Welcome to Bits & Bytes.  Herein you will find tidbits about the Information Technology industry, IT at OSU, the history of computers and technology in general, and whatever else catches my eye.

“Bits & Bytes” is a reference to an educational program I played on my Commodore 64 when I was 9 years old. It was my first computer, and one of the first programs I remember running on it. I don’t actually remember what the program was called, but I believe it came with the computer. In the 1980’s, personal computers came with software that was designed to teach you about computers, how to operate them, how to program on them, and so on.  It used to require a bit more to operate a computer; they weren’t as “user friendly” as they are now. Anyway, consequently I was introduced to the concept of bits and bytes, to binary, hexadecimal and other mathematical and computer concepts.  I am not a programmer or even a “CS person” by any stretch of the definition, but I have to think that this early introduction to computers didn’t hurt.