Time to Tackle Parallel Programming

Parallel programming isn’t a new field, but until recently, only programmers who worked on high-end or supercomputing machines understood it. Today, however, it’s commanding widespread interest. Home computers and gaming consoles are already equipped with dual- and quad-core CPUs capable of running parallel programs. And with 6- and 8-core systems for mainstream applications on the horizon, and even more cores-per-chip appearing on vendor roadmaps, developers who have spent their careers writing serial code are realizing the importance of becoming proficient in parallel programming. Prominent software developers and programmers are urging colleagues to learn parallel programming sooner rather than later. While not a trivial process, many new software tools are available to help developers learn the discipline and work on actual projects.

Put Your Energy into Cleantech

Numerous reports have touted the job-creation power of the burgeoning clean technology sector. But exactly what kind of jobs will be created and where? A new analysis by Clean Edge, the American Council on Renewable Energy, and Green America takes a close look at the global clean tech job scene, highlighting where the jobs are coming from, what kind of skills will be needed, and what they will pay.

Moving into Management

The computing field asks a lot of its practitioners. Its professionals must be diligent, naturally curious, good problem solvers, able to grapple with big concepts as well as minutiae and willing to think outside of conventional boundaries to develop new code, architectures and applications that will find value in business and society. Yet in today’s competitive and global business environment, computing professionals must add yet another fundamental skill to the mix: the ability to lead and manage people. In fact, developing leadership and managerial skills is no longer a career option, it is becoming a requirement.

Healthcare IT in Hiring Mode

Bolstered by funding from the economic stimulus package, the industry is gearing up to computerize patients’ medical records and create a nationwide infrastructure to facilitate the transmission and exchange of records among patients, doctors, hospitals, pharmacies, and others. Bringing this paper-intensive industry into the digital age will create an immediate need for talented IT professionals. They will be needed to help vendors, professional services organizations, and healthcare companies not only get these stimulus-funded systems off the ground, but manage and maintain the new services. New software applications are also expected to emerge as the industry adapts its processes to take advantage of the capabilities these new investments bring, representing additional career markets. For IT professionals seeking new challenges, the modernization of healthcare should create plentiful opportunities.

New Opportunities in Energy Sector

Information technology professionals who want to get in on the ground floor of a new and meaningful industry might be surprised to find some of the most exciting opportunities today in a previously humdrum sector: energy. The US energy industry, which in large part still operates with technologies built in the 1950s and 60s, is finally entering the digital era. While the need to modernize this aging system to improve efficiencies and reliability has been clear for some time, a convergence of “green” circumstances is forcing change right now in the industry. These added influences include the new awareness in government, business, and society that environmentally friendly energy practices must be implemented immediately. There is a related acknowledgement among stakeholders that information and communications technologies must be added to the energy delivery infrastructure in order to make many of these improvements possible.

Computer Architects, Project Managers Needed

Application developers, e-commerce experts, and operating systems gurus might find themselves less popular these days, but demand remains strong for individuals with management, methodology, or process skills, as well as those with expertise in databases and messaging and communications. In its quarterly survey of 22,550 IT professionals in the US and Canada, Foote Partners found significant salary gains in the areas of architecture and project management, IT security, and networking.

Prospects Bright for Web Professionals

While the economic downturn has brought layoffs and uncertainty to many technology sectors, prospects remain bright for Web professionals. In an environment where companies are relying increasingly on their websites to sell products and services, such professionals are reporting no scarcity of work. The field has become increasingly specialized. In the past, companies hired HTML coders and Web designers to help them carry out their online strategies. Today, companies need designers who understand Web 2.0 fundamentals, and are usability experts capable of designing wireframes and prototypes, and communicating with software engineers.

Cloud Computing Set to Bring Changes

Clouds obscure the sky above. That’s a fairly good description of cloud computing, one of the latest “in” computing phrases that obscures the future for IT organizations. The term itself is somewhat confusing. There’s general agreement that the “cloud” in cloud computing is the Internet but the term often gets confused with other expressions like Software as a Service (SaaS), Web. 2.0, or even Web services.

Opportunities Abound in Computer Generation

If you’re interested in working in computer animation, better get used to the law of supply and demand. Animation companies sign up new hires in droves when studios green-light big-budget projects. And as a project’s delivery time approaches, you can go from a 50-hour workweek to never seeing the inside of your home. Then after the project wraps, you’ll suddenly have more time on your hands than you ever wanted. Such is life for someone working in computer generation, or CG, a relatively new—and highly competitive—field that despite its volatility still attracts legions of technical people eager for a dynamic workplace and chance to make their mark.