Reyyan Ayfer works at «Bilkent University», as Chair Department of Computer Technology and Programming (Ankara, Turkey). She’s also the Director of the Publications Office of the university and Ambassador member of the ACM Comitte on Women in Computing (ACM-W). Let’s talk about her experiences.
Reyyan Ayfer, from Ankara, Turkey
Hello Reyyan, Where did you born? Where did you began to study computing? And, when did you began to use Macintosh?
Hi! I was born in Ankara, Turkey. I am one of those lucky people who lived the history of computing. When I was a student at the Mathematics Department of Middle East Technical University in the year 1973, there were only mainframes. We had to punch our programs and feed to a card reader and wait at least one day to see the compilation errors… We had to write our own text processing programs for producing computer output documents. Computer Engineering Department was offering only graduate degree and offering elective courses those years. After completing my Mathematics undergraduate degree, I continued as a graduate student and as a research assistant at the Computer Engineering Department. I had the chance to write programs for various types of computers running under various operating systems during the years I worked for the industry. Anyway, this is a long story… I started to use a Macintosh computer in the year 1995 when I was in charge of producing a weekly newsletter for my current university, Bilkent University, which is in Ankara too.
Here, in Spain is difficult to find very many girls at informatics campus yet. Can you explain us a little women students situation in your country, please? Do you think females number in this area is growing up there?
In my country, only 20% women choose the area of computing for their higher education. Although the number of women choosing this subject is increasing, the percentage has not changed in the last 5 years. You may find the exact numbers in the web page of Turkish Women in Computing: http://wic.bilkent.edu.tr.
Actually you are professor on Database management, programming languages, data structures. How many students are at the Computer Centre? Can you explain us the computers centre resources, hard, soft, internet conections…?
At Bilkent University, there are 3 different departments related with computer science: Computer Engineering (which is a department of Faculty of Engineering), and two vocational school departments, the Department of Computer Techonology and Information Systems (leading to a BSc degree), the Department of Computer Technology and Programming (a two year department leading to an AS degree). There are around 500 students in Computer Engineering, around 250 students in Computer Technology and Information Systems, and 180 students in the two-year Computer Technology and Programming Department. The ratio of females vs males is higher in the vocational departments.
Do you have Macintosh computers at Bilkent University for students use? any research made in mac, in future perhaps?
Macintosh computers are mostly used by the students of the Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture. There are 4 labs with around 60 Macintosh computers, mostly G4s and iMacs.
You are Director of the Publications Office too. Tell us about the publications you are envolved on, please. Is there any on-line?
The Publications Office is responsible for the university catalogs, brochures, posters, CDs, etc. These are published materials. The contents of all these published material exist in a different format in the university web site.
What hard and soft do you use actually?
Throughout the university what we call PCs (personal computers) and UNIX/LINUX systems are widely used (around 4000). Since our aim here is to talk about Macs here, I will describe our Mac systems: we use G4 systems. The most frequently used software are PhotoShop, QuarkXpress, FreeHand and Office applications for the Mac for compatibility with PC users.
What do you think about new X system?
We will soon have a system running under X for the Publications Office. As a UNIX user, I find it very clever to have UNIX operating system at the background.
Lets talk about ACM Comitte on Women in Computing events. Which are your objetives at this international comitte? Can you tell us about ACM´s researchs, programs, etc.?
As explained in the web site ACM W (ACM Women in Computing) aims to engage in activities and projects that aim to improve the working and learning environments for women in computing. This includes promoting activities that result in more equal representation of women in CS such as mentoring or role modeling, monitoring the status of women in industrial and academic computing through the gathering of statistics, providing historical information about women’s accomplishments and roles in CS, and serving as a repository of information about programs, documents and policies of concern to women in CS.
The ambassadors are responsible to provide a communication link between their country and ACM W.
Do you know any Mac user group at Turkey?
There are many Mac users groups in Turkey and elmakurdu (which means «apple worm» in Turkish) is the most popular one.
Do you have a Mac at home?
No, I am using a PC at home. My two sons and my husband have installed Linux where MS Windows is an icon that can be minimized J
And, what should you say to a newbie woman Mac user?
I would tell that they are lucky to start with a Mac because it’s easy to learn, easy to use and they will face less system es…
Thank you very much for your answers for faq-mac. We hope to know more about you on future.
Best whishes for your projects.
