The IBM Middleware User Community was created to offer IBM product users more valuable content and that all starts with its 90,000+ members!
Last time we interviewed Gabriel Aberasturi, a WAS forum master who specializes in z/OS. This week I'm excited to bring you a few new questions in our interview with Jim Herron! Jim is an IBM Champion as well as the Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer of Island Training, an IBM Business Partner that specializes in Rational tools. Island Training has been involved with local user groups as a sponsor and frequent presenter. They also present to the community as a whole through webcasts. Jim was honored to receive the 2015 Webcast of the Year award for the Global Rational User Community for outstanding attendance at his webcast, "SAFe @ Any Speed with RTC."
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Welcome to the blog, Jim!
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How do you interact with IBM’s products on a daily basis?
Internally at Island Training, we use RTC (Rational Team Concert) to manage our classroom and e-learning development. Also, on a daily basis I interact with customers regarding their Jazz implementations.
What do you like to do outside of work?
When at home, I enjoy landscaping and gardening, small remodeling projects, and tinkering in my tool shed. In the photo to the left is me with my raised-bed, deer-proof garden.
What do you see as the hottest trends in technology today?
Smart monitoring technologies - health, home, performance, entertainment - the list will soon be endless. Big data analysis of the massive wealth of information produced by these technologies is both exciting and a little frightening.
How can an organization stay relevant 5 years from now?
Keeping abreast of technology trends and staying nimble and responsive to the marketplace.
What do you consider most promising in the era of cognitive computing?
Basically, it's predictive capabilities. Cognitive computing will be integrated with all aspects of our lives. Power grid, traffic grid, healthcare, security, financial, distribution - you name it.
What app can you not live without?
GPS, email, text, Skype, alarm, clock, and calendar apps on my cell phone.
What was the worst job you ever had?
Night watch person for a construction company. Driving from site to site replacing batteries in flashing barriers and waiting for something to happen.
You pull up to a coffee shop. What do you order?
I start the day with tea and end with a beer. Who needs coffee?
Most importantly.... if you were a breakfast food, what kind would you be and why?
Lost me on this one - no inspiration (indicating that I'd probably be dry toast).