of the Society through its Secretariat as well as being the prudent custodian of the Society's financial assets. Chaired by Jovan Evans, VP Finance and Operations

The Communication Committee is charged with engaging the Jamaican society with a view to building awareness and understanding, through dialogue and demonstrations, of the value of ICT Innovations in transforming future outcomes. Chaired by Dean Smith, President.


Fifty Years of Changing the Way We Do Business Since Jamaica secured its independence in 1962 the tax authority has gone through significant changes and has made milestone achievements in advancing the easier payment of taxes in Jamaica. Tax Administration Jamaica (TAJ), with its consolidated operations and new philosophy, has been on a steady path of continually improving its value added services for our many clients. Through a new customer focused approach with continued engagement of stakeholders, TAJ has been making every effort to ensure that the process of paying taxes is easier, whether from home or aboard. Of particular interest is how the tax administration has been able to strike the balance of making the payment of taxes more convenient with educating taxpayers and improving the compliance mechanism.

The transformation of tax administration over the past 50 years has culminated at this very important juncture with Tax Administration Jamaica changing the way we do business through our reform exercise.

As part of our value added service delivery, individuals and businesses here in Jamaica and those overseas may pay and file several tax types using our Jamaica Tax Portal at www.jamaicatax-online.gov.jm. We have now established a fully functional, professionally staffed customer care centre designed to assist taxpayers from anywhere in the world to interact with the services we offer.

The Tax Administration has also expanded its service footprint through its network of 29 locations island-wide. This has allowed the tax authority to handle the over 300,000 monthly transactions processed in its locations, for the over 200 various taxes, fees and licences. Within this network of our operations, TAJ has established seven (7) Revenue Service Centres, designed to improve the customer experience by providing them with a one stop location for all tax services. A Large Taxpayer Office, catering to the 3% of the island’s largest taxpayers, has also been established as a complement to the collections and education operations.

Tax Administration Jamaica looks forward to the next 50 years of serving Jamaica through improved compliance efforts, while modernizing its people, processes and technological infrastructure.

Going forward Tax Administration Jamaica is cognisant of the fact that greater efficiency and effectiveness in Taxation and Service delivery will only be achieved through the use of new and appropriate technology. It has managed to secure funding via the Fiscal Administration Modernisation Programme (FAMP), a loan from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), to undertake much of the Technology refresh that will be required to realize those desired improvements. Some of the solutions to be acquired and ICT initiatives to be undertaken include:



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1. A new Integrated Tax System

2. An Electronic Content Management System

3. A Customer Relationship Management Solution

4. A Human Capital Management System

5. Computer Hardware and Equipment refresh

6. PBX upgrade and integration across all offices

7. Introduction of E-Filing Centres

8. Mandatory E-Filing

Once implemented all these initiatives should yield the desired levels of efficiency and effectiveness required to administer taxes while providing the best customer experience possible to those having to interact with the organization. This all dovetails into the organization’s strategic focus to improve voluntary compliance and to continually change the way we do business.

Contributed by: Natasha Sampson (Miss) Chief Information Officer Tax Administration Jamaica


Microprocessors, Microcontrollers and Embedded Systems The microprocessor has significantly impacted the world in the last fifty years and continues to impact our lives in ways that were once envisioned in science fiction movies. This beautiful device, considered by many as a “modern wonder of the world”, will have greater impact on our way of life in the coming years. Whenever the word microprocessor is mentioned it generates thoughts of a desktop computer or laptop running an application to fulfil a particular task. While these are popular applications of the microprocessor; it is more widely used in the development of embedded systems, which have impacted our lives more profoundly than the aforementioned devices.

An embedded system is a computer system that is designed to perform a specific function within a larger system and is not designed to be programmed by the end user in the same way that a personal computer is. Embedded systems are ubiquitous and can be found in most devices that we use on a daily basis. For example, embedded systems are used in the design of digital watches and clocks, microwave ovens, washing machines, televisions, cable boxes, wireless remotes, internet switches, electronic gates, mp3 players, RC toy cars, electronics games and mobile phones. A modern motor car may contain over 50 embedded systems; each embedded system implements features such as electronic anti-lock breaking system, engine management system, air conditioning and window control. Interestingly these are just a few applications among the long list. At the heart of an embedded system is a microcontroller or digital signal processor (DSP). The knowledge of microcontroller programming and electronics systems development are key areas for understanding how to design and develop embedded systems.

Microcontrollers are small computers implemented on a single integrated circuit that contains a microprocessor, memories and input/output ports. Some microcontrollers may have peripheral features such as timers, counters and analogue to digital converter inputs. The embedded system is built using a microcontroller and supported electronics to allow interfacing with input and output signals base on the particular application. The intelligence required for the embedded system is programmed into the program memory of the microcontroller. The C programming language is the most popular language used for embedded systems programming. Other popular programming languages are: Assembly, C++, Java and Basic. Throughout the years improvement in the technology used for building integrated circuits have led to the development of microcontrollers that are smaller in size, have more processing power, memory, peripheral features and less power consumptions. Parallel to this improvement, functionalities that were not associated with embedded systems such as internet connectivity are now added to some embedded systems.

The advent of smart phones is one manifestation of the technological advancement made in the development of embedded systems. The capabilities of the iPhone 5, Galaxy S4 and other smart phones are evidence that the technological barrier of embedded system will continue to be pushed. However, one of the greatest technological shift in embedded systems technology is yet to be seen, and is right at our door steps – this is the “Internet of Things” (IoT). The “Internet of Things” is a concept originally coined by MIT, Auto-ID centre and intimately linked to RFID and electronic product code (EPC). In the IoT it is expected that multiple devices in homes (example fridges, microwave ovens and cable boxes), motor vehicles (diagnostic ports) and elsewhere will be connected to the internet. These devices will share data with other devices, manufacturer and users. The data being shared will change our lives in significant ways, for example: driving patterns, such as



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acceleration, breaking patterns and maximum speed could be transferred to your employer or insurance company; your usage pattern of a coffee maker, blender, microwave oven or refrigerator could be transferred to a central home server or directly to manufacturers. According to Cisco Systems futurist, Dave Evans, the IoT will link approximately 50 billion devices to the internet by 2020. An UN report stated "We are heading into a new era of ubiquity, where the users of the Internet will be counted in billions, and where humans may become the minority as generators and receivers of traffic. Changes brought about by the Internet will be dwarfed by those prompted by the networking of everyday objects".

What role do local Jamaicans play in the development of embedded systems? Are we mere users of the technology? In fact, Jamaicans are participating in the development of embedded systems, albeit small in numbers. Falctronics Limited ([email protected]), a small local company specialises in the design and development of embedded system applications that enable monitoring and control of devices in remote locations using the mobile telephony network, local wireless connection or the internet. The number of local companies is expected to increase as the demand for more customised embedded system applications increase. This increase is imminent as a number of our local universities and colleges have embedded system courses as part of their undergraduate curriculums. At the University of the West Indies Embedded Systems is a core course for students studying Electronics and Electronics Engineering in the undergraduate program. In this course students go through the theoretical and practical rigors of embedded systems design. In the laboratory courses students are required to use this knowledge to develop applications such as: autonomous robots, digital clocks, infrared remote controller and other applications requiring an embedded system.

We have seen that the advent of the microprocessor has led to the development of the microcontroller which is the main component in the development of embedded systems. Embedded systems have impacted our lives and will continue to do so for a long time to come. Therefore, it is important that we understand these systems and the impact they will have on our lives so that the necessary adjustments can be made to our network infrastructure, education programmes and laws.

Lindon Falconer PhD Student and Assistant Lecturer Department of Physics University of the West Indies Mona, Jamaica

Recent Achievements (2012 - 2013) • Established Campus Chapter in Manchester (NCU), St. James (MBCC), Portland (CASE) and St.

Andrew (UTech). • Staged two (2) Knowledge Forums aimed at sensitising ICT professional to topical issues as well as

being certified. • Reassess the taxonomy of professionals in Jamaica and establish an ICT Professionals' register.

Revised JCS membership structure to be more inclusive and comprehensive.


• Staging Public lectures that were hosted the campus of the University of the West Indies and the campus of the University of Technology. The lecturers were Adam Cheyer and Ramon Bosch respectively. Continuing the focus of the JCS on member Certification.

• Continued members meeting. Now held at Four Seasons every last Thursday at the end of each quarter. Participation by 30-50 attendees

• Actively reconnecting with membership with emphasis on student membership. Target of 200 students set for 2013

• Continued publication of the JCS magazine "Bits&Bytes" in its new form as an e-zine. 40th Anniversary Service held at Fellowship Tabernacle, Pembrook Hall

• Repainting and revamping JCS building and grounds for Labour Day project. The project and accompanying Kalooki Rally was featured on Smile Jamaica on Labour Day 2013. Re-engaging with the MSTEM and JAMPRO (JCSI specially).

• An ICT Jamaica professionals' profile survey is eminent and will be follow by a certification profile and needs survey

• The 40th Anniversary Lifetime Achievement Awards banquet is schedule for Oct 26, 2013. Tickets are being circulated and nominations are still open.

• The revival of the marquee JCS event/conference: BizTech Forum and Showcase will be held Oct 24-27, 2013 under the theme: "Building ICT enhance productivity and competitiveness in a globalised economy" A college based coding and design competition "ICT College Bowl" to be held in Sept 2013. Revamping and rebuilding/modernising the JCS website as well as fully engaging social media Revived the special interest groups (SIGs) forums. A CIO Forum was held on May 24, 2013. The topic was: "The merits and hazards of locally developed and supported software."

• Revived the special interest groups (SIGs) forums. A CIO Forum was held on May 24, 2013. The topic was: "The merits and hazards of locally developed and supported software." Educators' SIG (Trainer's Forum) was held on August 2, 2013

• Signed MOU with Jamaica Information Technology Service Alliance

The Value of Technical Training [Flashback] by Lloyd Eubank-Green The Financial Gleaner, May 5, 1995

ALTHOUGH Jamaica has produced some of the world's best brains, the country is still short of such talent, which it has to import. The cream of Jamaican managers, scientists, technologists, technicians and engineers, are making their valuable contributions in other societies. Dr. Arnoldo Ventura said some time ago: "This is because of inadequate rewards and a tendency to undervalue technical skill training as being less worthy than elitist academic training." So, we need to invest more in technical and scientific education, because that is what is needed, if we are to survive in the twenty-first century.

In this article, we will look briefly at the following models: India, Vietnam, and Singapore.



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India India became a software development laboratory for western computer firms, by emphasising engineering and computer science, in its universities. In fact, when India gained its independence, the first Prime Minister, Nehru, declared that science and technology were to be fundamental building blocks of the nation, and he demonstrated his conviction, by establishing twenty research institutes across the nation. They reported directly to him as Prime Minister - not to a Cabinet Minister, but directly to him. Today, the nation has belatedly awakened to what Nehru knew forty-seven years ago in India - the need to encourage young people to pursue science.

The situation did not happen overnight. Back in the early 1980s, Burroughs Corporation had signed a sales agreement with Indian conglomerate TATA for hardware, and ran into difficulty because of an Indian law, prohibiting direct payment to American companies. The two firms agreed on a barter: TATA would provide Burroughs with Indian consultants who travelled to America, broadened their experience and returned to pass on their knowledge to other Indians.

Vietnam A Vietnamese consultant said recently: “France, nor the U.S., cannot make all the management information systems for Vietnam. There are many nuances that only local people understand. If we invited foreign experts, it will cost ten times more because we must pay them according to international standards."

So they took a decision to computerise the nation. In 1989, Vietnam had only a few hundred functioning computers. By 1993, they had over 50,000, from desktop to mainframe. The plan was to train the nation, with a view to spending US$1 billion to develop the industry. All this money they expected to get from foreign investors.

Singapore There are 2.5 million people there and even drinking water has to be imported. There is mania about relying on their wits to make up for their lack of resources. The long-term goal, is to make Singapore the focal point for the delivery of computer services throughout Asia.

The government made a decision that they wanted to create a computer culture that captures the imagination of the whole country. Numerous tax incentives were granted, from full depreciation of all computer hardware in one year, to tax holidays for software development businesses. Today, home-banking is probably more popular in Singapore, than it is in the U.S.


Finally, all 140 secondary schools in Singapore have computer laboratories, each with a minimum of three computers. The project to set up computer labs in our secondary schools must be congratulated, especially the efforts of Mrs. Gloria Knight, Delroy Lindsay, Mr. Everald Gowie and the Jamaica Computer Society.



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Intellectual Property and Websites: An Organisational Approach The internet has provided companies with unlimited opportunities to market their organisations and increase their corporate presence through websites. While this has proven to be an effective tool in digital marketing, corporate entities need to be conscious of how they go about developing and publishing their websites. It is important in any website project that due diligence must be done on the part of the company to mitigate against possible intellectual property infringements. Intellectual Property (IP) rights cannot be seen as only a safeguard or defense mechanism but should be also seen as a necessary legal and business strategy for rightsholders. In any website development project, the owner should decide whether the project will be done internally or externally. Regardless of the route taken, the decision must be guided by the organisation’s IP policy. If the organization does not have an IP policy, steps should be taken to develop and implement one in order to protect the organization from possible lawsuits and to secure its IP assets from possible infringements.

If the website project is to be undertaken by persons employed to the organization, proper procedures should be followed to ensure that the company has exclusive rights to the website, both in the content and the programme codes. This is easily accomplished if the employee signs an IP policy document which gives the organization exclusive rights to the output of the employee by default.

Where the company outsources the website development contract, they need to ensure that an agreement is in place which transfers all IP rights to the company. Otherwise, the company may find itself in a position where it only holds limited rights to the website after bearing all the cost for its development. In practice, companies should ensure that a valid and well written agreement that transfers all IP rights to the company is in place. Those IP rights may exist in the text, colors, setup, programme codes, images, video, logos and even the domain name. Without such an agreement, companies may find themselves owning nothing more than a non-exclusive license to their own website which limits the owner’s right to update or make modifications to the existing content or codes.

Another important consideration in the decision to developing a website is the internet address or domain name, e.g. ‘www.google.com’. This will often be the first point of reference to the company. While a domain name may be available and registerable, at times it might not be prudent legally to proceed because such registration may infringe on someone’s trademark rights or personality rights. In such a case, contacting your local IP office before you proceed should prove beneficial in guiding your course of action. In the Jamaican jurisdiction, the Jamaica Intellectual Property Office (JIPO) performs this role. Another word of advice to companies who intend to ward off their competitors or prevent possible website cloning, is to register or own all alternative top level domain names that a competitor or someone may likely use to lure unsuspecting users from your website. Examples of these registrations are as follows: www.website.com, www.website.org, www.website.net, etc.

Assessing their IP risk and exposure should be of paramount importance for companies seeking to participate in digital marketing through websites. This can be done by assembling a website development committee to oversee the project. Companies must always remember that copyright is not “one thing” but a bundle of rights that may be dispersed among various individuals or companies having



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direct or indirect involvement in the final website. The onus is therefore on the company to ensure that they have taken all the necessary steps to avoid possible IP infringement while safeguarding their exclusive rights to whatever they develop and publish.

Author: Troy R. Folkes M.A Candidate – Cultural Studies Institute of Caribbean Studies University of the West Indies, Mona Campus

Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) Dean Smith (JCS President) and Henry Osborne(NCU)

Bring your own device (BYOD), is the practice of many employers to allow employees to use a personal device to execute functions related to their job with that employer. The device may be a smart phone, tablet, notebook or laptop. There are benefits to both the employer as well as the employee. The employee is afforded the privilege to use their personally preferred device, being flexible in integrating work and personal lives, higher job satisfaction, and improvements in efficiency and productivity. An iPass survey of 1,100 mobile1 workers showed that “employees who use mobile devices for both work and personal issues put in 240 more hours per year than those who do not.” That kind of productivity, and the increasing refusal of users to take 'no' for an answer, are two reasons Gartner predicts that by 2014, 90 percent of organizations will support corporate applications on devices owned by workers.

Employers do not have to be concerned with the cost of providing a device to each employee and will enjoy a reduction in ongoing end-user device management, troubleshooting and support. IT teams in organizations that embrace BYOD will be able to focus more on strategic initiatives rather than spending time dealing with helpdesk tickets. The employee’s chosen device just needs to be capable of executing the functions (communication connections, applications and security) required to carry out his/her duties.

1 5 Things You Need to Know about BYO Tech, http://www.cio.com/article/647100/5_Things_You_Need_to_Know_about_BYO_Tech?page=2&taxonomyId=3112

http://www.cio.com/article/647100/5_Things_You_Need_to_Know_about_BYO_Tech?page=2&taxonomyId=3112


Chief among the challenges with BYOD is the issue of securing the employer’s data on the device. The use of non-disclosure agreements and non-compliance liability could settle those. The challenge to determine what to do in the event a device is stolen and is usually dependent on the disposition of the employer. Other challenges 2include:

• Customizing enterprise applications for use on mobile devices. • Inconsistent user interfaces make navigating one tool to another a disjointed experience. • Vendor-centric apps offer limited or no customization.

Not all apps can be used on all mobile platforms.

Whatever your thoughts are on BYOD and however you choose to implement it, IT managers should treat it the same way as any introduction of new technology: with a controlled and predictable deployment. This includes setting specific policies for engaging BYOD in an enterprise is an initial step. A similar situation exists with employers that allow employees to use their personal car for company business. The extent to which costs are covered, reimbursements or allowances are applied, and what rates will apply, has to be agreed prior to use in BYOD.

2 Overcoming 7 Enterprise Mobility Challenges in Today's BYOD World, http://technorati.com/technology/embedded/article/overcoming-7-enterprise-mobility-challenges-in/


http://technorati.com/technology/embedded/article/overcoming-7-enterprise-mobility-challenges-in/


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New Membership Categories The Certification, Education, Standard and Accreditation committee of the Jamaica Computer Society (JCS-CESA) is the internal body of the JCS, tasked with setting and maintaining professional standards and development requirements that will enhance the image of ICT professionals and allow appropriate recognition to these professionals. The current members of this committee are: Natasha Sampson (co-chair), Dr Corlane Barclay (co-chair) and Dean Smith. These new categories and the accompanying descriptions and qualifying criteria are: 1. Student (Fee: $600)

a. Potential Resident (P.R.):- A student pursuing studies in the field of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) that will lead to the requisite qualification for Resident Membership or what is now called Full Membership

b. Potential Affiliate (P.A.):- A student pursuing studies outside the ICT field and as such will not be eligible for Resident Membership on completion of said studies

2. Affiliate (Fee: $5,000)


Person qualified with a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in non-computer related discipline nor currently working in the field of computing or ICT industry but having interest in such; or a person not so qualified but having at least 6 years of experience working in any field outside of computing and ICT industry but with interest in such.

3. Professional (Fee: $6,000) a. Intern: Person working in ICT without a undergraduate degree or certification b. Non-resident: Persons working in the field of computing and ICT industry for up to 6 years being

certified by at least one of JCS accepted certifying bodies. c. Resident: Person qualified with a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in computer related discipline and

who is currently working in the field of computing or ICT industry or a person not so qualified but having at least 6 years of experience working in the field of computing and ICT industry and certified by one of the JCS accepted certifying bodies.

d. Academic: Person who is employed fulltime by a college or university and is involved in teaching or research in computing & ICT fields.

e. Past professional: Person who is no longer actively working in industry or at a college or university but who still have interest in the JCS and the ICT sector.

4. Corporate affiliate (Fee: $25,000, Academic: $15,000) Any registered company operating in Jamaica.

5. Fellow (Fee: NA) The membership category is attained by award only. (See website for more details)

6. Distinguished Fellow (Fee: NA) The membership category is attained by award only, for members with continued membership of 10 years or more. (See website for more details)

7. Honorary (Fee: NA) This membership category is reserved for non ICT professional or ICT professional who may or may not be necessarily domicile in Jamaica but who have made significant contribution to the ICT industry or the JCS. (See website for more details)



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Y2K PANIC! [Flashback] December 30, 1999 Jamaicans went into panic mode yesterday as tears heightened of major dislocation, two days ahead of the start of the year 2000. People crowded banks to check their accounts and supermarkets and stores to stock up on food and other emergency supplies even as the government warned against panic buying and Prime Minister P J Patterson assured the country that key public lector entities were prepared for any glitches caused by the so-called Millenium Bug.

A number of Corporate Area banks told the Observer they had experienced large crowds from early in day, with persons requesting account statements and passbook updates. "Quite a few people are coming in for statements, actually hundreds of people are asking for statements," said Andral Shirley, the manager of the King Street branch of National Commercial Bank (NCB).

While the bulk of the request was for statements — an attempt by people to know how much they have in the hank in the event that the worse should happen — one teller at the NCB branch in Half-Way-Tree said that some customers had emptied their accounts during the day.

At an automated banking machine in New Kingston one customer observed using three ABM cards, said she had withdrawn all her money, but would put it in back in January. "I'm going to the bank to take out everything because of the Y2K thing" said another young woman as she prepared to use an ABM machine at a bank branch.

But even in the face of such panic, it was clear that the bulk of the people were making withdrawals at the automated tellers in an effort to check their balances without having to join the long lines in bank halls.

"I drew out some money to check how much is left back and I kept the receipt so that if something goes wrong I can show them the receipt." said Ridell Harris, who used the ABM at the Bank of Nova Scotia branch in Half-Way-Tree

At the same time, stores across the Corporate Area and sections of Manchester reported hectic sales and strong demand for flashlights and other non-electric lighting equipment. "What we find happening is people getting things like kerosene lamps, batteries, anything not electric, and water containers," said Fiona Riley at the True Value Hardware & Lumber I store in Manor Park. Thelma Azan of Azan's Supercentre in Cross Roads said they, too, had experienced additional sales of lamps, lanterns and flashlights. "We have been pretty busy with the sale of these items," Azan said. The store has reportedly sold I several thousand flashlights in recent days. At Marzouca's Lighting in New Kingston one salesperson said: "We don't sell batteries or flashlights, (but) we've been getting calls from people asking if we sell flashlights." Both Azan and Riley said the trend had been observed from Wednesday.



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In the towns of Mandeville, Christiana, Spaldings and Porus, all in the parish of Manchester, shops and supermarkets were besieged by residents buying kerosene oil, lamps, candles, batteries and groceries. Householders were also buying containers to stock up on drinking and domestic water.

Several business places, including a pharmacy in Mandeville, reported that hundreds of lanterns and lamps which over the years had become decoration, were sold out in three hours.

Some people said they were buying not out of panic but out of caution. "I don't want to be off-guard in case there is a problem", said one Mandeville man.

However, while many shops reported brisker than usual business, a number of larger supermarkets did not equate their activity to panic. "I've not seen any panic buying," said a spokesperson at the Sovereign supermarket in the Liguanca area of Kingston. "People are not running to buy any tin beef or anything like that." Officials at Lenn Happ supermarket on Constant Spring Road and Hi-Lo supermarket in Cross Roads also said business was normal.

But clearly, elsewhere the activity was such that the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), advised against storing fuel, warning that it was unnecessary and could, in some cases, be dangerous. The agency also advised that people need not purchase emergency stocks beyond what they would carry at any time during the year.

But even in the midst of yesterday's seeming panic, many people insisted that little would go wrong from the Y2K bug, preventing computers from reading the year 2000 in its date, causing systems to falter and crash. The upshot would be major disruptions in computer-dependent environments which did not prepare for the problem and upgrade their systems.

"Only those that did not take it seriously will have a problem and that is a small amount. Most organisations have been responsible and tried to correct the problem," said John Paul, in the Clock Tower Plaza. Added Basil Clarke: "I don't expect anything drastic to go wrong. There might be a few glitches but I don't think that it is going to affect any essential services. Most people have been aware of it long enough to take corrective action." Another Kingston man, George Anderson, insisted that everything is going to be just normal.

Reminiscing on the Y2K Bug Derrick Logan Past President (1999-2000) The Jamaica Computer Society

I recently came across an article from The Gleaner of January 6, 1999, where the then president of the JCS spoke about the impending crisis that would result from the year 2000 computer problem (Y2K bug): "according to JCS president Derrick Logan … the country state of readiness has international implications … 'the bottom line for


failure to comply in a timely manner is that airplanes will simply not be allowed to fly into Jamaican airspace' ... ".

Given that year 2000 passed without so much as a whimper, we might in hindsight think that the hype surrounding Y2K was much ado about not very much. We could be forgiven if we concluded that the Y2K bug or Millennium bug was some kind of hoax perpetuated by computer professionals looking to create excitement or even worse to create jobs for the ”boys”. Some will recall the urgency that this issue attracted. There was constant talk about the possibility that machinery and platforms manufactured leading up to then end of the century may not operate as required or intended.

Certainly I was guided by experiences over my many years in the IT industry. My first encounter with the Y2K issue went back some 19 years to 1980 when as a young freshly minted programmer, I was doing my first project on a team developing an Agents’ Commission system. We recognized the short coming of storing only a two digit year - the programme would simply not work come the turn of the century as year “2000” would be indistinguishable from year “1900” since the century was assumed to be the twentieth (1900-1999) . Since this was to be an interim system, we rationalized that the shortcut of only storing two digits for the year was okay, besides we figured that we were not likely to be around at a time that looked so far into the future. We were wrong on both counts - the system lasted well into the nineties and was only changed mainly because of the limitation of the two digit year.

Storing a two digit year was the common practice at that time mainly because in designing systems one had to be aware of the resource constraints of computer systems back then. A system serving hundred of thousands of policyholders, for example, had only 128K of main memory (compared to the gigabytes that even commonplace tablets boast nowadays). Each eight digit date compresses to 5 bytes while a six digit date compresses to 4. The one byte saved by storing only a two digit year for each date used was significant in terms of making sure that the most efficient system was designed.

On a global scale, significant resources were required to ensure that all program source code was examined to confirm that all date references were properly handled while hardware and firmware needed to be tested under specific date change conditions. The challenge was compounded by the fact that the deadline was as inflexible as they come.

In Jamaica, the JCS took the lead in ensuring that awareness of the issue was pervasive and that solutions were applied. The JCS fully explored the scope of the challenge and highlighted the extent to which equipment that may be affect was in use in critical functional areas of government, businesses and the society at large. As early has September 1998, the society launched a public education campaign that was to feature newspaper articles in the months leading up to year 2000 and an entire track of the annual conference in 1998 dedicated to the Y2K problem.

The quote at the beginning of this article might have sounded alarmist but critical segments such as our air traffic system had to prove to the international community that they were Y2K compliant. The society can be proud of its efforts to prepare a nation for an event that could have had disastrous consequences if not dealt with appropriately.



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This pictorial follow some significant contributions of the JCS in ensuring that Jamaica did well in navigating the choppy waters of the Y2K bug.


JCS Lifetime Awardee: Avril Crawford Avril has had a long and distinguished career in IT and Education in Jamaica as well as the UK spanning organisations such as:- CAST (now UTECH), UWI, National Sugar Company, USAID, National Housing Trust, Fiscal Services (EDP) Ltd, Applied Cutting Edge Technologies International (ACE Ltd), Instruction Technology Institute and the Jamaica Computer Society Education Foundation.

Avril has the admirable trait of being active in volunteerism with organisations like the Jamaica Netball Association (JNA), the St. Margaret's Technology Outreach Programme and the JCS; of which she has had continuous paid up membership since 1978. She has the distinction of being the first and only female JCS President and one of a select few who had multiple stints in the role (1983-1985 and 1995-1996).

She is currently the CEO/Project Manager for E-learning Jamaica Ltd where she continues to contribute in changing the face of education with the use of Information Technology in teaching/learning modes. She is also a member and chair of several other boards.



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JCS Lifetime Awardee: Cedric Harold A Vincentian born native who has made Jamaica his home, Cedric entered the IT sector in 1967 in the then newly formed Data Processing Section of the Bursar’s office of the University of the West Indies. He spent a total of 30 years in that department. He left there to join the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science as a lecturer in Computing, where for the next 8 years, he taught a number of courses.

Cedric became a member of the JCS from as far back as 1975. He served as a member of the JCS Council on several occasions under different presidents. He was elected treasurer in 1998. Many of the JCS Secretariat accounting procedures now in place was piloted by Cedric. He stood as President from 1999 to 2000. The property that the JCS now occupies was purchased under the financing purview of Cedric.

He still keeps current with technical developments in the industry as well as events and happenings in the JCS.



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JCS Lifetime Awardee: Edward Alexander Edward (Teddy) Alexander, a true visionary, brings a passion for information technology (IT) to the role of Chief Executive Officer of tTech Limited, the first company in Jamaica to provide managed IT services as its core offering.

In the use of information technology, he founded tTech in 2006 after 18 years of service to Grace Kennedy Limited where he served as Chief Information Officer and President of Grace Kennedy (USA) Inc. Mr. Alexander’s tenure at Grace Kennedy began as an Account Manager with Grace-Unisys (Jamaica) Limited in 1988 where he rose through several management positions until he was given responsibility for Information Technology in 1993. His wide experience in the area of IT was also shaped by his earlier role as a Management Consultant at KPMG Peat Marwick & Partners, where he served after stints at the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica and the Ministry of Mining & Energy.

Holding a Master’s of Science degree from the University of Pennsylvania and a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Windsor, Mr. Alexander has also pursued professional courses at the Harvard Business School and the University of Florida. He is a former President of the Jamaica Computer Society. Teddy Alexander’s vision is to help educate companies on how the effective use of IT will help to increase their companies’ overall efficiency and gain a competitive advantage in this rapidly changing global environment.

All of this was reflected in his JCS Presidency (1996-1998) as one characterised by an abundance of ideas. Teddy continues to be a stalwart of the JCS.


JCS Lifetime Awardee: Errol Anderson With a distinguished career in IT culminating in being the General Manager (operations) at Xsomo (formerly Moore Business Forms) but having come through the ranks with organisations like Telephone Company of Jamaica (now LIME).

Errol or as he sometime refers to himself, ”St Elmo” has been a stalwart supporter of the JCS and the Events (conference) committee in particular having been the Conference chair on several occasions and having given invaluable support on many more. He was also JCS President (2006 to 2008).

St Elmo embodies team spirit and camaraderie that was the fuel which drove the JCS at a crucial time.



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JCS Lifetime Awardee: Lorna Green “Ambitious”, “confident” and “forthright” are some adjectives that persons have said readily come to mind when they think of the persona of Lorna Green.

This IT “dynamo” ended her corporate career as a Vice-President at Cable and Wireless (now LIME) in 1994 and became the first female founder and owner of a Jamaican IT company, Digital Transtec Limited, which currently develops software for the Aviation Regulation and Gaming industries. She is also Director and part-owner of GSW Animation, one of the Caribbean’s leading animation production companies.

Lorna is the recipient of the Alexander Graham Bell 14th Presidential Citation from Illinois Bell Telephone Co. She is a founding member of the 51% Coalition; Convener and Founding President of Women Business Owners Limited; Chairperson of the Central Information Technology Office and the Consumer Affairs Commission (CAC), in addition to being a member of several other Boards.

Lorna exemplifies commitment to various causes through volunteerism, even as she continues to support the Jamaica Computer Society and make her mark in the local ICT industry.


JCS Lifetime Awardee: Patrick “Pat” Terrelonge A founding director of the JCS and the only three-year term president (1976 to 1979), he is the consummate businessman who had the vision that future enterprise would be driven by ICT.

Pat co-founded and was a senior Partner at data processing service provider; Webb Terrelonge & Gibb (WTG) that later became the IT backbone of Life of Jamaica (now Sagicor). He later founded Infochannel (a dial-up internet service provider that was the first ISP in the Caribbean); surely having seen the way to the future was taking the world along the information highway.

His association with IT started as a systems programmer/analyst in Canada then locally at the Alumina Partners Jamaica then at IBM. He continues even now to support several other ICT ventures and personalities. It is his passion.



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JCS Lifetime Awardee: Shereen Jones At an early age, Shereen was presented with an HP Programmable Scientific calculator by her father. Essentially, he told her to “go to town” on it. The rest is history! She did just that, creating programmes for all manner of basic applications and began a lifelong association with the field of Information Technology.

Today, as Assistant General Manager of IT and Operations at Jamaica National Building Society, she gets to do what her father encouraged her to do as a child, but on a much more serious level.

She explored the ever-morphing world of IT Process and Systems management and was involved in data warehousing, software development and other services offered by Management Control Systems within business units which she previously commanded.

Perhaps iconic among these services is the award-winning payroll software BizPayCentral: A timely and well needed solution for businesses within the Industry. This product was recognised by Microsoft in 2003 as the best original Small Business Solution within the Caribbean and Latin America region.

Despite Joining MC Systems in 2006, under her watch, MC Systems has racked up six Microsoft Technology Competencies, and has become a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner.

These achievements are among several valuable contributions Shereen has made to the IT Industry, and makes her a subject of one of our Awards this evening.


JCS Lifetime Awardee:

JCS Lifetime Awardee:



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JCS in Photos

Conference Launch


Labour Day Project and Kalooki Tournament



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Knowledge Forums


Monthly Members Meeting (MMM)



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Public Lecture 1

jcs magazine 2013 nov

Documents

jcs lifetime awardee

jcs timeline

history of jcs conferences

conference edition page

conference sponsors

y2k bug

y2k panic

administrative period