Job

I am here to help the staff, faculty, and students in the Sociology department get the most out of their computers and the Internet. Among the things I do are:

• Get computer software and hardware to work properly (which includes printers and most anything else you plug into your computer).
• Install new hardware and software.
• Figure out how to get things done with computers (or even determine whether computer technology provides an appropriate solution), including routine things like beating your word-processor, spreadsheet, or email software into submission.
• Perform file conversion and other bit-wrangling services. I may well have just the right piece of software to do the job.
• Set-up and maintain networking services for the department, including server computers and software, and sometimes the networking itself.
• Maintain web sites & servers.
• Maintain computers, particularly the lab computers. This involves making sure that needed software is installed, and doing various kinds of preventative maintenance such as virus scanning.
• Provide advice on the selection of computer hardware (including printers) and software to meet your needs. Note, however, that I am not particularly skilled at shopping (such as finding good deals or translating advertising doublespeak).
• Obtain hardware and software (free software in particular!)
• Attempt to help track software licenses. (Watch out for BSA audits!)
• Teach basic computer and Internet literacy on a contingency basis. You are responsible for your education, but everybody has trouble keeping up with computer technology and I am more than happy to help you fill in your knowledge potholes, large and small.
• Help with computer programming. Again, you are responsible for your own programming projects, but I am an experienced programmer and would be happy to help with problems.
• Salvage and scavenge "deceased" computer hardware.
• Warn you to make backups, and advise and assist in setting up a backup plan.

Research

I'm learning the Haskell programming language.

My ongoing/occasional hobby project is an interactive fiction engine with particular emphasis on parsing, simulation (knowlege representation), and autonomous (planning/goal-solving) non-player characters.