As about 10 years old, I caught the virus for computers. For me mastering computers was the equivalent of becoming a magician, less hand dexterity required, infinite possibilities.

I had a glimpse at my nanny’s house where her older son plugged a ZX80 to a small TV and introduced me to the digital world. It’s how it started, I then harassed my parents until them got me a computer. In retrospective that was a big ask given the price at the time (4000 Francs?), but I finally got a Thomson TO8D, a Rolls Royce if you had asked me in this glorious 1986 year. Since then my parents must have thought I had turned hermit and did not see me much during my free time. I remember my dad getting me outside by asking for my help in the garden.

At the time my dad did not understand what I found so interesting and exciting in computers. He thought that there was no future in computer science, I think he meant no job, that electrotechnic was the valuable field to learn, hot on the job market and here to stay. That made sense because at his job electrotechnic systems were on the rise to automate previous manual function.

Generation gap, computer revolution, a big wave started in the 40’s was rising fast and I was excited to be on board, avid to learn its intricacies and explore this extension of my Self (thanks to http://www.npr.org/programs/ted-radio-hour/438902974/screen-time-part-i for helping me understand that)