why ::: @ic_coates
My interest in IT & ICT was probably triggered by playing with magnets, marvelling at radio and television technology and watching the Apollo moon landings in 1969 and seeing the electronic systems inside the lunar module and mission control. Much later directly through my extraordinary long-time friend Tom Whiteside who had just started utilising a new device called a Microwriter this had 6 keys, a small LED screen and was designed for word processing using just one hand. It was reported that people could type over 90 words per/minute. I thought it was very cool and quickly learnt the quite intuitive key combinations for entering letters and punctuation. We later got it to talk with a printer via an RS-232 port. Some years later, I was trying to program a digital lighting system as a means of simply recording multiple lights and intensity levels over time potentially for use in television broadcasts.
Again through Tom, I became interested in spreadsheets and databases that could retain, query and share information. I realised such databases and queries could allow you to gain insights that would assist in decision making.
I believed in sharing information, sharing systems, improving information, improving systems - open source software - exemplifies what is possible. If its used for improving communication, health, education, agriculture, eco-systems, water supplies, the planet then it benefits everyone.
It is also said that searching for and then employing / paying the best minds to research and develop systems and software is a better method but requires a wealth based format for people to pay for the 'best' systems and software... Not everyone can afford to pay for this more exclusive - elite approach
Having used a daily notes journal for years, and seeing the progress a friend was making using a blog and twitter. I thought I'd explore these online media further. Mainly as somewhere to share my thoughts about some of the technology, environmental & health challenges, education, arts and media that I'm involved in and to broaden my interactions in these areas. The views expressed are my own and bear no affiliation to other individuals or organisations.
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