Neglected Adult School Computers Put to Use

ALAN TAM
News Editor
Nothing is static when it comes to technology. Every year, computers need faster processors, larger memory storage and more appealing designs in order to remain afloat in a competitive market.
Despite the increasingly intrusive nature of budget cuts, these electronic devices have remained a part of school curriculum at AHS. After portions of the adult school program on campus were terminated, thirty computers were left without any potential users. Many of these workstations have been removed and placed in the Industrial Technologies facilities.
The main recipient of these computers has been the architecture and drafting program at AHS. Taught by Oscar Motta, the course instructs students on the basics in completing layouts for buildings. By using the computer program Auto Computer Aided Design (AutoCAD), students can create architectural plans with much more efficiency than by hand.
However, the computers last year were unable to fully access all of the features available in the AutoCAD program.
“The fact that these [computers] were not being used has been a bonus to us,” said Motta. “We have been able to operate [AutoCAD 2004] from them, [which is] something we [were not] able to do on our older [workstations].”
Students also feel that the new workstations are a beneficial addition to the drafting environment.
“We have our applications running [much] faster now,” said senior Tony Chang. “The [specifications] on the new [computers] make it much easier to access our layouts and floor plans.”