IT Seminars

1000Minds (see www.1000minds.com) is Internet-based software to help people make decisions involving prioritising, ranking or choosing from amongst competing individuals or alternatives. The software has its roots in research started in the mid 1990s at the University of Otago into methods for prioritising patients for elective surgery. 1000Minds is now a patented solution to the universal problem in many applications of how to produce an overall ranking of alternatives. The winner of national and international awards, including a ‘TUANZ Healthcare Innovation Award 2005’ and a ‘Consensus Software Award 2007’, 1000Minds recently featured in Computerworld magazine. The seminar will include a demonstration of the software and a brief explanation of its main algorithms. Who: Paul Hansen, Economics. When: 1pm Thursday 5 July. Where: Seminar Room, University College.

1000Minds (see www.1000minds.com) is Internet-based software to help people make decisions involving prioritising, ranking or choosing from amongst competing individuals or alternatives. The software has its roots in research started in the mid 1990s at the University of Otago into methods for prioritising patients for elective surgery. 1000Minds is now a patented solution to the universal problem in many applications of how to produce an overall ranking of alternatives. The winner of national and international awards, including a ‘TUANZ Healthcare Innovation Award 2005’ and a ‘Consensus Software Award 2007’, 1000Minds recently featured in Computerworld magazine. The seminar will include a demonstration of the software and a brief explanation of its main algorithms. Who: Paul Hansen, Economics. When: 1pm Thursday 5 July. Where: Seminar Room, University College.

During the merger of the College of Education and the University the opportunity was taken to reconsider and regroup those sections involved in the provision of audio visual services. The outcome of this has been the establishment of the Audio Visual Support and Development Unit. While the different staff in the Unit report through different University departments (ITS and HEDC) they work together to provide a whole range of services. This seminar will explain what the Unit is, where it is housed, what it does, and how it provides its services. It will also cover how clients typically interact with the Unit. This seminar will be of interest to any university staff with a need for or an interest in audio visual services. All are welcome. Presenters: Russell Garbutt and Robert van der Vyver, Audio Visual Support and Development Unit. Thursday 3rd May at 1:00pm Seminar Room, University College.

During the merger of the College of Education and the University the opportunity was taken to reconsider and regroup those sections involved in the provision of audio visual services. The outcome of this has been the establishment of the Audio Visual Support and Development Unit. While the different staff in the Unit report through different University departments (ITS and HEDC) they work together to provide a whole range of services. This seminar will explain what the Unit is, where it is housed, what it does, and how it provides its services. It will also cover how clients typically interact with the Unit. This seminar will be of interest to any university staff with a need for or an interest in audio visual services. All are welcome. Presenters: Russell Garbutt and Robert van der Vyver, Audio Visual Support and Development Unit. Thursday 3rd May at 1:00pm Seminar Room, University College.

This year the University of Otago has joined the new New Zealand research and education network, KAREN (Kiwi Advanced Research and Education Network). Come along and learn about the background to this development and the reach and advanced capabilities of the network. How you use the network will be explained, and the Government's 'Advanced Network Capability Building' initiative will be introduced. There will be a section on the Access Grid (a high quality video conferencing and collaboration service), one of the first advanced services carried on KAREN. The seminar will finish with an introduction to the eResearch initiatives underway at the University. This seminar will be of interest to all university staff and senior students. All are welcome. Who: * Neil James, IT Strategy Consultant. * Stephen Duncan, Senior Network Engineer, ITS Networking. * Fraser Foster, Technical Support Co-ordinator, ITS Teaching Facilities * Jo-Anne Skinner, Director, Research Division. When: Thursday 5 April, 1:00pm.

This year the University of Otago has joined the new New Zealand research and education network, KAREN (Kiwi Advanced Research and Education Network). Come along and learn about the background to this development and the reach and advanced capabilities of the network. How you use the network will be explained, and the Government's 'Advanced Network Capability Building' initiative will be introduced. There will be a section on the Access Grid (a high quality video conferencing and collaboration service), one of the first advanced services carried on KAREN. The seminar will finish with an introduction to the eResearch initiatives underway at the University.

This seminar will be of interest to all university staff and senior students. All are welcome. Who: * Neil James, IT Strategy Consultant. * Stephen Duncan, Senior Network Engineer, ITS Networking. * Fraser Foster, Technical Support Co-ordinator, ITS Teaching Facilities

* Jo-Anne Skinner, Director, Research Division. When: Thursday 5 April, 1:00pm.

The ITS Computer Resource Room Tutor-Supervisors are an integral part of Otago University's "Just In Time" IT training for the University's students, and they consistently gain high satisfaction ratings in the University's Student Opinion Surveys. Come and hear more about them, why they are so important and how you can make best use of this service. This will be of particular interest to lecturers, librarians and IT Support staff. Presenters: * Traci Voss, Teaching Facilities, ITS * Steve Dunn, Teaching Facilities, ITS. When: 1pm, Thursday 7th December. Where:Seminar Room, University College.

The ITS Computer Resource Room Tutor-Supervisors are an integral part of Otago University's "Just In Time" IT training for the University's students, and they consistently gain high satisfaction ratings in the University's Student Opinion Surveys.

Come and hear more about them, why they are so important and how you can make best use of this service. This will be of particular interest to lecturers, librarians and IT Support staff. Presenters: * Traci Voss, Teaching Facilities, ITS

* Steve Dunn, Teaching Facilities, ITS.

When: 1pm, Thursday 7th December. Where:Seminar Room, University College.

Each year Microsoft run an event in New Zealand called Tech·Ed. It is billed as Microsoft New Zealand's most comprehensive technical training and educational event. Staff from ITS Technical Services will give a brief outline and answer questions on the newest developments from Microsoft seen at the 2006 Tech·Ed in August. Specifically there will be an introduction to the new operating system Windows Vista and Office 2007. Mike Taylor from Microsoft will demonstrate the new Vista operating system and preview the features of Microsoft Office 2007. Staff in ITS have commenced working collaboratively with Microsoft on deployment of Vista to the student managed desktop and testing has started on looking at how applications will run in Vista. Presenters: * Kris Evans and Damian Beresford, ITS Technical Services. * Mike Taylor, Microsoft. Thursday 5th October at 1:00pm. Seminar Room, University College.

Each year Microsoft run an event in New Zealand called Tech·Ed. It is billed as Microsoft New Zealand's most comprehensive technical training and educational event. Staff from ITS Technical Services will give a brief outline and answer questions on the newest developments from Microsoft seen at the 2006 Tech·Ed in August. Specifically there will be an introduction to the new operating system Windows Vista and Office 2007. Mike Taylor from Microsoft will demonstrate the new Vista operating system and preview the features of Microsoft Office 2007. Staff in ITS have commenced working collaboratively with Microsoft on deployment of Vista to the student managed desktop and testing has started on looking at how applications will run in Vista. Presenters: * Kris Evans and Damian Beresford, ITS Technical Services. * Mike Taylor, Microsoft. Thursday 5th October at 1:00pm. Seminar Room, University College.