IBM CASCON
Encyclopedia
CASCON is a Computer Science
conference hosted by IBM
in Toronto
that occurs annually in late-October or early-November for 4 days in Markham, Ontario
.
It is sponsored by IBM's Centre for Advanced Studies (CAS) in Toronto
in partnership with the National Research Council Canada.
CASCON provides an opportunity to network with individuals who share an interest in Technology
. Over the years, it has become a focal point for exchanging technological ideas in a wide range of related fields.
Cloud computing
, Business intelligence
, Software development
, Security and Privacy and Web-based systems.
At the conference, awards are given out for Best Paper and Best Student Paper. Criteria for the paper includes originality, clarity and potential impact.https://www-927.ibm.com/ibm/cas/cascon/
Early registration is required as seating is limited to a first-come-first-serve basis. Registration to the conference and its workshops are available on the CASCON site.
hosted its first annual High School Programming Competition with a goal of offering the opportunity for high school students to demonstrate their skills in programming. The competition is based on the Java programming language and comes in the form of a game.
Some of the previous challenges have included:
These programming challenges are available for download. Students are given the competition game prior to the date of the event and are encouraged to come up with strategies and algorithms for their team. Teams consist of 2-students each and come from high schools across the Greater Toronto Area
in Ontario, Canada.
and the University of Toronto
.
High school teachers have the chance to develop their skills and gather lesson plan ideas that meet the needs in the current Computer Science curriculum.
Computer science
Computer science or computing science is the study of the theoretical foundations of information and computation and of practical techniques for their implementation and application in computer systems...
conference hosted by IBM
IBM
International Business Machines Corporation or IBM is an American multinational technology and consulting corporation headquartered in Armonk, New York, United States. IBM manufactures and sells computer hardware and software, and it offers infrastructure, hosting and consulting services in areas...
in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
that occurs annually in late-October or early-November for 4 days in Markham, Ontario
Markham, Ontario
Markham is a town in the Regional Municipality of York, located within the Greater Toronto Area of Southern Ontario, Canada. The population was 261,573 at the 2006 Canadian census...
.
It is sponsored by IBM's Centre for Advanced Studies (CAS) in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
in partnership with the National Research Council Canada.
About
CASCON was established in 1990, with the goal of showcasing the various research projects in progress by individuals in academia, industry and the general public.CASCON provides an opportunity to network with individuals who share an interest in Technology
Technology
Technology is the making, usage, and knowledge of tools, machines, techniques, crafts, systems or methods of organization in order to solve a problem or perform a specific function. It can also refer to the collection of such tools, machinery, and procedures. The word technology comes ;...
. Over the years, it has become a focal point for exchanging technological ideas in a wide range of related fields.
Technical Papers
Each year, a panel of judges review submissions for the Best Paper Awards. A list of topics are announced many months prior to the event and usually revolve around the theme of the conference (which varies each year). Some of the topics for this year's (2009) technical paper includes:Cloud computing
Cloud computing
Cloud computing is the delivery of computing as a service rather than a product, whereby shared resources, software, and information are provided to computers and other devices as a utility over a network ....
, Business intelligence
Business intelligence
Business intelligence mainly refers to computer-based techniques used in identifying, extracting, and analyzing business data, such as sales revenue by products and/or departments, or by associated costs and incomes....
, Software development
Software development
Software development is the development of a software product...
, Security and Privacy and Web-based systems.
At the conference, awards are given out for Best Paper and Best Student Paper. Criteria for the paper includes originality, clarity and potential impact.https://www-927.ibm.com/ibm/cas/cascon/
Workshops
Workshops are held throughout the conference in the form of tutorials and hands-on. Workshop hosts come from a variety of backgrounds. Any individual is free to submit an application and request to host a workshop. The workshops are then selected and the public is given notice of the workshops that will be available during the conference.Early registration is required as seating is limited to a first-come-first-serve basis. Registration to the conference and its workshops are available on the CASCON site.
Technology Showcase
The Technology Showcase is open throughout the 4-day conference and includes poster displays and demonstrations of new technological innovations. These displays demonstrate on-going research projects of graduate students from universities as well as those from industry. It allows communication and networking in a non-formal setting.High School Programming Competition
In 2005, a group of student interns working at the IBM Toronto Software LabIBM Toronto Software Lab
The IBM Toronto Software Lab is the largest software development laboratory in Canada, and IBM's third largest software lab. Established in 1967 with 55 employees, the Toronto Lab now has 2,500 employees developing some of IBM's leading middleware software...
hosted its first annual High School Programming Competition with a goal of offering the opportunity for high school students to demonstrate their skills in programming. The competition is based on the Java programming language and comes in the form of a game.
Some of the previous challenges have included:
- CodeRally (2005) http://www.alphaworks.ibm.com/tech/coderally
- CodeInvaders (2006) http://www.alphaworks.ibm.com/tech/codeinvaders
- CodeRuler (2007) http://www.alphaworks.ibm.com/tech/coderuler
- CodeColony or "I Have a Code" (2008) https://www-927.ibm.com/ibm/cas/cascon2008/hspc/index.html
- CodeRally (2009) http://www.alphaworks.ibm.com/tech/coderally
These programming challenges are available for download. Students are given the competition game prior to the date of the event and are encouraged to come up with strategies and algorithms for their team. Teams consist of 2-students each and come from high schools across the Greater Toronto Area
Greater Toronto Area
The Greater Toronto Area is the largest metropolitan area in Canada, with a 2006 census population of 5.5 million. The Greater Toronto Area is usually defined as the central city of Toronto, along with four regional municipalities surrounding it: Durham, Halton, Peel, and York...
in Ontario, Canada.
Teachers Technology Workshops
During the competition, high school teachers are given the opportunity to attend workshops specifically catered to them as Computer Science teachers. In the past several years of the event, the workshops have been hosted by Lecturers from the Computer Science faculty at the University of WaterlooUniversity of Waterloo
The University of Waterloo is a comprehensive public university in the city of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. The school was founded in 1957 by Drs. Gerry Hagey and Ira G. Needles, and has since grown to an institution of more than 30,000 students, faculty, and staff...
and the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
.
High school teachers have the chance to develop their skills and gather lesson plan ideas that meet the needs in the current Computer Science curriculum.