Data centers such as Teale, whose primary purpose has been to do large-scale computing for customer agencies, will have to evolve as the role of the mainframe changes. Ha said Teale will have a purpose even after mainframe importance shrinks. Ha added that there is more to data centers than just a residence for big computers. But our role is to build infrastructure or the network. The future is the networked computer.
Someone has to provide that technology.
To me, we will be needed more than ever. We build infrastucture so they can move to the new platform, or PC-based system. Some of these jobs could arguably be done by the private sector. Consultants and other companies could help agencies develop and implement systems and networks, possibly for less money. Privatization is a trend sweeping the public sector for the past few years, from garbage to tax collection.