Geek Mystique

February 1997 / Bits / Geek Mystique

Internet by the Numbers

More interesting numbers highlighting the Internet's popularity, as compiled by Win Treese (treese@OpenMarket.com):

Number of e-mail address entries per person on the MIT alumni contribution form: 2
Number of U.S. states publishing wanted lists of child-support offenders on the Internet: 7
Percentage of comics in the Boston Globe with Internet addresses: 63
Percentage of the first 20 ads appearing in the October 1996 issue of Scientific American that contain Web addresses: 75
Percentage of the first 20 ads appearing in the October 1996 issue of Scientific American that contain toll-free phone numbers: 70

Wanted: Legacy Coders

Legacy code returns as the latest fashion? The so-called year-2000 problem has created a need for COBOL programmers. Peter Ernst, a branch manager in Woburn, Massachusetts, for General Employment Enterprises, a Chicago-based technology search firm, confirms that his company will even recruit qualified programmers out of retirement. Comments Ernst: "We've primarily seen an increase in the need for contractors, but we've seen demand increase for full-time programmers as well."

Go to next article: Office 97 Wins Best of Comdex

Matthew Wilson
My approach to software engineering is far more pragmatic than it is theoretical--and no language better exemplifies this than C++.

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