Dr. Art White

Academic Credentials

EdD, Ball State University, 1984
MA, Ball State University, 1984
MS, Ball State University, 1981
BS, Christian Heritage College, 1979

Specialty Areas

Software Engineering, Information Systems Analysis, Information Systems Design, Data Communications, Basic Systems, Knowledge Based Systems, Database Concepts

Research Interests

Neural Nets, Clinical Instrument Diagnostics, and Expert Systems

Questionnaire

Favorite book?

"The Pursuit of God" by A.W. Tozer

Most famous person you ever met?

Fredrick P. Brooks (Father of Software Engineering)

Favorite part about your job?

The best part of my job is the time I get to spend with students. They keep me feeling (but not looking) young!

First computer you had or used?

the Apple 2e

First program you wrote? In what language?

First major program was a graphical design tool for "vector" graphics for the Apple 2e

Worst bug you had to track down?

An assembly language program in grad school. After a few days of fruitless debugging, the answer came to me as I drifted off to sleep!

Preferred operating system?

XP Pro

Preferred programming language?

VB.NET

If you were a bit, would you be a 1 or a 0?

A 1, for I would be true...

How does your relationship with God affect the way you use computers?

I see them as tools to improve life, not as my reason for living. You can get too wrapped up in technology. Relationship with Christ, family, friends and colleagues is far more important than technology, and far more fulfilling!

Favorite Bible verse?

I Samuel 12:24: "But be sure to fear the LORD and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you."

Favorite quote?

Don't be a burden to yourself!

Where do you get your computer news from?

Journals (like Information Week) and online

What's the most prestigious thing you have done in the computer science / business field?

Consulting work for Roche and for Johnson & Johnson

When did you first know you were interested in Computer Science? What attracted you about it?

I first became interested in Computer Science in graduate school. I was using a program my adviso had written to plot regressions, and decided to take an introductory programming class so I could write my own programs. The rest is history!

Cat or dog person?

Dog, although I once had a dog that looked like a cat!

Who do you admire in the computer industry?

The folks at Wycliffe who do first class software development for the missions community.

E-mail client you use?

Mozilla mail

Favorite computer/video game?

Homeworld

Favorite place to visit?

South Dakota

Favorite author?

A.W. Tozer

Favorite fantasy author?

Elmer Kelton (Western!)

Favorite smell?

Fall leaves or springtime air

Puns: good or bad?

A good pun is worth its weight in mold

Coffee or tea?

COFFEE

Favorite beverage?

Yes, I have one.

Favorite computer science text/reference book?

"File Structures" by MJ Folk and B Zoellick

Python or Perl??

Perl

Do you pronounce SQL as "sequel" or do you say each letter?

sequel

What's your opinion of SQL as a language?

Yes, it is.

Favorite programming paradigm?

OO

Favorite branch/area of mathematics?

Fuzzy logic

Favorite physical science?

Physics

Favorite TV series?

Lost or 24

Favorite movie?

Chariots of Fire or The Return of the King

If Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, Richard Stallman, Linus Torvalds, Larry Wall, Bill Joy, and Dennis Ritchie got in a brawl who would win and why?

Steve Jobs - He is smart and buff!

If you could either fly or become invisible at will which would you choose and why?

I would become invisible because then I could also fly whenever I wanted to (free boarding pass!)

When you go to a restaurant and they serve you a beverage, do you use the straw or take it out?

Straw

If you take it out, would you consider using it to throw spit wads at the table across the aisle?

Never - I can do that better without a straw

Favorite band/composer/artist?

Keith Green

What is your opinion of the Dungeon Monkey?

He was my best student ever!

How many messages in your inbox?

2490