We used to think of Digital Transformation as an event—a period of time in the life of an organization when it becomes necessary to sweep away old ways of working to embrace modern technologies. Today we’re learning that Digital Transformation is a continuum. Yesterday’s new technology is today’s legacy system.
Nowhere is that realization more pressing than higher education. High performance workstations, often both designed and powered by AI technologies that didn’t exist a few years ago, are transforming research, teaching and learning. According to EDUCAUSE, “digital transformation” is one of the most critical priorities for higher education institutions.
Beyond all the hype about AI driving stock market bets, there is no question of the impact on computing. From lightweight laptops that utilize AI for optimizing security, wifi, and a/v configurations, to GPU-powered workstations that can model data in ways that used to require servers, AI is making waves across the computing spectrum.
In academia, high-performance workstations are now essential for data-intensive research, fueled by a vast new array of data collection techniques from sensors to high-resolution video. In just one example from chemical engineering, painstaking research that used to require one scientist looking through one microscope is now being scaled with hundreds of microscopes capturing hi-res video that is in turn filtered by AI to identify anomalies to be analyzed by a scientist.
This kind of research at scale is what enabled the rapid identification of novel vaccines to fight the Corona Virus. Variations on this theme are unfolding in engineering, agriculture, energy and life sciences.
Similarly, in creative fields like music and film, high-performance workstations are being used to both study and create art in ways never before imagined.
High-performance workstations aren’t just being used in the classroom. According to eCampus News, 80% of colleges and universities in the US will be using AI in admissions this year, to review transcripts, essays and letters of recommendation, and even to communicate with applicants.
While many see this as a sign of declining personalization, administrators are quick to point out that traditional application reviews are often cursory and subjective, due to the high number of applications and limited staff to conduct in-depth material reviews. With the right models and training, administrators believe high-performance computing can improve the quality and objectivity of reviews in ways that can’t be replicated by available human resources.
Outside of administrative tasks, AI-powered computing is also being tapped for enhanced security. According to Sophos, nearly 80% of higher education providers have been hit by ransomware attacks by 2023, up from 64% just the year before. AI enhancements in high-performance computers are being used to automatically tune security settings, identify attacks across distributed networks, and dynamically contain malware threats before they proliferate.
Intech Southwest has long been a leading IT solution provider for higher education. We partner with HP and Wolf Security to bring scalable, customizable solutions to colleges and universities across Texas.
More than an equipment provider, our local specialists work day-to-day with faculty and administrators to bring digital transformation to both the classroom and the back office, from network infrastructure to high-performance workstations for advanced research.
We focus on strategic partnerships between technology providers and educators, because we understand that today’s Digital Transformation is a continuous process that requires specialized support with a responsive, local team.
If you’re starting the new year with a plan to address system upgrades or digital transformation, contact us, we’ll help you make the best decisions for your institution.
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Contact Intech Southwest Services to learn more about what Intech’s team can do to elevate and simplify a variety of IT services for your school district, your company, or your individual office management needs so that you can focus on what you do best - running your organization.
