Computing

My first introduction to computing came in my first year with the Open University in 1975.  I signed up for the maths foundation course M100.  The course consisted of around 30 individual units each on a different aspect of mathematics.  Two of these units were on logic which translates to computing.

The computer we used was based at Walton Hall Milton Keynes and ran a programming language Dartmouth Basic.  Access to the computer was via teletype terminals at a local study centre.  The system was archaic and very slow, but was sufficient to fire my enthusiasm and this has never waned.

Over the next 15 years I signed up for various courses many of which were computer based.  The languages we worked with started as Dartmouth Basic but very soon this was ditched in favour of UCSD Pascal.  At home I stayed with BASIC in one of several incarnations starting with Microsoft Quick Basic.  Latterly I used Visual Basic 6 but have now converted to Visual Studio .NET 2010 exclusively.

My programming is aimed at my hobbies, anywhere I can make the hobby more enjoyable.  Within amateur radio and Raynet in particular I have produced several programs to assist in various ways.  (See the pages on Amateur Radio and APRS) When using APRS we need special maps these can and do take time to produce and one program is designed to reduce this time element.  Currently I am working on a logging program.  This is designed to monitor the progress of bike and walk events and could be extended for use in real life search and rescue.

Over the past many months I have been writing a composite program to carry out many and varied functions, mainly conversion of data from one format to another.  For example converting length in imperial into metric.  I have added a page to carry out conversion of drill sizes from one type to another, e.g. number sizes into decimal and metric.  I don't work at this all the time, I often work on other programs just to keep the brain active.

I am also working on a program to extend my knowledge of the programming language.  This uses several 'pages' called forms.  The program works in conjunction with a database carrying an address book and various associated activities. 

Recently I have been working on a database program for entering data from portable appliance testing equipment.  This is to produce compliance certificates proving the electrical equipment is safe to use.  It will also produce reports such as detailed testing data.  It is proving somewhat difficult to marry the Access database to the Visual Studio data entry and display program.