The constant stream of information that I am getting from Twitter, and the Blogs that I follow, is fantastic! Interesting things that I've never thought to look for are popping up here and there. In my quest for information, I stumbled upon something I hadn't noticed before...IT geeks are artists.
I became fascinated with computer technology in 1995. Back then, in business, we were using dumb terminals to look up information. I had used a PC only a few times, and really didn't understand them. The computer class I had way back in highschool taught me the history, but not much about the practical use. And then they put one on my desk. My world was changed forever.
One day someone handed me a CD, and told me to put the files on my PC. Having only used a floppy disc to save information, I had no idea what to do with it. So, I took the CD and put it in the large floppy drive. I put it only part way in thinking the computer would take it the rest of the way, just like the CD player in the car. It didn't move. I pushed it the rest of the way in and waited. Nothing happened. Much to my dismay, I could not find the eject button. Anxiety set in. There was important information on that CD and I didn't know how to retrieve it. My pride did not allow me to go ask for help. I stared at it for a while.
All of a sudden a light went on in my head. I realized what I did. The CD doesn't go in the floppy drive. It goes in the pop out cup holder. (How many times have you heard that joke? ) I slowly leaned sideways so I could see around the corner from my desk. Thankfully, no one was around to see what I was about to do next. I took a paperclip from the drawer and partially straightened it out. Gently, I attempted to pry the CD from the floppy drive. I snaked it back as deep as I could behind the CD, and worried that I was going to electrocute myself. Slowly but surely, it came out far enough to grab it with my fingers and pull it the rest of the way. I put the CD back in its case and put it in the desk drawer. That was enough fun for one day.
The next day I took the CD out and put it in the correct place. The lights flashed on the computer and things happened on my screen. A window popped up and there were the files I needed. Awesome! How do I get them on my computer so I dont have to mess with this CD ever again?
After that incident I vowed to never be that stupid about a computer again. I spent at least 10 minutes every day learning something new about my PC. Once I learned the PC, I went on to figure out the mainframe we used. I became the office expert. When my company merged with another we had to integrate with their system. I was given access to the AS400 about two weeks prior to the formal training. When the "trainer" showed up, I knew more than she did, and even taught her a few things. This was my new passion. I was infected by the IT bug.
Back to my original point, that IT geeks are artists. I have been surfing Twitter for a little more than a month looking for both IS/IT information and writing/publishing tips. What I found was that many of the writers are IT geeks, and the IT geeks are writers, poets, and musicians. The people that I thought were just highly analytical are also creative.
I'm starting to feel so at home.
For some reason, I always grouped IT people with the more analytical types. Being both analytical and creative myself, I saw the art in the technology. But, I never gave much thought to the type of people in the field. The theory is that people who are both analytical and creative use both sides of their brain. (That's not to say that people who use only one half their brain are any less intelligent, or have half the brain power.) I think the technology age caused people, who were typically one side or the other, to stretch their abilities. The amazing technological advances we make month after month require both analysis and creativity.
I became fascinated with computer technology in 1995. Back then, in business, we were using dumb terminals to look up information. I had used a PC only a few times, and really didn't understand them. The computer class I had way back in highschool taught me the history, but not much about the practical use. And then they put one on my desk. My world was changed forever.One day someone handed me a CD, and told me to put the files on my PC. Having only used a floppy disc to save information, I had no idea what to do with it. So, I took the CD and put it in the large floppy drive. I put it only part way in thinking the computer would take it the rest of the way, just like the CD player in the car. It didn't move. I pushed it the rest of the way in and waited. Nothing happened. Much to my dismay, I could not find the eject button. Anxiety set in. There was important information on that CD and I didn't know how to retrieve it. My pride did not allow me to go ask for help. I stared at it for a while.
All of a sudden a light went on in my head. I realized what I did. The CD doesn't go in the floppy drive. It goes in the pop out cup holder. (How many times have you heard that joke? ) I slowly leaned sideways so I could see around the corner from my desk. Thankfully, no one was around to see what I was about to do next. I took a paperclip from the drawer and partially straightened it out. Gently, I attempted to pry the CD from the floppy drive. I snaked it back as deep as I could behind the CD, and worried that I was going to electrocute myself. Slowly but surely, it came out far enough to grab it with my fingers and pull it the rest of the way. I put the CD back in its case and put it in the desk drawer. That was enough fun for one day.
The next day I took the CD out and put it in the correct place. The lights flashed on the computer and things happened on my screen. A window popped up and there were the files I needed. Awesome! How do I get them on my computer so I dont have to mess with this CD ever again?
After that incident I vowed to never be that stupid about a computer again. I spent at least 10 minutes every day learning something new about my PC. Once I learned the PC, I went on to figure out the mainframe we used. I became the office expert. When my company merged with another we had to integrate with their system. I was given access to the AS400 about two weeks prior to the formal training. When the "trainer" showed up, I knew more than she did, and even taught her a few things. This was my new passion. I was infected by the IT bug.
Back to my original point, that IT geeks are artists. I have been surfing Twitter for a little more than a month looking for both IS/IT information and writing/publishing tips. What I found was that many of the writers are IT geeks, and the IT geeks are writers, poets, and musicians. The people that I thought were just highly analytical are also creative.
I'm starting to feel so at home.
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