COMPUTING
In 1968 I was challenged to a game of chess with a
programme running on a Cambridge University mainframe, an experience that both
fascinated and intrigued me and that has been a prelude to a career-long
involvement with computers. I soon started to do statistical analysis of my
Psychology experiments by computer (usually University mainframes) and I am
familiar with the BMD, SPSS and Minitab software packages and numerous other
programmes. I have also used personal computers for control of experiments.
From about 1985 I gave up the typewriter for writing in favour of
word-processing software. My main hobbies, chess and number theory, have also
involved heavy use of personal computers, including the learning of numerous
computer languages.
I first bought a desktop machine in 1981. That was
an 8-bit with 16K of memory. Currently I use a Pentium 233 running Windows 98.
What I like about these machines is that there are so many uses of them - my
own other uses include personal information management, database (handy as
membership secretary of organisations, and also for cataloguing my books and
music) and spreadsheet and personal finance.
German and French, also ancient languages.
I assist in her work my wife, who is a professional
linguist in German. Though my German suffers from not having studied it at
school, I have done courses since and spent a considerable amount of time in
Germany on and off, and can cope socially. I did study French at school for
eight years (grade A at A’ Level) and have used it on holidays. The Cambridge
University Entrance Examination in 1968 required me to sit papers in two
languages and I offered French and Latin, both of which were declared
satisfactory. I also have Grade 1 in O’ Level Ancient Greek (and have visited
Greece). I have attended several international congresses.