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DAILY NEWS AND INFORMATION FOR THE GLOBAL GRID COMMUNITY / AUGUST 4, 2003; VOL. 2 NO. 31

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Special Features:

GRID TECH BOLSTERED BY UCSD EXTENSION WEB SRVCS INITIATIVE

UCSD Extension's CONNECT and Continuing Education programs have joined together on a 10-month Web Services initiative to assess the status of Web Services development and deployment in San Diego and to provide outreach and training to local businesses to prepare them for this next stage in the Internet's evolution.

"Web Services is viewed by most analysts and industry experts as the emerging framework for integrating legacy and new IT infrastructure and software applications," explained Tracie Monk, director of UCSD Extension's Computing and Networking Technologies (CNT) department. "It not only enables organizations to integrate existing and future applications, but it will be the leading driver of business-to-business communications in the years to come."

The initiative's launch on July 29th is accompanied by a Web-based survey examining the drivers, impediments, and technologies associated with Web Services. The survey is available for interested participants at cnt.ucsdx.net/news/websvc_surveyform.php. Participants will receive a summary of the results and discounts for future Web Services events.

"The survey will provide us with a good baseline on current Web Services deployments in San Diego," offered Monk. "A follow-up survey planned for Winter 2004 should provide us with a clear indication of the rapid pace of adoption of this critical technology within the local business community."

On September 24th, UCSD CONNECT, Extension's CNT department, and the San Diego Software and Industry Council (SDSIC) will unite to present the results of this survey and explore current local industry efforts at a lecture entitled "Web Services Deployment: Advice from our Early Adopters". Panelists at this event include Tony Fountain, San Diego Supercomputing Center; Tim Huckaby, Interknowledgy; Michele Leroux Bustamante, iDesign / UCSD Extension; Adam Joffe, Sony Online Entertainment; Frank Martinez, Blue Titan; Terry Mohn, SEMPRA; and Wade Williams, NetworkCar. Event costs are $25 for CONNECT and SDSIC members and Extension students; $35 for the general public; or $10 for individuals completing the survey.

UCSD Extension's CNT department will offer several new courses and certificates to complement existing Web Services classes. New programs will include a Web Services Architecture certificate beginning Fall 2003 and an Executive Seminar Series on "Managing Change" starting Winter 2004. The latter will provide senior managers with a forum in which to explore the opportunities and challenges of technology-driven change in their operations, including the effects on internal management systems and IT infrastructures, partner communications, customer care, business processes, personnel and other resources.

The Web Services initiative will culminate in a Convergent Technologies Seminar in April 2004. CONNECT created the Converging Technologies seminar series to show the region's businesses how to capitalize on critical trends and learn more about what is on the convergence horizon. The April 2004 Web Services event will be the fourth in a series of Convergent Technology workshops hosted by CONNECT, including seminars on Nanotechnologies (coming up September 16, 2003), SensorNets (April 2002), and Working Together for Homeland Security (February 2002).

"Web Services meets our definition of a critical, convergent technology" explains Anette Asher, director of programs at CONNECT. "It has the potential for generating significant revenues and reducing costs across multiple industries, as well as radically transforming business communications with both trading partners and customers."

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