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Brimham Rocks, Yorkshire, UK

Knowledgebase: My IT Timeline

An incomplete history of my IT journey
Tech Timeline AI generated image

My IT journey has been a long and varied one. Here are some of the key points along the way.

  • 1960

  • 1970

    • 1974: Charles Goldfarb developed “Standard Generalised Markup” (SGML) language. The direct forerunner of HTML.
    • 1975: Information Builders introduce FOCUS for IBM mainframes. I would later (mid-80’s) learn and support FOCUS.
    • 1978: I Left school and did summer jobs for the next 3 years while at uni in a mainframe operations department using IBM mainframes.
    • 1978: IBM “Document Composition Facility” product introduced using GML
    • 1979: Commodore PET released. Sinclair ZX80 released. First graphical microcomputer spreadsheet, VisiCalc, launched.
  • 1980

    • 1981: I Left Uni having been exposed to the joys of Fortran programming via punched cards, a 72 step programmable Commodore calculator, analogue computing (!) and a PDP-11.
    • 1981: I Started fulltime work in IBM Mainframe operations, also learned to programme in the IBM APL mathematical language.
    • 1981: IBM PC launched. BBC Micro launched. Sinclair ZX81 launched. Commodore Vic-20 launched.
    • December 1981: In December 1981 I Purchased a BBC “Model A” microcomputer and waited several months for it to arrive!
    • Early 1980s: Early 1980s sees launch of Acumen, an OLAP/BI language and database developed in the UK by Mars – based on Strategem. _I would later (mid-80’s) learn and support Acumen, developing a number of key business systems in it and writing a variety of utility functions including charting and date/time utilities.
    • 1982: Upgraded my BBC Model A to a Model B. My first go at soldering electronics. Blew the ADC chip and had to buy a replacement.
    • 1982+: Taught myself to programme in a variety of languages including BASIC, FORTH, PASCAL, LISP and 6502 Assembler. FORTH became my favourite and I joined the UK FIG (FORTH Interest Group).
    • 1983: TCP/IP is adopted as the protocol standard for ARPANET, the forerunner to the Internet. Acorn Electron launched, FidoNet starts up.
    • 1984: Became an Analyst/Programmer learning COBOL and structured analysis and design. DNS services start, JANET UK universities network starts, Moderated newsgroups introduced on USENET, Apple Mac introduced.
    • 198?: Replaced the BBC Micro with an Amstrad 6128 running CP/M, big mistake, a very boring machine.
    • 1986: NNTP created.
    • January 1987: Commodore Amiga A500 launched.
    • 1987: Moved from COBOL programming to “Personal Computing”, mainframe style using ISPF, APL, Information Builders FOCUS (a 4GL reporting tool), a mainframe spreadsheet called DynaSoft Dynaplan (AFAIK the first spreadsheet to use 3 dimensions) and and 4th generation tool called Acumen (which would now be called an OLAP tool).
    • 1987: Also taught myself PL/1 to do some utility programs. Worked with colleagues to build functions that would allow a pseudo-GUI to be created on a colour text IBM terminal screen. Following the recently released IBM “Common User Interface” GUI standards. Also built a library to use IBM’s mainframe charting libraries without having to purchase the eyewateringly expensive charting package. Both libraries used to good effect creating business applications using Acumen.
    • 1987: Document processing was done using a mainframe SGML based tool – a good early grounding for later HTML. Later on started to work with PC’s as well, OS/2 and IBM LAN Manager. Word processing using IBM Displaywrite then Lotus Ami Pro.
    • 1987: Acorn Archimedes launched.
    • 198?: Replaced my Amstrad with a Commodore Amiga 500, a fantastic and imaginative personal computer. Learned about computer video, 3D imagery and rendering. The Amiga used Rexx for a system-wide scripting and automation language. I’d first learned Rexx on IBM mainframes.
    • 1988: FidoNet is connected to the Internet. IBM Mainframe spreadsheet: Dynaplan from DynaSoft already in use.
  • 1990

    • 1990: ARPANET ceases to exist, Archie released, first commercial dial-up Internet provider.
    • March 1990: Lotus introduce IBM mainframe version of 1-2-3 spreadsheet (DynaSoft release Dynaplan v4.0 same year).
    • 1991: Moved from Mainframes to PC’s full time, Introduced to Lotus Notes (release 2) and loved it. Got my first palmtop, a Psion 3. Got myself an Amiga 3000 under Commodore’s developer program. Great for 3D modelling (Imagine, Real-3D and Lightwave) and experiments with video. WAIS, Gopher and WWW started, PGP created.
    • 1992: Demon Internet Services started up in June, 1st low cost (£10 per month) service in the UK.
    • 1993: Got my second palmtop, a Psion 3a. The Amiga’s got stolen along with all my disks and backups!! Replaced them with an Amiga 4000.
    • 1994: “Official” start of SPAM (US law firm Canter & Siegel spam Internet newsgroups)
    • 1995: Moved from using FIDOnet to the Internet thanks to Demon Internet Services.
    • 1996: Finally got my first PC at home after holding out for so many years! Demon Internet offers ISDN access for £10 per month.
    • 1997: Got my 3rd palmtop, a PalmPilot Professional.
    • 1998: Acorn leaves the personal computing market.
  • 2000

    • 2000: Got PC number 2, an AMD 1200MHz based one with 512MB of RAM.
    • 2001: Got my 4th palmtop, a Sony Clie PEG-T625 (Palm OS 4.1). The last ever Palm OS device I would own.
    • March 2004: Finally got broadband! Say bye-bye to Demon Internet & modems, hello to PlusNet.
  • 2010

    • 2010: Got an iPad 1 32GB.
    • 2011: Got a [Humax HDR Fox T2](https://uk.humaxdigital.com/product/hdr-fox-t2/ personal video recorder. Freeview HD, 2 channels.
    • 2011-02: Got iPhone 4 32GB – A massive step up from Windows Mobile.
    • 2011: Apple iPad 2 introduced.
    • 2012: Moved broadband onto an FTTC connection from Origin Broadband. 40Mbps down, 10Mbps up (could have more!). Bye-bye to “slow” old 2Mbps ADSL 2+, hello to downloading films in 5 minutes!
  • 2020

    • 2023: Moved off FTTC to a full FTTP connection. 150Mbps down, 30Mbps up. Bye-bye to “slow” old 40Mbps FTTC, hello to downloading films in 1 minute!

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