Posts by SPN Newsroom
Virtual HDC proves online conference still a great way to learn, connect
Nearly 1200 people yesterday attended the virtual Heartland Developers Conference, hosted by the AIM Institute, a nonprofit dedicated to building the tech talent community. It was the first time in HDC’s 17-year history that the conference was held online. Featuring 23 breakout sessions covering a range of tech topics, the conference gave IT professionals weary…
Read MoreBig data isn’t dead, says AI expert
It takes a while to scroll all the way to the bottom of the Google Scholar page for Atif Farid. As senior research scientist of Ontrak, Inc. and AI professor at the University of North Carolina Charlotte, Farid has authored or co-authored over 50 research articles on topics ranging from cloud computing to service-oriented architecture…
Read MoreCan leadership development be taught virtually? Initial doubts give way to upsides
As the pandemic drags on, the role of remote work, remote learning and even remote socializing grows more important. But can the same benefits of an in-person experience be had online? That’s what an Omaha-based leadership development academy for tech professionals is finding out. Since the pandemic broke out in March, industries have quickly acclimated…
Read MoreHeartland Developers Conference 2020 goes virtual
It’s fitting that an annual conference for software developers is using technology to continue this year’s event during a global pandemic. The 17th annual AIM Heartland Developers Conference will take place virtually on Sept. 24 via the industry-leading Hop.in conference platform. This year’s breakout tracks include AI, design, container orchestration, IT culture, frameworks, .NET, DevOps…
Read MoreLocal programming instructor champions the life-changing power of coding
Vanessa Kasun is debugging some code, finalizing her presentation for the upcoming Heartland Developers Conference on Sept. 24. The topic? How to build a React app from the ground up. Kasun, an instructor at AIM Code School, will take HDC attendees from installation of the Node.js open-source cross-platform Javascript runtime environment to launching a simple…
Read MoreNoni Williams: In push to fight unconscious bias with technology, do not fear failure, fear complacency
This thinkpiece by Noni Williams forms part three of SPN’s three-part series investigating unconscious bias in the hiring process (be sure to read part one and part two). Williams is a Data Analyst at Kiewit with a passion for automation and the use of data to solve complex problems. Here, she analyzes the advantages and…
Read MoreBrazilian startup creates software to fight bias in the hiring process, has plans to expand to the U.S.
Leave it to technology to solve problems not everyone has noticed yet. Problems some people have gone out of their way not to notice. Problems some people would have noticed if only the problem had been framed differently. On that last point, consider this: a Winthrop University survey from December 2018 found that only 50%…
Read MoreSide-eyeing bias in the hiring process
Last year, Silicon Prairie News took a look at racism in tech education and the tech hiring process in a two-part series, “It’s Time.” We’re taking another look at this important issue with a three-part series inspired by the summerlong national reckoning with racism in the U.S. Before landing the role of Happiness Engineer at…
Read MoreDes Moines-based Pitchly doesn’t balk at raising funds during pandemic
Raising an investment round for a startup is never easy. Try doing it during a global pandemic. But it is possible with a combination of bold leadership, committed VCs and a good idea. Just ask Ryan Gerhardy, CEO and co-founder of Des Moines startup Pitchly. Earlier this month, the data-driven productivity platform announced it had…
Read MoreResearchers at UNO and the University of Missouri create CHAOSS for open source communities (in a good way)
Over $1.6 million in grant funding has been awarded to a project started by researchers at the University of Nebraska at Omaha and the University of Missouri. Supported by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation and Mozilla, the Community Health Analytics Open Source Software (CHAOSS) project seeks to ensure a healthy future for open source software. …
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