I got my first computer, a Commodore 64, in 1982 and quickly grew out of it. I can remember sitting in front of the computer typing in programs from Comput's Gazette for hours only to have them crash or the power flicker and lost it all. At the time, I didn't have any way to store the program I typed in, so I never wanted to turn the computer off.

Not soon after getting the Commodore64, I also got the one periphrial that changed my life in many ways, a 300 baud modem. I discovered a whole new world of people who would post messages on BBS's and talk to one another at meets. I found out that there were others like me out there who saw these computers as what they were, tools, not toys. As I began to get to know this new world, I fell into the hack/phreak crowd. I was never much of a hacker though because it was boring to me. However, I found phreaking much more interesting because it was a social environment. Hacking often required spending hours on end in your room while phreaking usually meant calling someone and talking. Now, I'm not one to go into my exploits because it's generally not a good idea so I'll move on.

I eventually got myself an Amiga1000. Considered at the time by the IBM crowd to be a game computer, but I still feel that it was one of the most powerful machines made at that time and did some amazing things with the little bit of memory it had. I still have it as a matter of fact! For me, the Amiga showed me the future of computers. While my IBM friends were fiddling with DOS commands, I was using my mouse and getting things done. Way before Microsoft's Windows, the Amiga and Macintosh were doing the GUI thing. I felt that users would quickly relate to that style of interface and a few years later I was proven right when Windows burst onto the scene.

As the popularity of the Internet grew, I started learning HTML and quickly discovered what an incredible invention it was. For me, the Internet isn't a "money making machine" as the spammers proclaim. It's a way to learn, express yourself, get information and communicate the likes of which mankind has never seen before. So I set about getting my own site together. I've owned ericdunlap.com since the spring of 1996 and have maintained it myself the whole time. While I change the design of the site quite often, I always try to put something of myself on it. I've made numerous contacts from having a website, both personal and business. Having my own website has been one of the best things I've ever done, I suggest everyone get one.

One of the things people learn quickly about me is that I'm a teacher. Most will say that I just like to hear myself talk, and they might be right. But I also like to help people understand things. I always try to explain concepts in ways they can easily figure out; usually through the use of metaphore. If you can take a complex idea and break it down into a simple one but maintain the core of the idea, you've just showed someone else how to explain it. But speaking to people can be complex, it requires reading them and knowing when to go from geek-speak to baby-talk. Mind you, most people don't like baby-talk. I think your average joe is a pretty bright person if he's just given the chance and he wants that chance to learn. That's where knowing when to explain and when to answer comes in handy. I've dealt with people on all levels. Some people just want you to tell them how to do something or give them an answer and they don't really care how you arrived at that explanation, but more often than not, I find that people want to know how something works. Usually they feel smarter once they know and I've seen people use what I have explained to them to show others. And best of all, it makes them feel good.

Finally, I've taken my skills in the information technology arena and those I've developed over the years of working with people one on one and put them together to help people who might not have the knowledge to develop their own tools for business. I help people who have one computer in their office and I also help those that have a dozen work better at a price they can afford and in a way that empowers them. I'm comfortable working with Fortun 500 execs, techies and grandmothers. I've seen it all and nothing surprises me.