As far as I can recall I was always fascinated by computers and electronic gadgets. My first computer was an Atari 800XL with a cassette tape which I got as a Christmas present in 1986. I was very excited and soon I started to write my own BASIC programs on this machine.
In 1990 I bought my first IBM 4.77Mhz XT compatible (Commodore PC I) with 512Kb RAM. I started to learn Borland Turbo Pascal and wrote small programs in my spare time. In 1993 I became a “Co-Sysop” of a well-known German Bulletin Board System (BBS). We had what was then a huge 1GB file database and a variety of Fidonet and other Internet Newsgroups accessible to over 1000 registered users. The two phone lines were busy 24/7 and in 1995 we upgraded to 15 analog/ISDN phone lines and a leased line to the local University as ISP where almost non-existent then. However, shortly after that the Internet became more and more available to the mass of private users and many access providers started their own business. Our BBS was less and less needed and finally diapered from the scene.
In 1996 and 1997 I serviced in the German air force (Luftwaffe).First in Budel/Holland (basic training) than in Jever/Germany where I worked in the aircraft maintenance of the Phantom F4.
In August 1997 I started my apprenticeship at a wholesale Company in the security section as an Electrician. In Germany vocational training for the most non academic occupations takes place in the form of combined training received at two independent training places: the company and the ‘Berufsschule’ a part-time vocational school. In 2000 I finished the apprenticeship successfully ahead of schedule.
Since 2000 I have worked as an Electrical Engineer for the same security company where I made my apprenticeship. I was responsible for the installation and programming of software to manage and visualise intruder and fire alarm, access control, video and escape route technology. Besides my work I attended a distance-learning course to become a State Certified Engineer of Computer Science at the DAA-Technical College which I finished in 2005