2 ■ THE MONTANA STANDARD, BUTTE, SATURDAY, JULY 24, 2010
Montana Tech professor has no desire to retire ‘Senior’ Ph.D. brings rich work history to the classroom BY PAULA J. MCGARVEY for The Montana Standard
When Dr. Frank Ackerman’s students hear him talk about breakthroughs in computer science, they’re getting the history from someone who was in on the ground floor. During his lengthy career in the computer industry, Ackerman, 71, has seen computers advance from huge machines that filled rooms and took hours to run simple programs — to wireless, notebook-sized devices that accomplish the same task in seconds. And, at the age when most people would be thinking about retirement, Ackerman, instead, has chosen to enter academia and pass his wealth of knowledge experience on to a new generation of computer scientists.
INDUSTRY AND ACADEMIC HISTORY Frank Ackerman was born in 1939 and grew up primarily on the East Coast in and around Washington, D.C. At the age of 7, his father took a job as an
economist in post-war Austria. The family went with him, and Ackerman lived in Vienna from 1946 to 1951 before returning to the U.S. to finish grade school. He graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in D.C. 1957 and went on to the University of Chicago without a clear idea of his career goal. Ackerman briefly contemplated majoring in physics and then spent a year as a philosophy major, before his concern about future employment as a philosopher landed him in the career counselor’s office. The review of his aptitude testing resulted in a lifechanging recommendation. “They said ‘you’re pretty good in math, and there’s this new thing called a computer,’” Ackerman recalled. The counselor also told him that the university’s business school would be teaching some new classes in the computer area and suggested that he check it out.
See PROFESSOR, Page 3
PAULA J. MCGARVEY / FOR THE MONTANA STANDARD
FRANK ACKERMAN, 71, sits in his office at Montana Tech recently. Ackerman has seen huge advancements in the computer industry during his lengthy career.
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THE MONTANA STANDARD, BUTTE, SATURDAY, JULY 24, 2010 ■ 3
Professor ... Continued from Page 2 Ackerman learned that a UNIVersal Automatic Computer (UNIVAC) had recently been donated to the university. He described the granddaddy of computers as being enormous in size and filling several rooms. Ackerman said the UNIVAC’s central processing unit (CPU) was three times the size of an old-fashioned telephone booth with a door enabling a person to literally walk inside. “The CPU for a computer today is a small chip you can hold in the palm of your hand,” he said. Though the UNIVAC was being used by the university to run business programs, the computer science students got to run programs on it. Ackerman said at the time, programs were written up on paper tape or punch cards and submitted to the computer. “It would take days to do what today’s students do in a few minutes,” he said. Ackerman discovered that he had an affinity for computer programming, so after graduating in 1961 with a degree in mathematics, he pursued a career in the
computer industry. His first job was for the Applied Physics Lab (APL) at the Johns Hopkins University outside Baltimore. “The really big project in the APL was the very first form of what we now think of as GPS,” he said. Ackerman said that his team competed for computer time with “the GPS guys” while they worked on FORTRAN computer language programming to build simulations of naval operations during the Cold War era. Ackerman said that during this time in history, computers were advancing rapidly. They were still huge by today’s standards, but were working toward smaller CPUs, increased memory and shifting from tubes to solid state circuitry. “In addition, we had the first disk drives. They were in a huge cabinet, five feet tall,” Ackerman said, adding that this solid state circuitry allowed random access to data, rather than spinning tapes to locate information. After several years at Johns Hopkins’ APL, Ackerman joined the now defunct, Control Data Corporation. Ackerman said that he was based in Washington, D.C., and worked in a computer support
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role. At the time, Ackerman said that CDC and hardware “genius” Seymour Cray, were working to develop cheaper alternatives to the commercial computers produced by industry competitor, IBM. While he was at CDC, Ackerman said that the company purchased another company called Rabinow Engineering, which specialized in the first optical readers. These devices, which are common place today, were being explored to computerize data entry of check information in banking and business for mail sorting applications. “I wrote programs that simulated operation of the reading machine with the different fonts,” he explained. Ackerman said that the CDC also did work for the National Security Agency, in the area of breaking codes. It was then that he was first exposed to the concept of “time-share jobs” being done on teletype machines — the input device of the day. “You could literally talk live to the computer. That began the modern age of where we are now … that changed my life,” he said. With the knowledge that it was possible to have an “intelligent” conversation with a machine, Ackerman
was inspired to return to school for his Ph.D. “I had to go back. I had to learn more,” he said. Ackerman ended up at the University of North Carolina in a new academic program that was started by IBM computer designer, Fred Brooks. Ackerman said that Brooks had previously worked on building affordable computers that could combine the capabilities of the era’s scientific computers using FORTRAN programming and business computers using COBAL language programming. Ackerman graduated from the new program with his Ph.D in 1972. “I was the fourth Ph.D. out the door,” he said. After graduation, Ackerman went spent more than a decade working for Bell Labs. His most notable project was developing a communication console for the Pentagon War Room. “This console would enable the president to talk to his commanders all at once,” he said. The 40-person link had to operate 24/7, 365 days a year and involved creating an active and a standby processor to accommodate the need for
See PROFESSOR, Page 4
4 ■ THE MONTANA STANDARD, BUTTE, SATURDAY, JULY 24, 2010
Professor ... Continued from Page 3 total reliability, he said. With the computer world changing rapidly, Ackerman became concerned with maintaining professional standards, prompting him to become involved with the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), an organization that is dedicated to advancing technological innovation for the benefit of humanity. Through funding by Bell Labs, Ackerman said that he began to write software standards to assist the organization with their mission. By the early ’80s, Ackerman had ventured out on his own, forming the Institute for Zero Defect Software, or IZDSW. For the next decade, he continued to contract with Bell Labs and others, working primarily in software education and software reliability engineering. With dwindling contracts for consulting jobs, Ackerman moved to California and into the Bay Area, where he worked briefly for a private corporation, before going back to private
consulting work. As consulting options slowed in Silicon Valley, Ackerman was at a career crossroads. In 2002, at the age of 63, he was contemplating joining the Peace Corps, or pursuing a career in academia, in the tradition of Brooks at UNC. He ended up taking a job at Ferrun College outside Roanoke, Va., where he taught courses in computer science and computer literacy. After four years, the college ended up restructuring the curriculum, forcing Ackerman to pick up math classes. He went looking for another professorship where he could focus solely on computer science. In 2006 he moved to Butte taking a position as an associate professor in software engineering and computer science at Montana Tech.
NO DESIRE TO RETIRE Ackerman views society’s concept of retirement as something that evolved around people with vocations that had physical limitations. “In this field these things don’t apply … why should I retire?” he said. Ackerman also finds teaching to be intellectually stimulating. “In this field there’s always new
technology to learn, and there’s always a challenge. And, you get new students each year” he said. Reflecting back on his career, thus far, Ackerman is amazed at the progress within the industry. “No other technology has had that kind of lift off,” he said. But he also noted that despite changes in computer size and speed, in theory, computer science hasn’t changed as much as we think. “The process of creating the program and debugging it and making it work has become more Ackerman complicated, but when it comes right down to it — you do exactly the same thing,” he said. Ackerman’s passion for computers has kept him involved in his profession since the beginning. “It’s been a constant learning experience — learning the languages that are used today and learning the programming environments that are learned today,” he said. Ackerman considers computer software to be the most complicated thing humans have ever tried to build.
He finds the challenge of teaching the next generation to be inspirational. “The ultimate motivation in terms of the larger picture is to graduate students who really understand that they can make good software programs that are as easy to use as a car,” he said. Ackerman currently lives in Butte with his wife, Hwe-Chu, who also teaches at Montana Tech. (See related article at
www.mtstandard.com/news/local/ article_7ea12e42-97db-520b-b1260ce9b28b8895.html) Ackerman enjoys
spending time with his four daughters from a previous marriage, and his five grandchildren, He is physically active, an avid reader and enjoys learning new things. He is currently learning Chinese and learning to hunt. Paula J. McGarvey may be reached at 782-6510 or via e-mail at paulajmc@ bresnan.net.
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THE MONTANA STANDARD, BUTTE, SATURDAY, JULY 24, 2010 ■ 5
What every senior should know about identity theft If you don’t use credit and never go online, you don’t have to worry about identity theft, right? Many seniors may feel that philosophy applies to them — and they couldn’t be more wrong. The very qualities that make some seniors feel safe — a tendency to not use credit much, operating on a cash basis and avoiding technology — make identity thieves view seniors as very appealing targets, credit experts warn. “Anyone with a Social Security number needs to be aware of the risk of identity theft,” says Jennifer Leuer, general manager, ProtectMyID.com. “Seniors, however, should be especially vigilant about identity theft protection, because they are often a preferred target of identity thieves and scammers.” While identity theft can happen to anyone at any age, seniors may be at greater risk for a number of reasons, including: ■ Many states display social security numbers on Medicare cards. Even if your card is never lost or stolen, enterprising thieves may be able to snatch the number when you show your card for a legitimate purpose.
■ Seniors often have more to steal than people of other demographics. They tend to carry higher cash reserves and home equity than other age groups. ■ Seniors may be less technologically savvy, and may be more likely to respond to scams because they haven’t researched them online. ■ Seniors may feel less need to closely monitor their credit reports and financial accounts because they tend to use credit less. Identity thieves know that it may be months — or even years — before senior victims check their credit reports and discover they’ve been defrauded. ■ Seniors’ personally identifying information may be exposed to more people through extended caregiver networks, nursing homes, doctor’s offices and other service organizations. ■ Seniors are more likely to trust official-looking emails and open unsolicited communications and click on links that could lead to malware or phishing attacks. Common forms of senior identity theft include check fraud, credit card fraud, phone or e-mail solicitations, social networking schemes and Social Security fraud. Fortunately, there are many ways seniors can protect themselves, or adult children can help
protect their aging parents, from identity theft. ■ Never carry your Social Security card with you. If your Medicare card has your Social Security number on it, make a photocopy of the card and black out everything but the last four digits of your number with a permanent marker. Carry the copy whenever you need to show the card. ■ Carry only the checks you will need for a specific use on any day. Leave your checkbook at home in a secure location. ■ Pick up checks at the bank to avoid having them stolen from your mailbox. Better yet, set up direct deposit with the Social Security Administration and any retirement accounts that you regularly draw on such as pensions or IRAs. ■ Don’t mail bills or any documents with identifying information from your home mailbox. Learn to pay bills online, if possible, or mail bills and other paperwork from a secure mailbox at the post office. ■ For seniors who live in assisted care facilities, always lock up financial statements and any items, including computers, which contain personal information. There are too many people with access to rooms in these facilities to leave sensitive information out for anyone to see.
■ Use an updated cross-cut or diamondcut shredder to shred all personal and financial records before you throw them away. It’s a good idea to complete a thorough inventory of all old files — receipts, financial statements, taxes — shred the ones that are no longer needed and secure the ones that are. ■ Consider using an identity monitoring product that gives you identity theft protection, like ProtectMyID.com. The product monitors your credit report on a daily basis and alerts you to activity on your credit accounts. And, with one phone call to a specially-trained fraud resolution agent, you can report all your cards lost or stolen and they’ll contact the credit card companies for you. And if you do become a victim of identity theft, you’ll have a designated fraud resolution agent by your side through the whole process of resolving the situation. You can learn more at www.ProtectMyID.com. ■ Know who to call. You can opt out of credit card offers — which thieves may use to steal your identity — by calling (888) 567-8688. If you believe your Social Security number may have been compromised, call the Social Security Administration fraud line at (800) 269-0271. — Courtesy of ARAcontent
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6 ■ THE MONTANA STANDARD, BUTTE, SATURDAY, JULY 24, 2010
AARP survey finds boomers are tech-savvy and ready to connect BY AMANDA KNOWLES of McClatchy-Tribune
If you’re over 50 and have been known to Twitter, post on your friends’ walls and can define “blog,” you might be surprised to know you’re in good company. An AARP survey, conducted by GfK Custom Research in May, finds social networking is popular among older Americans. Approximately 27 percent of Americans over 50 years of age use social media websites. Of the people surveyed, 23 percent report that they prefer Facebook followed by MySpace, Linkedin and Twitter, each at about 4 percent. “The latest data tells us that more and more, social networking is becoming part of everyday life for Americans 50-plus, and boomers in particular,” said AARP Chief Communications Office Kevin Donnellan in a press release. To better appeal to tech-savvy boomers,
Whether your visit to Butte Care & Rehabilitation Center is a short or long term stay, our goal is to share in the joy of the lives we’ve touched....
the AARP just launched its revamped website, AARP.org, making it easier to view photos and videos, find articles and share with friends via other social networks. The increase in use of social networking sites by older adults may be because of increased comfort in going online, with 40 percent of respondents saying they are “extremely or very comfortable using the Internet.” Forty-seven percent of adults heard about social networking through family members other than a spouse, while 70 percent of those found out about the sites from a child or grandchild. According to the survey, 73 percent of the 50-plus users are connected to relatives, 62 percent are connected to their children and 36 percent are connected to their grandchildren.
ABOUT THE SURVEY The survey sampled 1,360 adults over 50 years of age. The margin of error was plus or minus 3 percent.
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THE MONTANA STANDARD, BUTTE, SATURDAY, JULY 24, 2010 ■ 7
Eye care advice for aging eyes Growing older and getting reading glasses seem to go hand in hand, just like getting gray hair or wrinkles as you age. But that doesn’t have to be the case if you take steps to care for your eyes as you age. Presbyopia, a natural effect of aging, happens to just about everyone around the age of 40, even if you have had laser eye surgery. As you age, the lens in each of your eyes begins to lose its ability to change focus quickly on an object or page of text, causing blurred vision at reading distance. Chances are that you know several people who have this condition, and you may develop it yourself. Some simple, yet often overlooked steps can help you take care of your eyesight: ■ During prolonged intervals in front of a TV, computer or other electronic device, try blinking more often than you might normally. Every so often, look away from the device and focus on a distant object. ■ Be sure to have adequate light while reading; a simple lamp may not do the trick, causing you to strain your eyes. ■ Maintain a healthy diet. Contrary to popular belief, carrots are not the best vegetable for your eyes: spinach and other dark, leafy greens contain high amounts of
lutein and zeaxanthin, beneficial antioxidants for vision. ■ Visit an eye care professional regularly. Beyond a healthy lifestyle, there are solutions to common age-related vision problems. With presbyopia, bifocals or reading glasses (for contact lens wearers) are a common solution. However, reading glasses can be cumbersome and easily misplaced, and bifocals require you to use a magnification lens intended for reading anytime you look down, which can make mundane tasks as simple as walking down stairs unnecessarily difficult. Bausch + Lomb’s Multi-Focal contact lenses are designed with All-Distance Optics, a technology that delivers sharp, clear vision wherever you choose to focus. By using a gradual power shift across the entire lens, your eyes effortlessly adjust from up-close reading to mid-range computer work to distance vision while driving. There’s no need to reach for glasses to accommodate a quick change in distance. Ask your eye care professional about how Multi-Focal contact lenses can help you say goodbye to your readers, or log on to www.goodbyereaders.com to learn more.
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8 ■ THE MONTANA STANDARD, BUTTE, SATURDAY, JULY 24, 2010
Betty White to release a pin-up girl calendar Actress posing to raise money for animals BY ROD HAGWOOD of The Sun Sentinel
Talk about your vintage Pin-Up girl. Octogenarian-and-then-some Betty White is putting out a hottie 2011 calendar to raise money for one of her pet causes: The Morris Animal Foundation based in Denver, Colo. The star of TV Land’s “Hot in Cleveland” will be seen in diva-on-thedivan kind of poses surrounded by a bevy of beefcake. Betty and her boy-toys hit store shelves in September and The Betty White Calendar will retail for $12.99. White is a long-time animal rights
activist. Earlier this year White hosted “Saturday Night Live” after a grassroots Facebook campaign titled “Betty White to Host SNL (Please)” attracted 500,000 fans and Betty became their oldest host ever. Ratings were SNL’s highest since a 2008 show hosted by Ben Affleck. Fresh off of her No. 1 Super Bowl commercial for Snickers, she is also the last surviving member of “The Golden Girls” cast (Bea Arthur, Rue McClanahan and Estelle Getty all died between 2008 and 2010).White is also a veteran of top-rated TV such as “The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” “Mama’s Family,” “The Carol Burnett Show,” “Boston Legal,” “Malcolm in the Middle” and a whole host of game shows from “Match Game” and “Password” to “What’s My Line” and “To Tell the Truth.”
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