Continuous Learning
I have been continuously learning about technology since the late 80’s. With as far as technology has come along, it’s mind-boggling to think where technology will bring us. It has connected us virtually while disconnecting us from reality. It has also allowed us to make ourselves more efficient in some ways and obsolete in others. The way technology continues to evolve and the impact both it and I could have on society is what drives me.
Early Days of Computing
I first became interested in computers when I found an old Tandy computer system at my great grandmother's house. Since I couldn’t figure out how to make it do anything at first, I went to the library to get any type of book I could find about it or how it worked. I found several programming books and started typing in all different types of code and found out how to get it to do things and tinker with it. I started figuring out how to make all kinds of different programs and scripts in BASIC that were even interactive!
My First Real Computer
My parents bought me my first real computer as a Christmas gift when I was 8 years old. It was an IBM PS/1, 25 MHz 486SX Processor, 4 MB RAM (which I later upgraded to 8 MB), 170 MB hard drive, a 3.5″ floppy drive, and a 5.25″ that I installed as well later on. Oh… and internet floppies were included for both Prodigy and Promenade internet services on the 2400 baud internal ISA Modem it came with (pre-America Online). Top of the line at the time! I was so excited I don’t think I slept for days. I opened it, studied it inside and out, learning about what each piece does and what else I could do with it.
Inspiration from Movies and Shows
If you are looking for some good movies or series to get into, here are a few that pushed me even further down the rabbit hole and I love to watch to this day:
- The all-time classic "Hackers" with Angelina Jolie got me started playing with Social Engineering, Hacking, and Phreaking techniques.
- My life growing up feels a bit like the TV show "Halt & Catch Fire", but more accurately relatable is the British TV Comedy Series, "The IT Crowd".
- My favorite documentary-type movie is "TakeDown", which tells the true story of the hacker Kevin Mitnick.
- Finally, there is "Antitrust", which I personally saw as a story about Microsoft trying to take over the world through satellite systems and stolen code.
Thanks for stopping by!
- TJ