"Tech Talk USA" with Micah Czigan from Georgetown University

Each week on “Tech Talk USA,” our host Jeff Hootselle sits down with experts in the information technology world. This week, Jeff spoke to Micah Czigan from Georgetown University.

The Georgetown University is known world-wide for the prestigious Georgetown Law, McCourt School of Public Policy, Georgetown Medical, and the Walsh School of Foreign Service (with alumni like Pres. Bill Clinton, Philippos Prince of Greece and Denmark, Senator Richard Durban, George Tenet).

To learn more, visit https://www.georgetown.edu

Short company description: The oldest Catholic and Jesuit university in the US. Located in the heart of Washington DC. The Georgetown University is known world-wide for the prestigious Georgetown Law, McCourt School of Public Policy, Georgetown Medical, and the Walsh School of Foreign Service (with alumni like Pres. Bill Clinton, Philippos Prince of Greece and Denmark, Senator Richard Durban, George Tenet).

What is your competitive differentiator?: We are located in the heart of our nation's capital. Students are in close proximity to the halls of power, get to live in an extremely diverse environment, and access to many faculty from Washington's many governmental and non-governmental agencies, cultural organizations, and research institutes.
How did you get started in the technology field?: I started my technology career serving in the US Navy. I worked on advanced encryption systems, and satellite communications. After leaving the Navy, I continued to work in the IT field. It has really allowed me to earn a living doing something I love. Working with tech.

What do you consider to be the biggest challenge when bridging the gap between IT and the overall business for most companies?: Figuring how to make IT do what it's supposed to do: Make things easier, better, faster, more efficient. So often we get caught up in the next shiny thing and forget that IT should really improve the business and make life for people better.

What is the best or most worthwhile technology investment that you have made in the past 10 years?: Buying a raspberry pi. These little devices are amazing. Cheap, fast, efficient. They can do amazing things: run a 3D printer, make an electronic microscope (out of legos), ensure plants are watered right, make a smart mirror. Just about anything.

What are the areas of technology that you see as being the most impactful to the business world in the next 5 years?: IOT. We are finding out more and more things we can do with small, special purpose computers. We don't need a zillion megahertz processor to do so much of what we want. And these are things that can actually make life easier and more enjoyable.