<p>My entire career has been spent working with computers. In the early 80's I wrote code on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minicomputer">mini-computers</a>, called such even though they were refrigerator-sized. They weighed up to half a ton and they were priced $50,000 and up. Then, 256 kilobytes of memory cost $10,000. That's equivalent to the size of my company's logo on our website. A memory board was huge, greater than four square feet. Line communications ran painstakingly slow. There were no graphics (under a million dollars), no <a href="http://www.thefreedictionary.com/WYSIWYG">WYSIWYG</a>, no <a href="http://www.thefreedictionary.com/GUI">GUI-interface</a>.<br /><br />I wrote the first email program for a software company. I designed their first company-wide database also, a pseudo-relational, indexed database built nearly from scratch (using <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pick_operating_system">Pick </a>/ <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prime_Computer">Prime Information</a> technology). The sales staff used it for marketing, technicians used it for tracking maintenance contracts, and the administrative staff used it for most of their communications. I configured these computers, performed complex cost accounting for their purchase and sale, and coordinated installations around the country.<br /><br />So much for the past, because it is said that if you live in the past - you're history. So I tend to gravitate away from talk of the earlier days of computing. But I now spend around 60 hours a week on computers, both for work and for my own personal endeavors. I developed and continue to maintain several websites.<br /><br />Primarily, I am an accountant. I would go crazy if I did accounting full-time which is why I pursue other things for balance. I would probably go crazy if I were a full-time programmer as well. But, both accounting and programming have computers in common. So, I've pursued photography (see <a href="http://pbase.com/jrhudson">pbase</a>) and guitar for hobbies. Alas, they are becoming computer-based as well - how ironic. I began photography before it was computer-based but now it is. Fortunately, guitar work can be done without too much immersion in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_processing_unit">CPU's</a>.<br /><br />Geez, my whole life is computer based which brings me to the main focus of this post. At a recent social networking event (pressing the flesh - handshakes, no computers except for an occasional Blackberry and iPhone stealing attention). I met a guy who had his <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twitter">Twitter</a> (<a href="http://twitter.com/">twitter.com</a>) username on his ID tag so I inquired about that. I knew already what Twitter and 'tweets' were, but I asked if Twittering wasn't just a frivolous waste of time. He, an ex-Microsoft employee, defended his <a href="http://www.answers.com/topic/points-of-view">POV</a> on the subject. He said that he got laid off, began <a href="http://webtrends.about.com/od/glossary/g/what-is-a-tweet.htm">tweeting</a>, and found contract work through the Twitter website. Then he graciously excused himself and left for the bar leaving me thinking - am I losing touch? Am I just an old guy who doesn't get it?<br /><br />I offered to put together a website for a group of professionals so that they could all be listed with links to their respective websites - great for <a href="http://www.linksback.org/back-links/practices-crosslinking/">cross-linking</a>! They liked the idea until one month later one of them said that wasn't <a href="http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Web_2.0">Web 2.0</a>-ish enough, that they should do nothing short of <a href="http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/blog">blog</a>. Ok. So, since then, I've Twittered, I've tweeted, cross-linked, and blogged now for two weeks straight. The stats at <a href="http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&amp;safe=off&amp;rls=com.microsoft:en-us&amp;defl=en&amp;q=define:Google+Analytics&amp;ei=RDLgSfi_PImctgOoxrW6CQ&amp;sa=X&amp;oi=glossary_definition&amp;ct=title">Google Analytics</a> show no surge of page views, nothing has gone <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viral_marketing">viral</a>. Though, I am told I should not expect much since <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Search_engine_optimization">SEO</a> takes a lot of patience (plus accounting. being a little less than glamorous, draws few readers).<br /><br />I respect today's technologically adept 20 and 30 year-olds. The hum of today's internet-based commerce seems to be stoked largely, if not primarily, by those younger minds. I find that impressive. However, two years ago I truly believe I lost a contract job because I didn't know what <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digg">Digg</a> was (even though it had nothing to do with the job). At that very moment I first perceived that there was a bias against us <a href="http://dictionary.die.net/old%20fart">old farts</a>, never mind that we were the first generation to grow up with computers in the workplace.</p>
<p>My advice? If you are my age, be afraid, indeed, be very afraid. If you are an aging programmer, don't get left behind by defending old-school technologies. I've seen companies die battling against new technologies. Instead, immerse yourselves in object oriented coding and learn how to work with <a href="http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090125004700AAerKhg">code fragments</a> (not fragmented code). Write code for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_browser">browsers</a> and forget programs that only run on desktops.</p>
<p>Also, don't diminish <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5488683/">online social networking</a> as only a fad, or a waste of time, that it is only for 20 or 30-somethings. And act very interested when you hear terms like Web 2.0, twit, tweet, blog, and all those other recent buz terms. Keep interested, keep up. As <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HAL_9000">HAL</a> said eloquently enough to Dave, "Something wonderful is about to happen."</p>
2009-04-12T01:02:30Z
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to-all-you-old-technology-users-dont-get-passed-by
1
2009-04-13T16:00:00Z
2009-04-13T08:11:45Z
To you old technology adapters, don't get passed by just yet. I coded before browsers, Windows and even DOS. This article provides snippets from the past, a couple milestones, and observations on 'online social networking.'
To All You Old Technology Users - Don't Get Passed By
1
2009-04-14T20:03:16Z