IT
Automation Dream
Part I - My University days
I have been IT automation enthusiast and a computer geek
since my days in Uni. I used to think about ways to automate any practical task
assigned to me in the classes. Be it to solve a simple mathematical task to
complex Graph Theory problem, I used to spend more time on designing logic to
automate it and then formulating it using one of the programming languages I learned.
From DIY hardware projects to designing a Network ATM Switch, I enjoyed most of
my time in university in automating things that I was interested in and I was
assigned to do as part of my degree.
I remember the days when I used to spend the most of my
leisure time in the computer lab learning new programming logics. The first
high level language I learned in the 1st semester was C which got me
pretty excited about pursuing my interest in automation. I was so much
fascinated by the fact that that with the power of C language, you can even build
an Operating System (example Microsoft Windows, Red Hat Linux). My first dream
project was to build a chess software in C which I couldn’t complete but
learned a lot about automation and sort of AI involved in it. But, I continued
my dream to automate things using C language to build my first successful
software graphical game called “Breakout” or “Beatball” where you have a horizontal
bar to move from one end to another on the screen to avoid the bouncing ball
hitting the bottom of the screen. I absolutely enjoyed creating and playing the
game. The next project was a little bit different as it was a hardware
automation project but using C language. I was so much into this project that I
sacrificed couple of nights just to understand the logic behind register,
capacitor, diodes and relay switches which were the major components in the
project.
With little practical knowledge from the electronics lab in Uni, I
started to put together the knowledge I gained into this project. Since the
project required a special chip which was not available in Uni lab, I had to go
to local electronic markets to search for it. I was lucky to find an electronic
shop run by a guy who himself was a hardware automation enthusiast. The demo
and information he gave me in around half an hour was enough for me to design a
prototype for my project. By the way, you would be thinking what was the
project? The project was ‘Home Appliances Automation’. To me, at that time,
controlling (ON & OFF) home appliances at the click of a button on the
keyboard of computer, was an absolute cracker. I got the project finally running
after many sleepless days. I remember the day I presented it as my final
project in Semester 2, there were two teachers who were doing assessment and
rest of my colleagues who were curious to know about my mysterious project. Nobody
expected that I was doing a hardware project using C because every one of my
colleague was into software project. For me, the moment was a bit daunting and
my heart was pounding thinking what if the hardware fails to work. Alright, it
was now time to show, I powered on my circuit board and connected it to the parallel
port on the back of CPU of computer. I had two 100W light bulbs connected to
the circuit board to demonstrate the working of project. I opened the C program
and executed it to bring the graphical switch (ON & OFF) and at that point,
everybody was staring at the bulbs. I clicked on switch ON button in the screen,
and magically the bulbs glowed. As it happened, there was a huge around of
applause and it was the most satisfying moment of my life. I felt as if I conquered
the world. That moment, I decided I want to do something in IT automation. It
is automation that makes me happy and satisfied.
With the dream to automate even more, I played with more
computer languages and hardware to build my DIY seven segment counter, score
board and a digital clock. In my final year project, in coordination with my
colleagues, I designed a hardware ATM Network Switch that can process ATM
packets. My team got the best compliments and marks from the assessors. These
automation projects gave me so much pleasure in my life. In other way, I lived
the dream of my life.
To be continued in Part 2...
