To live and experience the fascination of computer science

In the course of the ceremonies commemorating the 175th anniversary of Chemnitz University of Technology, on October 28 the Department of Computer Science celebrated the "Day of Computer Science 2011"

"Computer Science - that is the fascination of tapping into the world of symbolized knowledge and make is subservient to oneself." With these words, Prof. Dr. Wolfram Hardt, dean of the Department of Computer Science of Chemnitz University of Technology, welcomed industrial partners, colleagues and students to the 5th "Day of Computer Science". In his welcome address, Hardt described computer science as scientific discipline that aims the "processing of information in form of encoded knowledge for achieving new results" while simultaneously emphasizing the need of qualified IT experts on the job market. The Department of Computer Science regards itself as an important contact point for research in the field of information technology and interface between science and industry. This is reflected for instance in an annual lecture series organized by the "IT-Bündnis für Fachkräfte", an alliance of enterprises in Chemnitz and its surroundings with the common goal of training young people such as pupils and students to become future IT experts.

A specific highlight of this event was the presentation of the new leaflet about the department, which gives its readers a wide-ranging insight into the different fields and activities of the Department of Computer Science such as the course offering, the research areas and the international cooperations and projects. Last but not least, Prof. Hardt thanked his colleagues and co-workers at the department for their significant contribution and commitment in order to popularize and establish the work of the department far beyond the borders of the region of Chemnitz.

On the way to custom-made IT

In subject-specific lectures, the topic of "cloud computing" was discussed. IBM midmarket solution manager Andreas Liefeith talked about "cloud computing as a good solution for the middle class business". The question posed by his speech was which challenges have to be faced by software developers due to the new IT infrastructures and which benefit end-users would have by a changeover. "One of the big advantages of cloud computing lies surely within the flexibility and it`s cost structure", says Liefeith. For instance, through the saving of particular server rooms, high operating and managment costs are saved as well. At the same time, work processes can be organized more efficiently, especially in cross-company collaboration as practised in the automobile industry.

Dr. Marcel Kunze from the "Karlsruher Institut für Technologie" presented a completion of the subject by his lecture about "web-based dynamic services as pioneers of the industrialisation of the IT". In his speech, he stressed in particular on the global and economic advantages of the custom-made IT solutions: "Customers can provide themselves with services according to their individual needs", Kunze explained. "Their requests are immediately implemented. In addition, I have access to my system from each part of the world." The speakers agreed that the topic of cloud computing would mean a sort of paradigm shift that will expectedly preoccupy us during the next 10-15 years.

Meetings in modern times

With the title "Present-day learning methods and technologies", Steffen Zietz of Cisco Systems introduced some communication possibilities that are opened up by a new generation of mobile technologies. In times of the "post-PC era", solutions like the "interactive auditorium" or "virtual teams and meetings" appear more and more on the agenda of educational establishments and companies. The audience could then and there get an impression of such a "telepresence", when employee Tim Janitschke was connected to the auditorium via video conference from his workplace in Berlin and reported about the latest product developments at Cisco Systems.

Following the lectures, a common get together in the "Creative Center" offered its guests the opportunity of exchanging some impressions and opinions about the contents just listened to and be furthermore inspired by the "fascination" of computer science.

Interested parties can have a look at the department booklet at http://www.tu-chemnitz.de/informatik under "Fakultätsbroschüre" or request their individual copy for free at: dekanat@cs.tu-chemnitz.de.

(Author: Alice Keönch)

Katharina Thehos
13.12.2011

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