Re: The IT manager’s inner self (March 9)
Thank you for the article regarding Dr. Kaluzniacky and his research.
In our company, we use the Myers Briggs personality preferences
to better understand how our staff works together. It’s been valuable in helping to explain potentially unresolvable differences between some people.
As the president of an 18-person software products company, I am an INTJ. The two lead architects are an ENFP and an INFP. I purposely hired a group of 10 SJ’s to work with the two architects so they would actually deliver new versions of our software product, on time. It has its stressful moments, but it works.
I’ll be interested to see Dr. Kaluzniacky’s book when it is published.
Thank you.
Christina McGill
President
SPW BenchMark Technologies Ltd.
Re: The IT manager’s inner self (March 9)
I always use the Myers-Briggs Personality Test with my Computer Support Specialist students in the course Customer Service for the Computer Industry for the very reasons that Eugene Kaluzniacky points out in the article. It helps them understand their own feelings when dealing with other IT team members and end users. Also, if they know their own personality types and those of their end users, they can approach them and their problems in a more professional and educated manner. Works great in the classroom!
Jane Connors
Information Technology Coordinator
College of the North Atlantic
St. John’s, Nfld.
Re: Green machines (March 9)
I take some exception to your comments regarding school programs to reuse equipment. I do support the environment and my daughter is studying at Waterloo to be an environmentalist but your solution is a bit soapy!
To explain, as a consultant I have worked with two very large Ontario school boards and boy do we hold them accountable for reusing technology. They often spend a fortune trying to support a piece of junk because they are afraid that it will get in the newspaper that they “”threw out a computer.”” Budgets for support do not extend these days to supporting 486 and 386 technology, DOS and Windows 3.1.1 so I recommended that they maintain a minimum requirement. Let the corporate owner throw it out. They even get a charitable donation credit that is usually way more than the machine is worth.
Do you think you would agree that any computer is better than sharing a computer, if that computer your child is being educated with is DOS or Windows 3.1.1 with no reliable network connection? Only if it is for a typing class or for a special “”computer lab”” for some kids to experiment with!
We need to go back to the manufacturer for reuse and upgradability of the technology. Start with Dell. Their low-cost PC has a case and power requirements that are so proprietary that it is unbelievable!
Karen Holtze
Re: Green machines (March 9)
I am an independent training designer. Computers are my tools, not my business, but I have three on a network in my office plus two printers. My own connection to environmental issues has been focused on those printers because that is where the consumables are. There is a place in my small town — a bin in a computer store — where old ink jet cartridges can be deposited for recycling. Imagine the monthly mass of those across Canada!
But there is no one collecting and recycling laser cartridges. These are large and contain a number of different materials, many of which are toxic — not good stuff in a landfill. My cartridges come with less packaging these days, which is good. They also come with pre-addressed courier labels to return them to the manufacturer or a depot, depending on where you live. The countries in which this service works are the US and a whole bunch of EU countries. But NOT Canada!
I have tried to track down the issue here, and I think it has to do with both cross-border restrictions and the courier company, but I’m not sure. No one was interested in speaking with me about it, and so I finally hauled my collection off to the dump before my wife decided to recycle me! But it felt like defeat. And I know it is a major problem seen nationally. It might be something for a sequel to your current story.
I appreciated it. Thanks.
Brian Miniell
Re: Picture this (March 3)
I read your article on camera phones. I’m not sure of the phone’s camera range, assuming the fleeing stick man actually saw the pervert taking the pic. The technology that really reeks of Peeping Tom are the new photo binoculars, giving the Peeping Tom, considerable breathing space from the window sill. But then, shall we punish avid honest bird watchers because we have sick people on the planet? It’s a close call on that one.
Angela M. Stellmacher
Re: B.C. ministry mulls use of GPS to fight forest fires (March 1)
Have these people not heard of the Garmin Rino GPS/FRS radios? It would seem that a special edition of that could be made for firefighers. One that would transmit a little further, and automatically transmit one’s coordinates every 30 seconds or so (without pressing transmit), for substantially lower cost. The consumer version is presently about $250, and 4-inches x 2-inches in size. Perhaps it’s expecting too much to think government might actually go with a practical and cheaper option?
Duncan Wood
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