Northeast User Groups Conference Coming April 11-13

March 14, 2011 Dan Burger

Education and training considerations for IBM i shops are getting more closely examined as new technologies and continue to impact the way all businesses perform. Specialized skills are in demand and employers are choosing to upgrade their current workforces rather than attempting to find outside people who can contribute the combination of technical skills and industry-specific experience that provides the best fit.

Up in New England, the annual Northeast User Groups Conference (NEUGC) has been delivering IBM midrange education and training for 20 consecutive years. It’s the largest IBM i (Power Systems, iSeries, AS/400) conference in that region. But it’s not necessarily better because it’s bigger. It’s better because it brings in many of the top technical minds and training experts, and its sessions are both modern and IBM i-centric. The event is also close to home for a sizable contingent of IBM i pros, which does not go unnoticed by the budget wardens.

This is a two-day conference with 80 breakout sessions and six educational tracks. The conference also includes hands-on labs and a vendor exposition where IBM business partners provide product demonstrations and discuss business solutions. The expo area is a great place to network with IBM i experts and colleagues.

Session include topics such as RPG and programming tools, SQL and DB2 databases, systems management and security, Web development (including Web services, PHP, and Java), and professional development.

Mobile computing is being emphasized this year in response to increasing interest in that technology on behalf of businesses that are searching for new ways to increase efficiency and profitability.

Developing commercial Web-browser applications for iPhones and iPads, Blackberrys, Windows Mobile phones, and Nokia Symbian phones, other smartphones, scanners, and RFID devices is sharing the spotlight alongside the traditional developer topics. And technologies such as HTML, PHP, and JavaScript are mixed into classroom and networking discussions.

Many IBM i developers have been pursuing Web interfaces with their RPG, COBOL, and Java apps, and that interest is evolving into developing mobile applications. Vendors are building applications for smartphones and similar devices, including IBM’s Lotus groupware.

The conference will take place April 11 through 13 at the Sheraton Hotel in Framingham, Massachusetts. A complete listing of technical sessions and the lineup of instructors can be found at www.neugc.org, the event Web site. A discount on the registration fee is available through March 20.