Technological Creativity
I attended the very first WordCamp NYC and was really inspired. It was attended by bloggers, programmers, software developers, and well, geeks. There were about 700+ people and it took place at Baruch College. Why was I so inspired? Because I see Word Press as DIY tool that encourages both programmers and end users to be creative.
Perhaps I should start from the beginning. I was a programmer in my earlier life. After college, I went back to school to earn a diploma in Computer Programming. In fact, that is how I met my husband. He helped me through one of the more difficult programming languages we had to learn. Back then, with both of us having quiet and reserved personalities, I guess you can say computers brought us together. How geeky is that? Anyway, my programming career lasted about 6 years. After I had my first son, I didn’t return because, I wanted to stay home with him and I disliked programming. Data and number crunching just wasn’t my thing. Luckily, I had just finished up my graduate work in Graphic Communications which exposed me to a more creative side of computers. I later worked in web development which I loved because it was all about creativity. By the way, all of this happened some time ago, because my oldest son is now 18 years old. I am still having a hard time wrapping my brain around that.
To put this in further perspective, my first computer was a Zenith IBM compatible PC with a 40 MB hard drive. Can you imagine? I think it had Windows 3.1 and you had to import and export data from one program to another very carefully. I wish I could show my sons what Windows looked like in its infancy. I even remember when a coworker first showed me the text based internet for the first time. OK so I am really dating myself. However, it is because of this history, that I have such an appreciation for technology today. I realize how far it has come and how far it can go and that is awesome.
At WordCamp NYC, I was able to learn so much more about WordPress, which is what I use to do this blog. WordPress is open source which anybody can use for free. There is so much functionality that I was oblivious to. Programmers are regularly coming up with Plug Ins or mini programs that enhance the capabilities of WordPress. Was exactly does all this mean? It means WordPress has supassed blogging and morphed into a management tool with a myriad of applications as a result of a community of programmers and users coming together. When Matt Mullenweg, the founder of WordPress polled the audience at a Q and A session, the number of people using WordPress for blogging was small in comparison to those using it for website development and E-commerce. It is an organizational tool that continues to evolve at great speed which has significantly lowered the barrier of entry for entrepreneurial dreams to come true. You no longer have to invest an exorbitant amount of money to create a website, a standard requirement for any business today. How great is that?
Are you inspired with technology? How do you use it in your creative life?
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