NIU Transforms into an Electronic Century

This lecture will feature guest speaker Herb Kuryliw and will explore the evolution of technology at NIU and how it can change the future.

About the Lecture
Let’s explore how the Northern Illinois University developed computer and network technology over the years. NIU entered the modern era of technology by purchasing its first stand-alone mainframe computer in 1962. As computing needs changed, we saw personal desktop computers around 1978 and the networking of computers beginning around 1986. We started with minimal technology across the university and over the past 58 years now we are using technology in every facet of personal, academic and administrative lives. We went from simple land line telephones and mainframe computers as the first avenue to now using our cell phones, computers, tablets and cloud computing to process transactions for our daily work and personal lives. This lecture will explore the history of computing and networking at NIU and how it evolved over the years to get to where we are today.

About the Speaker
Herb Kuryliw is the Director of Sales and Business Development for iFiber and oversees the executive client relationships with broadband businesses looking to optimize their broadband needs throughout Illinois and surrounding states. He has more than 30 years of experience in developing high-speed networks used for research advancement, administrative resources, academic initiatives and economic development. Before joining iFiber, Herb was the Director of Broadband Development at Northern Illinois University, he secured over $120M in state and federal grants to create open access networks by developing strategic government and private business partnerships bringing high speed open access broadband to the Northern Illinois region.

Part of the 125th Anniversary Lecture Series