Odyssey '98: Visitors Brave the Rain and Praise the Event

Odyssey '98:

Visitors Brave the Rain and Praise the Event

by Aviva Luria

Although El Niño may have dampened attendance, hundreds of faculty, students, and staff braved the rain on May 28 to attend the Odyssey '98 Technology Showcase in Freeborn Hall. Campus and community members toured the 43 exhibits and attended 9 tutorials scheduled throughout the day. People not only observed what was on display, but were seen discussing, debating, advising, and describing their technology experiences.

Odyssey, which was held for the first time in 1996, is intended to bring together the campus community to discuss technology-related issues and to allow faculty, students, and staff to showcase innovative uses of technology. To accomplish this mission, the Odyssey '98 team enlisted faculty, staff, and students to serve on the Odyssey Advisory Board and to build on the success of past Odyssey events. This year, 10 presentations by members of the campus community addressed various aspects of information technology, from remote access and distance education to the California Digital Library and the use of fractals in fashion design. Volunteers from various campus constituencies gave of their time, expertise, and enthusiasm to make Odyssey '98 a reality.

Odyssey '98 visitors explored a wide array of technology exhibits and exchanged information with presenters from various campus departments.

Feedback provided by participants on surveys at the Technology Showcase and presentations was very positive, with comments addressing the sharing of information, the introduction to new technologies and new people, the quality of booths and presentations, and the variety of topics and departments represented. Student Di Norman of the McNair Scholars Research Program wrote, "Great resource! I solved three major computer problems/issues for my work at the McNair Program, including finding a Web server that doesn't crash, Quicktime and streamlining images for the Web, and ergonomics. This was very useful. "

Illustrating the unique opportunity to learn from other members of the campus community, faculty member Gary Marty of Veterinary Medicine wrote, "I liked the chance to talk to people about the many possibilities for technology transfer available at UCD." He added that a favorite booth was that of the Veterinary School's Computer Assisted Learning Facility (CALF). "My office is only a few doors away from the facility, but I had never talked to the staff until today."

Bonnie Holt (Art and Art History) discusses her image database project with Odyssey '98 visitors.

Staff member Phil Knox of Student Special Services was impressed by Odyssey's "absolutely astonishing demonstrations of new technology. " Another staff member (who didn't provide a name) wrote that Odyssey "gave me a chance to see what people are doing with technology. Since I'm still slow to think in these terms, I liked the opportunity to broaden my horizons vicariously! "

Exhibitors and presenters also provided positive feedback. Undergraduate physics student Miguel Garcia, who assisted Physics Lecturer Rodney Cole at his booth at the Technology Showcase said he found Odyssey '98 to be worthwhile. " [N]ow more people know about my work and they like it, " he wrote. He added that the "discussion of [our] project with guests has helped generate new ideas to improve tutorials" in use in the physics classroom.

"I've met many people doing similar work on campus who I may not have otherwise met, " said staff member Karen Beardsley of the Information Center for the Environment.