The first years in Informatics

A forgotten Curriculum vitae* from the distant 1996. At that time, I had completed 15 years of professional career in the Computer and Information industry, while many more years followed, full of experiences and knowledge**.

It's interesting looking back, how many different objects someone working in the IT field had to deal with at that time! Τα συγκεκριμένα μοντέλα υπολογιστών, τα λειτουργικά συστήματα και οι πλατφόρμες εργασίας που αναφέρονται, είναι σήμερα καθαρά μουσειακά αντικείμενα!

The transition to screen-based systems took place on a large scale around 1980. Until then, the communication between the computer and the user was done with the keyboard and the printer. The first applications, which established a direct interaction between man and machine, were created at that very time. Their logical arrangement, programming and coding were not at all an easy task. There was a great need for good communication with the users, for understanding their needs, for recording the work processes, so that finally, all the appropriate predictions could be made.

Although there were many programmers and several analysts, very few had the ability and opportunity to analyze the needs of users in order to design effective information systems. Installing a computer system at that time, in any work environment, was truly a great feat! Dozens of small and large problems of all kinds had to be solved, while of course there was always a great limitation from the available technological capabilities.

In order to successfully complete such a project, programmers, analysts, technicians from different disciplines, accountants, management executives, and entrepreneurs had to collaborate. The nickname “Dinosaurs of Informatics” refers, of course, to all those pioneers! I hope that one day, I will find the opportunity to write more about these “heroes” and their wonderful machines. 

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* Some information (personal, organizational, and collaborator) has been removed since it makes no sense to publish it. The resume I recently found, while sorting through some files, triggered memories of the climate and challenges that professionals in the industry had to face at that time. A special situation, dictated by the needs of the market, and of course by technological developments!

** To date, I have completed a total of 45 years of systematic employment!

*** I have lost count of the Klingon star-ships, eliminated back then (some who might "speak" the BASIC will understand). Being the Commander of the Enterprise, was not an easy task ... :)