In 1982, I worked at Harvest Computer, a small company based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, founded by two former MIT graduates. This was a time before the establishment of computer standards and the advent of the IBM PC. The computers we sold were primarily based on the CP/M operating system or from Apple.
Back then, not many people owned computers because their capabilities were largely limited to word processing. There was a dearth of software available, mainly due to the lack of standardization in the industry. Systems were largely incompatible, making software development a risky investment. The CP/M operating system tried to address this by allowing vendors to create systems that could theoretically run any software developed for CP/M. However, this ideal was far from reality due to non-standard disk formats and other technical disparities.
My role at Harvest Computer involved writing custom applications for customers who purchased these systems. The release of a product called dBase—a combination of a database and a programming language—revolutionized our ability to create new software efficiently.
Regarding connectivity, it was a different world. We had it, but it was limited. Users typically connected to a hosted computer via a modem for short durations. What we now call forums were known then as Bulletin Board Systems (BBS). These were digital spaces where people could share information, comment, and download content.
One memorable project was for a client in human resources. He wondered if it was feasible to create a system where companies could post job listings for others to read and respond to. At that time, job postings were predominantly in paper newspapers. I proposed a solution using BBS software and dBase to manage the data. Thus, I built what was arguably the first online job search system, long before the likes of Monster.com came into existence.
This system was showcased at the Northeast Computer Exposition, one of the largest computer shows in the country at the time. An attached photo shows a young me at the booth, beaming with the naïve optimism of someone who believes that inventing something significant could profoundly impact their life. Decades and numerous inventions later, I find myself still working tirelessly, trying to convince people of the potential of my ideas. Not that I'm bitter about it or anything.
