Bio: Alison Neal

Printer-friendly version

This Clarion Bio was originally published on the Icetips News Network

Bio: Alison Neal
28-Nov-2001 -- Susan Pichotta
 
This week, we are pleased to present an interview with a relative newcomer to Clarion. Ali is a true techie (other than the odd horse here and there;). Of course, being a techie includes enjoying life... food, drink... <g>
 
Who do you work for?
I work for Asset Information Systems (AIS) which is a division of Asset Forestry Ltd (AFL). Relevant websites:
 
www.asset.co.nz
www.infosystems.co.nz
www.k2vi.com
www.kaimahi.co.nz
www.flex.co.nz
www.kiwiforests.co.nz
 
AFL is a forestry management company, contracting to organisations such as Carter Holt Harvey, Fletcher Challenge Forests and Rayonier. AFL has developed several in-house systems to enhance its competitive advantage.
 
The AIS subsidiary was formed in 1998 as a means of giving recognition to the development personnel and their added value. Since then AIS has become increasingly involved with the development and management of information systems for external organisations. This has meant that AIS has branched away from the forestry industry and gained exposure in many different industries. AIS has become a one-stop shop for any organisation serious about creating a competitive advantage from technology.
 
Marketing pitch over...
 
Personally, I've been considering a move to contracting and am keeping an eye open for a Junior/Intermediate Telecommuting role.
 
What do you like best about what you do now?
Being able to yell at the boss... without him taking it personally <BG>.
 
What has been one of your biggest challenges in using Clarion?
Only being new to the Clarion world, I suspect that my biggest challenge is yet to come. Getting my head around complex API calls has been fun.
 
What has been one of your biggest challenges in business?
Being taken seriously <BG>....
I wonder why that is?!
 
Do you use any computer languages besides Clarion?
Academically I've worked with numerous languages (inc. Basic, Pascal, Access, DB III & IV, Prolog, Cobol, VB, C/C++, ASA 7.0 and Clips).
 
I've used VB Script for web development and some C/C++ for a small amount of work I've done for K2VI (www.k2vi.com ). K2VI is a piece of Virtual Reality software (a.k.a artificial environment software), that is built to run successfully on a 486. Meaning no expensive hardware requirements. One of the things I looked at was a polygon reduction algorithm. In English.... every image is rendered as a polygon (in this case - triangles), the idea being that your perspective in the environment should match your perspective in reality. For example, things at a distance and things in your peripheral vision are blurred. One way of doing this was to collapse the triangles not in the range of direct vision, which also means that the machine doesn't need to render all the polygons consistently. For every point of the triangle there is an X, Y and Z coordinate. The triangle is then collapsed by finding the shortest side and making the two points equal the same values, which means you end up with a single straight line.
 
Most of our Clarion Applications either use ASA 7.0 or TPS. You can't really count Crystal Reports as a language.
 
When did you start using Clarion?
About 2 years ago the company head hunted my partner Matthew for PC/LAN Support. I came with him from Wellington for his interview and they mentioned they may like to hire me as well. I was working for Telecom NZ at the time implementing data circuits and transferred to the Auckland office. After awhile I found that I wasn't really enjoying the atmosphere of the Auckland office so I quit, intending on having a sight-seeing holiday. Asset offered me a job as a junior programmer at that point. I didn't get my holiday.
 
Since then Matthew has been promoted to boss... hence my previous comment about being able to yell at the boss.
 
What's the coolest project(s) you've worked on using Clarion?
Well I still only do small stuff so, I'd have to say it's the network security applications I've been working on. I think there's about 39 API calls involved.
 
Have you done anything for a living other than software development?
Yup, lots only a few worth writing home about though. After polytech I went to work for Caltex Oil NZ as a helpdesk operator. Yup, the lowest of the low. After three years I worked my way through PC/LAN support to Marketing Systems Analyst. It involved playing with EFTpos equipment and forecourt controllers. The best part of the job was bug tracking and locating lost money and litres of fuel. After that I went to work for Telecom, at first working with the Intelligent Network and then later implementing data circuits. Telecommunications companies generally pay quite well in comparison to other industries.
 
What are your hobbies/what do you like to do when you're not using Clarion?
Hmmm... that's a toughie. I was into horses in a big way from the age of 9 to about 18. Recently I've been contemplating getting back into it. I also read a lot. In recent years I've progressively become more and more of a couch fungi. Possibly my newest hobby would be arguing with Steve Parker <BG>.
 
All these photos are of me on Zoe when I was about 13/14 years old. This particular one is patahanui one day event.
 
And we have lift off Houston.
 
More horses .... Ho hum...Please ignore position of riders elbows <g>
 
And horses rear end....
 
Where were you born?
Paraparaumu NZ, 12:30am 26th Semptember 1972.
Say that three times quickly <BG>.
 
Paraparaumu is on the Kapiti coast and is about a 45 minute drive from Wellington. From anywhere on the Kapiti coast you can stand on the beach and look across to Kapiti Island. I went there once on a school trip, climbed to the top of the Island and looked over the other side. It's amazing, apart from it being a bird reserve, when you look out you realise that its only really half an island. While the side facing the coast is all lush the other side is a sheer cliff face. Its been battered away by big seas and has acted as a breaker for the main coast. Terrifying when you look at it really.

This is me at age 2. Don't ask me why this photo got chosen.
 
Where do you live now?
Auckland.
 
What's interesting about where you live?
It's surrounded on three sides by water and has about 17 volcanoes. Why would anyone in their right mind want to live in this city?
 
Have you lived any other interesting places?
Ignoring the earthquakes and the fact that the place is built on reclaimed land, Wellington is a cool city. I lived on Mt. Victoria which is in the centre of the city and it was a 5 minute walk down the hill to the city proper. There are over 200 bars and restaurants within walking distance. And its right on the harbour. You get used to the earthquakes after awhile.
 
If you're ever in Wellington I recommend Il Casino on Tory street. The food is absolutely delicious. If you're on a budget however, the Hong Kong caf� isn't bad. Particularly if you go in a group, they do a nice Peking duck. Just ignore the exterior of the building.
 
If you really want a taste of young kiwi culture then Cuba Street is the best place to be, sit in the window of Midnight Espresso late at night, and you'd be amazed at what you learn <BG>. Other hot spots include; The Lido on a Sunday night for a touch of jazz, Bar Bodega & Caf� Bodega any night of the week for something alternative, Shed 5 on a Friday night for something a bit more sophisticated. The Plaza Hotel does a cocktail evening on a Friday night... first place I ever tasted a pina colada and I can still remember it <BG>. There's also the token Irish bars like Molly Malones (for Guinness) and The Glass House (for many many different types of Scotch & Whiskey).
 
As you can guess I've attended most of the 200+ at some point. To say that's all Wellington has to offer would be wrong. There's also Government and Te Papa of course.
 
Which person, from past or present, do you most admire and why?
What a question... do you have an hour? Sorry, Steve you're no. 2 on my list. So as not to upset anyone, I'll pick Orinoco Womble.... 'cause he was green.
 
   "Underground, Overground wombling free,
   The wombles of Wimbledon common are we,
   Making good use of the things that we find,
   The things that the everyday folk leave behind."
 
Now if that's not a motto to live by I don't know what is.
 
What is your favorite food?
Lasagne followed by Apple Crumble.
 
What is your favorite drink?
Alcoholic: (I have a sweet tooth) Butterscotch Schnapps, Black Russian, Baileys
 
Non Alcoholic: Water
 
What is your favorite type of music?
My taste is Eclectic. My all time favourite has to be U2 - particularly the Joshua tree. At the moment though I'm getting into baroque.
 
If Clarion never existed, what do you think you would be doing at this time?
Professional student. I've just finished an extramural BA from Massey University and would like to look at some different subjects. English Lit. was my major, and minors included Computer Science, Information Systems and Philosophy. Previously I'd done my INCBC (National Cert. In Business Computing), proficiency certificate in Human development, Teachers studies in Maori, music and literature. Maori sounds like an odd topic to do, but when I was 14 I was in the first secondary bilingual class in the country, so it was a natural progression. All of my studies (except the INCBC) have been by correspondence and it's a good thing when you don't want a student loan, but not so good when you want to bounce ideas off of other people.
 
Anything else you want to mention?
Remember you're a womble...
 
This is a shot from Queenstown, South Island. Well worth a trip if you're down this way.