| Bill Joy has always found himself incredibly eager to learn. He was an advanced learner from birth. At the age of 3 he charmed his way into school by reading a book to the principal. He later “skipped a grade, and escaped into [reading] books” (242). As he matured over the years he found himself stunning others with questions about scientific value. During the teen stage he discovered his passion for “science and technology” (242). As a teenager he wanted to become a Ham Radio Operator, operating over the Internet of his time. The equipment for this was expensive, but the radio itself was “very addictive and [somewhat] solitary”(242). Of course his parents wouldn’t allow Joy to become a “ham,” his mother in particular for she felt that he was antisocial enough. Throughout Joy’s school days he remained focus on technological advancements. He became more interested in computers his undergraduate year at the University of Michigan. He found out that the computer was somewhat “seductive” being that it “had a clear notion…[if his] ideas were correct [or incorrect]”(242). Before attending graduate school at UC Berkeley, he found an early job programming new supercomputers, where he later discovered the “amazing power of the machines”(242). He maintained his job during graduate school, and found himself staying up late at night to “invent new worlds inside the machines [or solve problems]”(242). When thinking about the expectations of a long term occupation he knew that it would have include constructing useful solutions to real problems, and he found his nights working enjoyable. Joy even sent out some of his written software during his graduate years to those who had “similar PDP-11 and VAX minicomputers” and they turned into Berkley’s own Unix operating system (243). His successful project flourished into the 80’s, but his space was becoming cramped. In seeing this he joined Sun Microsystems to continue working on the “advanced microprocessor technologies [as well as] Internet technologies Java and Jini”(243). As he stated in the beginning, “the way [he] got involved with computers suggested that [he would later on have to face the issues they present today such as GNR]”(242). He feels that his work has made an impact on the world more than expected, but despite the progress it has made he never knew that such issues in his field would confront him so soon. |
©Christa Benton & Matt Ciuca