Kenneth Bogner Gaining Valuable Experience in Software Engineering

Kenneth Bogner, a junior majoring in Computer Science, is interning at Bird Technologies in Solon this summer. Bird Technologies is a solution provider of radio frequency based products, systems and services that address the needs and applications of wireless OEMs, system providers and end users that are in multiple market segments that include cellular, land mobile radio, broadcast, military and semi-conductor process equipment users. (http://www.bird-technologies.com/AboutUs/MissionStatement.aspx)

As a Software Engineering Intern, Kenneth uses programming language of C and C++ to solve problems that present themselves in projects he is working on. Each project he is given is an actual Bird product, and he works with the embedded programming, the computer programming language that lives in and operates computer-controlled devices, of that product.

"I have been given the opportunity to explore the embedded programming world and have gained a greater knowledge in the process of low-level programming from design to implementation in the software life cycle," Kenneth says of his experience at Bird Technologies.

Kenneth credits AU classes such as: Computer Programming I & II, Discrete Math I & II, Computer Architecture, and Computer Algorithms in helping him succeed in this position.

During the academic year, Kenneth is the student administrator of the UNIX lab in the Mathematics and Computer Science department. He maintains the custom, student-built computers by administering virus and defragmentation scans on a regular basis, as well as keeps inventory of all the hardware and software in the lab. This fall he plans on updating and securing the computers' registries. He is also working on his own software program that will act as a helpdesk for users and will notify administrators of the lab of potential viruses, system updates, unknown errors, and downloads on these computers.

As for the future, Kenneth plans to graduate in May 2014 and obtain a position where he can work in software development.

Interested in learning more about Computer Proramming, Data Structures, Computer Networks, or Robotics? Check out the Computer Science website: http://www.ashland.edu/students/programs/computer-science. We offer a bachelor of science, a bachelor of arts, and a minor in Computer Science.