The Spark

I got into computers at an early age. I suppose it was only natural— my father had been involved with computers and programming since university in the mid 60’s, and by the time I was about 6 or 7 he was working with programming enough that he had a computer at home, on which I wrote my first BASIC program at the age of 8 or 9. My first real exposure to the whole world of computers, however, came through a BBC series called The Dream Machine.

The series itself showed everything from Babbage and Blexley Park through to the relatively new 32-bit personal computers which were available at the time. The thing that got me interested though was the information on the Home Brew Computer Club in 1970’s Silicon Valley, and the characters and events which made the greatest impression upon me were the two Steves and the rise of Apple Computer. These two unassuming individuals’ achievements, culminating in the immensely powerful introduction of the Macintosh were the spark which ignited my own desire to work with computers, and to learn more and more about them as I grew older.

More than anything else, I’m thankful for that example. Without it I strongly doubt I would be where I am today.


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