A&M International Students Develop Computer Program

Texas A&M International University students have developed a computer program which will give A&M International employees access to the University's computer work order system from virtually any computer in the world via the Internet.

The students, Carol Gomez, Leo Lozano, Mario Peña, and Tyffany Silva, developed the computer program as a project for a course taught by Dr. Sridhar Nerur, assistant professor of Information Systems at A&M International.

The program will be implemented by the University's Computer and Telecommunications Services (CTS), the department which provides A&M International with computer services, as well as telephone and televideo services.

Dr. Nerur explained the students used Java to develop the program. Java is a widely used programming language for the Internet.

"This technology allows almost any computer, regardless of whether it is a UNIX machine, a Macintosh, or a PC, to access the University's computer work order system as long as the computer has access to the Internet," he explained.

The A&M International students employed advanced Java technologies such as Remote Method Invocation (RMI), Java Data Base Connectivity (JDBC), and Java Foundation Classes (JFC) for the project.

"They also incorporated client/server technology, network connectivity, database access, and an advanced user interface and created a Java-based server," added Dr. Nerur.

Lakshmana Viswanath, director of the Computer and Telecommunications Services department, said his department will use the student-created program to provide better service to the University.

"By having our computer work order system on the Internet, any University student or employee who needs to request services from us can do so quickly and easily from any computer. We appreciate the good efforts of the students and Dr. Nerur for working with CTS to make this project possible," said Viswanath.

He noted that the greatest strength of the student-created program is its flexibility.

"Currently, CTS staff are making some changes to the program. Once these changes care made, the program may be implemented on any operating system and can be used with any database," he explained.

For more information on the University's new Internet-based computer work order system, please contact Viswanath at 326-2300. University office hours are 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday - Friday.

Journalists who need additional information or help with media requests and interviews should contact the Office of Public Affairs and Information Services at pais@tamiu.edu