Xref: utzoo comp.misc:2071 can.jobs:199 ont.jobs:339
Path: utzoo!dciem!nrcaer!cognos!glee
From: glee@cognos.uucp (Godfrey Lee)
Newsgroups: comp.misc,can.jobs,ont.jobs
Subject: Re: Software Industry in Canada -- general remarks and questions
Message-ID: <2403@tao.UUCP>
Date: 9 Mar 88 06:10:44 GMT
Article-I.D.: tao.2403
Posted: Wed Mar  9 01:10:44 1988
References: <5358@watdragon.waterloo.edu> <108@bnr-di.UUCP> <1444@looking.UUCP>
Reply-To: glee@cognos.UUCP (Godfrey Lee)
Distribution: comp
Organization: Cognos Inc., Ottawa, Canada
Lines: 46

In article <1444@looking.UUCP> brad@looking.UUCP (Brad Templeton) writes:

>Consider Cognos, around a $100M company.

Well, actually around $75M company, we are working on $100M++. We are also
listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange, and in the U.S. NASDAQ. We have offices
worldwide, dare I say a Canadian multinational?

>Quantum Software Systems' QNX is one of the major Non-DOS OS's

It is used by the Ontario Government for education.


I also know of several firms in Toronto involved with the Commodore Amiga
computer. Comspec sells hardware like memory. Very Vivid sells a system called
Mandala that is a video-interactive system that blows your mind (so reported
many times - wish I could see it). Imagine a projection TV, a person standing
in front of screen, a video camera pointed at person, all hooked up to the
Amiga. Now imagine the computer generates graphics on the screen, and interacts
with the person's movements... the ultimate video game!

>The Xim Database

ZIM database, by Zanthe of Ottawa.

>In Tools, the Coherent operating system, the MKS toolkit, and the various
>less reputable Quaid products like Copywrite.

MKS toolkit is very nice.

Don't forget OfficeSmith, SystemHouse, XIOS, Canadian Geovision,...

>The surprising thing is that these products survive in spite of all the
>problems here, from border crossing difficulties to trade barriers to
>the problems caused by excessive government grants and interference
>(Xanaro, Graham Software).

I, for one, have adopted Canada (came to Canada when I was 18), and like it a
lot. I am glad that the work I am doing is exciting, and the only people doing
comparable work are in Boston, California, or Toronto. [not strictly true, I am
sure, but you know what I mean]
-- 
Godfrey Lee                                      P.O. Box 9707
Cognos Incorporated                              3755 Riverside Dr.
VOICE:  (613) 738-1440   FAX: (613) 738-0002     Ottawa, Ontario
UUCP: decvax!utzoo!dciem!nrcaer!cognos!glee      CANADA  K1G 3Z4