The west wall features three framed still lifes that were created, Porter says, by SFA students using a computer painting system developed in the BU graphics lab. Opposite that hangs a blowup of Porter's old Mercedes. I may be the only person in the United States who knows how to put the exhaust system in one of those. Every time I look underneath one, they've got it in backwards. Figuring out what makes things run has always been among Porter's strengths.
Computers are a lot more complex now because of the chip technology.
For the past 11 years, Porter has been BU's associate provost for information technology. His vice presidency is only the latest step in what has been a path of steady ascent since he joined the staff as a systems programmer in 1974. It was in a basement. Porter parlayed his operator's position into the job as programmer. People were impressed, and a little disturbed, by the level of expertise he had attained.