Re: 2011/11/24 - 20th Anniversary of Internet in South Africa

Hi All

As one of those around at the time I would dearly love to be there on 
the 24th.  Unfortunately it is just not practical and I will have to try 
and take it via the Internet.

At the time I don't think any of us appreciated just what we we were 
seeing.  Yes we had been playing around with networked systems around 
the country and, thanks to Randy Bush, around the world but up till 
TCP/IP what we did was exciting but limited.

The impact at University level, at least at Wits where I was, was 
extraordinary.   The internal political battles enormous.  Nobody in 
power wanted to give us money to spend on the infrastructure while the 
academic community were screaming for the university to go "open".  To 
get off the IBM network standards.  TCP/IP vs emerging standards now 
long forgotten.   What was going to be the right approach?   How to 
prepare Strategic Plans for a totally uncertain future became my 
challenge, coupled with how to build the right network with limited 
funds and little clarity on the future.

Post graduate students like Angus Hay applied huge pressure and Mark 
Elkins, then at Olivetti, conspired to install News software on the 
Convex super computer, then the most powerful research computer in the 
country.

Our undergraduates learned well and a group of them went off to start 
Internet Solutions.   Far sighted indeed.

Vic Shaw tried desperately to co-ordinate everybody from his office at 
the FRD while Mike Lawrie and co down at Rhodes kept us on our 
technological toes.

For me personally it was the start of a great experience.   Managing the 
evolution of IP at Wits, working with people vastly more clued up than I 
I ever was and on a continuous learning curve that continues to this day.

Now when I look at what has transpired I wonder.  To what extent have we 
contributed to an improved life style and future and to what extent have 
we created a monster?  An information monster where people stop doing 
and merely plagiarise what they find on Google.   The old bugbear of 
business, "the computer says that is the answer, therefore it must be 
right" now applies to almost everything we do.

On balance though, I think we win.

Have a great party.

Henry Watermeyer
Retired IT Director
Wits University.



On 2011/11/18 12:07 PM, Guy Antony Halse wrote:
> The 12th of November 2011 marked the twentieth anniversary of Internet
> Access in South Africa.  In recognition of the achievements of the early
> pioneers who's work made this possible, the Information Technology Division
> at Rhodes University would like to invite you to join us in a small
> celebration to mark this event.
>
>    Where: Arts Major, Rhodes University, Grahamstown
>
>    When: Thursday 24 November 2011 @ 18:00
>
>    What: A historical perspective from some of the original protagonists.
>          Speakers include Mike Lawrie, Randy Bush, Alan Barrett&  Angus Hay.
>
>    Who: anybody who's interested, but especially people who were involved
>
>    Costs: none, other than getting here
>
> We'll be streaming the event, so those who can't make it in person are
> welcome to join us via the Internet.
>
> Full details, including directions and information on live streaming, are
> available at http://www.ru.ac.za/ipinza/.
>
> - Guy

-- 

/Play croquet at Zoo Lake./

/To find out more contact me or visit WWW.croquet.org.za/

Henry Watermeyer

Box 89 1142 Lyndhurst, 2106, South Africa

Phone (+27) [0] 84 800 8862

Home and fax (+27) [0] 11-882-7251

Skype: Henry.Watermeyer

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