One of Europe's oldest computer societies
The Norwegian Computer Society turned 40 years in 1993, and is thus one of Europe's oldest computer societies. The NCS has its roots in the beginning of the fifties. It all started with the "Punchcard club Team" in 1953, which was tied to IBM interest organisations.
The "Punchcard club" changed name in the beginning of the sixties to the Norwegian Computer Application Society (Norsk Databehandlingsforening - DBF). The society was for the most part made up of representatives from companies that used computer technology for administration purposes. At the same time another computer society was created, the Norwegian Society for Electronic Information Application (Norsk Selskap for Elektronisk Databehandling - NSEI). This society had its roots in the research and development institutions. The two societies co-existed for a long time, sometimes filling each others needs, until common interests led to their union in 1976. The name chosen for the new organisation was The Norwegian Computer Society (Den Norske Dataforening - DND).
The Computer Society has followed the evolution of society and the computer industry during these years, from the time computers were thought of as huge, mystical machines - to today's focus on information technology, solutions and applications.
The Norwegian Computer Society (NCS) is Norway's national society of IT-professionals and users, encompassing the IT-industry, corporations in general and research and development institutions. The NCS is an independent and wholly self-financed society. The NCS today has more than 10.700 registered persons as members, and more than 1.150 company members.
Advancement of optimal IT usage
The major goal of the society is to increase awareness of the possibilities of information technology, and to contribute to advancement and optimal usage of the technology for businesses and the society alike. This is done through membership meetings, seminars, conferences and exhibitions, publications and activities towards governmental, political and public institutions and authorities. To a very large degree, the activities within the society are driven by members on a voluntary basis.
Countrywide representation
The NCS has a countrywide representation, with nine local societies representing Norway's districts from north to south. The society's strategy and activities are co-ordinated by the main board, which is headed by the society's president and in which each local society is represented by their chairmen. The NCS owns Servicekontoret AS, a limited company which co-ordinates day-to-day operation and the administrative services. 16 people are employed in Servicekontoret AS, which is managed by the CEO.
International affiliations
The NCS is a member of the Nordic Data Union, the Council of European Professional Informatics Societies (CEPIS), and the International Federation of Information Processing (IFIP). Norway currently holds the past president position in IFIP, and the vice-presidency in CEPIS. The NCS attaches great importance to international work, which is a prioritised strategic area.
Major NCS goals for 1995
Events - including international events (IFIP) - in 1995/1996
NCS is responsible for organising a large number of different seminars, conferences and exhibitions. There were 102 of these events in 1994. And of course the membership meetings are also the responsibility of NCS, and there were a total of 128 such meetings in 1994.
These are some of the events in 1995/1996:
Product development:
Special offers to personal members / Company members
NCS is working to improve and renew the special offers to the members in accordance with the different target groups in the member base. The work has just begun to promote the Society on the World Wide Web (http://www.dnd.no/), and the start up of a BBS (Bulletin Board System) is imminent. The BBS will contain numerous newsgroups and conferences, designed to fit the different interests of the members. The different working groups will all have their own newsgroup, and the main board will also have a separate and restricted area at its disposal.
The Society offers its members a very affordable contract with an Internet service provider, and also a quality modem at a reasonable price. The offer has been a success, and other offers are planned. Night-tutorials are offered for those who wish to learn more about Internet, and activities and special offers targeted at kids and youth are in the works.
Special offers have also been developed for company members, such as the publication "Checklist for an IT strategy" and opportunity to check the soundness of IT contracts (purchase contracts and software licences) that the companies wish to get a second opinion on. This last offer is done in co-operation with specialist lawyers. Also offered to our members are reports from international analytical firms, such as ButlerBloor, at bargain rates.
NCS Publications
New target groups
The Society is about to put together several offers for the private market, and is planning to arrange the exhibition Hjem&Data (Home&Data) in 1996. The exhibition is expected to draw children and youth and those computer beginners who have a certain curiosity for the technology. A new membership group specially for youth has been initiated, and children and youth are a new target group for the Society, as are teachers and the public school system.
Activities towards governmental and political authorities
NCS works toward politicians, governmental and public institutions in order to influence the legislation made in relation to telecommunication and national IT strategies. The Society has a good working relationship with the different sections of the government, and is engaged in the follow-up of policy decisions and legislation. NCS works toward putting IT political matters on the national agenda.
Who's who?
President: Marie Haavardtun, CEO
Norwegian Computing Center,
PO Box 114 Blindern, N-0314 Oslo
CEO: Stig Arff
The Norwegian Computer Society
PO Box 8874 Youngstorget, N-0028 Oslo, Norway
IFIP GA-representative: Asbjørn Rolstadås, Past President
University of Trondheim, N-7034 Trondheim-NTH, Norway
CEPIS representative: Nils Høeg, Senior Vice President
(CEPIS vice president) Norsk Hydro, PO Box 190, N-1321 Stabekk, Norway
How to reach the Norwegian Computer Society
Address: The Norwegian Computer Society,
PO Box 8874 Youngstorget, N-0028 Oslo, Norway
Telephone: +47 22 36 48 80
Facsimile: +47 22 36 37 01
E-mail: dnd@oslonett.no
World Wide Web: http://www.dnd.no/
The NCS Working Groups
NCS has three national working groups:
In addition NCS has 33 local working groups within separate fields of expertise. All the working groups are tied to the Societies nine local societies, who are responsible for the working groups' finances and their activities. The main board of the Society has as one of its responsibilities to encourage the inception of working groups in central fields of expertise.
Activities in the working groups range from; membership meetings, projects, in-depth studies, seminars, information distribution, informal meetings, and so on. The goal is that the Society should have 40 working groups in action this year, which is a significant increase in member activity in the Society.
The local Working Groups:
NCS East:
Data- and Telecommunication
Leader: Lasse Berntzen,UiO, Odontologisk fakultet
Databases and Tools
Leader: Sigurd Fjeld, Avenir
EDI and Electronic trade
Leader: Marianne Kallevik, Telenor Datacom
Information Security
Leader: Siri Mollatt, Norsk Hydro
Internet
Leader: Terje Berg, Bridge
IT and Education
Leader: Timothy Stevens, Cap Computas
Logistics, Time and Quality
Leader: Tor B. Sjoner, ISI AS
Management and Strategy
Leader: Gunnar Bråthen, Høyskolen BI
Methods
Leader: Bjørn Embretsen, Norgit Senteret
Norwegian Software Measurement Group
Leader: Petter Sætherbakken, Oracle Norway.
Project Leadership and Quality Securing.
Contact: Martin Bolstad, Andersen Consulting
User friendly IT-systems (HCI)
Leader: Gautam Ghosh, Human Factors Solutions
Forum for User Documentation
Leader: Laura Arlov, Andersen Consulting
Forum for Storage Management
Leader: Einar Karlsen, Bankenes betalingssentral
Forum for Service Management
Leader: Trond Lemberg, selvst.næringsdrivende
NCS South:
IT and Education
Contact: Sture Johansen
IT and Ethics
Contact: Egil Eik
IT, Strategi and Management
Leader: Willy Dertz, Vest-Agder Energiverk
IT and Women
Contact: Anne Torunn Hvideberg
LAN
Leader: Lasse Worum, UECC AS
NCS Rogaland
Management and Strategy
Leader: Dag Høiland, ISI AS
Software for the Petroleum Industry
Leader: Hans Stokka, Oljedirektoratet
System Developement
Leader: Gerrit Niijdam, Delfi Data.
Telecommunication
Leader: Bernt Johansen, Rogaland Fylkeskommune.
NCS Bergen-Hordaland
BPR - Business Process Reengineering
Leader: Jon Iden, Universitetet i Bergen
Document Inspection
Leader: Gro A. Nesse, Bergen Kommune
NCS Trøndelag
Management and Strategy
Leader: Vegard Stuan, Cap Computas
Payment Methods and Distribution
Contact: Jakob Lindgård.
Public Sector
Leader: Anne Hofstad, Regionssykehuset i Trondheim
NCS Troms:
DAK/GIS
Contact: Roger Karlsen, Barlindhaug.
Multimedia/Internet
Contact: Terje Dalen, Norut IT
Tele medicine
Leader: Olaug Råd, Spacetec
NCS Finnmark:
IT and Development of Rural Districts
Contact: Arlid Jansen, Høgskolen i Finnmark.