Atomic Talk Title: Discovering Lost Test Automation Fundamentals

Todays tester seems to identify skills as a list of technologies and associated tools. But saying you are “skilled at JIRA or JAVA or SELENIUM” says absolutely nothing about your actual software testing skills nor about how these so called skills can be of value to stakeholders.

In this talk Rob Sabourin will use some reelevating historic examples of wonderful lost test automation skills drawn from historic examples. Rob will look at the skills of testers automating models of system usage from the 1870s when testers championed the evolution and integrity of telegraph systems. Rob will share the cool test automation skills shared in the 1904 Testing Conference in which environment simulation combined with dynamic analysis enable realistic testing of Steam Locomotives in a controlled environment. And then Rob will share the amazing test automation skills based on his fathers use of Test automation for telecom switching systems from the early 1940s predating digital computing and driving a career evolving modern telecommunication systems.

Rob’s dynamic style and practical insights will shine a light on the skills that matter and the exciting influence great testing can have on projects products business and the evolution of the world we live in too.

Talk Takeaways

• Test automation skills are about problem solving.
• Test automation skills can be independent of specific technologies.
• Test automation predates digital computing by over a century.
• Testers have had influence the evolution and advancement of technologies