How It All Started

I had to overcome typing issues (probably fine motor skills issues). I was very interested in having my typing skills not hold me back from working later on. I'm held back right now, but not due to that.

I struggled throughout my childhood to learn typing skills. I took typing classes about every year from 4th grade on, passing them, but not knowing enough typing skills to do enough work. Sometimes failing them too. It goes to show that just because you pass or fail a class, does NOT mean you know the material sometimes...

I'd had access to computers at school, since 1st grade. But it was when we got the Apple IIC and the Windows 95 computer that I really began to learn about computers.

First, I learned about the mouse, from the Apple IIC. Then I learned many standard computer skills from my Dad, such as using Excel. I liked to practice those skills, and I didn't let typing hold me back.

I created a document (lost now), called Dennis' Typing Practice. It was a journal. I loved to spend time on it. All the while, it could fit on a single floppy disk.

I moved to a foster home, and used their computer. I seemed to mess it up with my experiments. But some of the things I continued to do were edit Dennis' Typing practice. Using the computer was becoming more common at school too.

Finally, after a fire, I got my own computer. It was a gift from my foster parents. At school, I was just beginning to master typing finally. I finished it with my own computer at my disposal. But this was just the beginning of a long computer journey, leading to this network.

--- Dennis Earl Smiley ---