Computers impact our lives and our society at fleeting speeds each moment.

According to Bermuda?s highly sought after freelance information technologist, Dennis Eldridge, technology is constantly changing and improving. It is important for students and all computer users.

?Not only do computers impact education and the lives of students who will be returning to schools or collages ? they impact living in today?s sophisticated world,? said Mr. Eldridge.

If your computer catches a virus and you need a doctor, Mr. Eldridge does not wear a white coat but he is highly effective and readily cures most computers. He even makes house calls when necessary. He also designs creative websites for businesses.

When he was a high school student in the early 1980s he was very interested in music and sound engineering.

?Back then I took a typing course and the last year of my schooling we had a few IBM computers at Northlands Secondary. I was smitten as soon as I began using a computer!?

?I remember my first personal computer was from Radio Shack, who was at the frontier of the computer world.

?It was small but respectable and I was fascinated and very keen to learn all that I could about it,? he said.

His love of computers motivated him to learn as much as possible and he went to New England for instruction in ?UNIX? operating system, which he says every computer person needs to learn.

After attaining computer training and knowledge he worked at an IBM personal computer dealership called ?The Computer Centre Ltd.? next to Hamilton?s Portofino Restaurant on Par-la-Ville Road. Mr. Eldridge worked at CompuServices for several years and then became the IT manager at Elbow Beach Hotel prior to venturing out on his own.

When asked his thoughts about the computer revolution that has transpired over the last decade, he says it is experiencing phenomenal growth.

?There is no doubt that the Internet has impacted the computer industry. The good thing is that we have an amazing rapport between people everywhere with this amazing exchange of ideas.?

?In some regards it seems that we are going backwards to go forward. For example, people with bad intentions get on the Internet and create these nasty viruses which damage computer systems.?

Have you ever thought about the origins of e-mail or the Internet? Mr. Eldridge explained that government, primarily the United States, conceived it.

?It was called Defence Advance Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and it was a way for institutions to do defence research and share information with government for weapons. The first e-mail programme was created around 1972.?

One of the most fascinating aspects about computers is that they are forever changing and continually advancing. Computers are very important in the lives of students today.

This is an interesting quote about computer popularity which I read on the Internet: ?The telephone wire, as we know it has become too slow and too small to handle Internet traffic. It took 75 years for telephones to be used by 50 million customers, but it took only four years for the Internet to reach that many users.?

Mr. Eldridge said: ?The important thing to remember is that students look at the computer as a tool and as a helper and that is great. There are all sorts of ways that you can use the computer creatively and positively.?

?The flip side to students making computers as a life focus is they are losing people skills. You need to be able to talk and interact without a computer.?

A great thing that comes along with students using computers and the Internet are the basics of typing, reading and spelling. Communication skills are important when it comes to expressing yourself to people.

?Students today are growing up with computers. They know the way the computer thinks and a brain can follow it easily. However, a computer is a machine and it does not think like a human.?

?All students need the education of basic use of computers, along with computer programming. There are several computer platforms such as Window aspects of OSX and Unix.?

The aspect of computer work that Mr. Eldridge most enjoys is the constant challenge.

?New technology equals new capabilities. What was cumbersome last week is easily resolved next week when you just press one button and amazing things happen.?

Mr. Eldridge describes himself as a service person who appreciates interacting with clients.

?I have found a valuable niche which is being friendly with customers. I aim to be personable and relate to the person.?

?My work is like being a teacher and putting things in human terms. To give good service you must be able to relate to people.?

This is a concept that students can apply to their relationships also. They can be kind and helpful toward each other.

On a personal note Mr. Eldridge is a musician who likes analogue music and he loves and prefers listening to LP records.

?Try to make each day special at school be it learning computers, math, music or simply respecting your teachers, your friends or yourself,? concluded Mr. Eldridge.

If you need a savvy computer consultant, be it a business technician or a computer teacher, Mr. Eldridge can be reached by email: groovenorthrock.bm or by telephone: 296-0906.