Letters to the Editor
I just finished the Power User column 'In a changing world, computer literacy demands skepticism' <a href="/vol18_no36/enterprise/895-1.html">[<i>GCN</i>, Nov. 8, 1999, Page 33]</a>. I was struck by the notion that we as a people seem to be gradually losing our critical thinking skills in this modern information age.
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There's one born every minute
GCN, Nov. 8, 1999, Page 33
Bryan Stroud
Contracting officer
Numbers don't show NIMA's true loss
Your story quoting Mark E. Schultz, associate director of the National Imagery and Mapping Agency's Geospatial Information Management Division, contained a number of interesting word groupings [GCN, Oct. 11, 1999, Page 36].
One concerned the size of the organization. Yes, the current NIMA work force is approximately 7,200, down about 1,800 since NIMA was established in 1996. More to the point, however, is that the mapmaking contingent, as drawn from the former Defense Mapping Agency, went from a pre-NIMA size of about 7,000 people to less than half that. It is the mapmakers and map handlers who have been squeezed out the door.
The dramatic reduction in the number of seasoned mapmakers has forced the remaining employees to focus their efforts on collecting data, which is then sent to contractors to be made into maps or map data sets.
It is also true that NIMA will probably stop making paper maps for users, but NIMA will have a contractor site generate the paper, if still required, for those users.
To imply that paper maps will not be available is dangerously misleading. After all, the users no longer have the resources to make a rapid migration to the digital world.
John R. Haddick
Production manager, Air Force Customer Support Team
National Imagery and Mapping Agency
Reston, Va.
 | In this issue, on Page 30, we begin a new column on computer security by veteran communications reporter William Jackson. And watch for our next issue, when GCN will have an updated, more contemporary look. |
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