History of ...

Mike Van Voorhis on GitHub


Programming and Computer History


In 1979, I learned BASIC programing on a Radio Shack TRS-80 Model 1, thanks to Professor Jim Frogge, Bishop MacNamara High School. Radio Shack TRS-80 Model 1 PHOTO: COMPUTER HISTORY MUSEUM Coutesy IEEE Spectrum

In 1983, at Eastern Illiniois University I wrote my first FORTRAN program using IBM punch cards. Yes, I numbered my cards, and yes, I played IBM punchcard pick-up. Radio Shack TRS-80 Model 1 PHOTO: Pete Birkinshaw from Manchester, UK - Used Punchcard

In 1984, still at Eastern Illinois University I started using an IBM Model 5150 Personal Computer Radio Shack TRS-80 Model 1 PHOTO: Boffy b IBM PC 5150 released under the GFDL and CC-BY-SA

During my 1984 Christmas Break my dad, who worked for AT&T brought home this manual, I read it, took a bunch of notes in a spiral notebook, learned how to batch program, and used that notebook for years. Radio Shack TRS-80 Model 1 PHOTO Coutesy humble-pie on ebay IBM Disk Operating System

In 1985, at Eastern Illinois Univesity, I learned how to program the Motorola 6800 microprocessor at the machine, and assembly language level. Motorola MC6800 microprocessor PHOTO Coutesy: Michael Holley - Motorola MC6800 microprocessor attribution Public Domain

In 1987, after graduating from Eastern Illinois Univesity, and while a Lieutenant in the United States Army, I purchased my first computer, a Commodore PC 10-2. It had a monitor with two 5-1/4 inch floppy drives, with the montor and dot-matirx printer cost about $1200 at the Army PX at Fort Know, KY. I perfected my MS_DOS batch programming using this computer. PLaced my platoons information in the compute Commodore PC 10-2 PHOTO Coutesy: oldcomputer.info - Commodore PC 10-2 attribution CC BY-NC-SA 3.0)

In 1990, after being discharged from active military duty, I went to work for Alcoa I told them if they gave me a laptop computer I could take it home with me, and do work from home Commodore LTE 386s/20 laptop with dock. Commodore LTE 386s/20 laptop with dock PHOTO Coutesy: Kolossos - Commodore LTE 386s/20 laptop with dock attribution CC BY-SA 3.0

In 1994, I purchased a IBM Thinkpad Model 750c, I bought it because my second computer was an IBM Thinkpad, and I liked the pointing stick with the rubber nub, that the Lenovo Thinkpad still uses today. It had a built in modem, and I began my journey on the internet with it starting with AOL. IBM ThinkPad 750c PHOTO Coutesy: Steven Stengle - IBM ThinkPad 750c attribution Copyright 2022 Steven Stengel

In 1908, IBM ThinkPad 750c PHOTO Coutesy: Danamania - Macintosh G3 DT attribution CC BY-SA 2.5

I work full time as a sales representative.
I am a self taught developer working as an independent contractor.
I went to school at Eastern Illinois University where I obtained a Bachlor of Science Degree and a minor in Military Science.
I spent one tour in Germany as an Armor Officer in the United Stated Army.I am an active membor of the 37th Armor Alumni Association. I have worked for Alcoa, Performance Friction, Inc., Braks Parts Inc., Industrial Supply Solutions Inc. and Genuine Parts Company. I have been a Maintenance Planner and Scheduler, a Buyer, a Production Supervisor, an Inside Sales Man, an Outside Salesman, a Tesrritory Manager, and a District Sales Manager. In my free time I golf, and play guitar.