Vintage BASIC and games helped define my career, and today the games I played on my high school math department's computer became the model or template for many of the popular games today.
Author: George McGinn
George McGinn's degree is in Computer Science, is a science writer and an astronomer, cosmologist and researcher. His current work is in Internet of Things (IoT), sensor and chip design, writing Apps for mobile devices, and designing new software both using the latest technology, including Linux and macOS, and coding new programs for 8-bit computers, which with the introduction of TheC64 Mini and Maxi, coding styles, languages, and where games are making a comeback.
He is also designing and writing personal and business applications that by the very nature of the 8-bit development environment and hardware, makes any system “unhackable” (he’s currently working on a paper on the security that 8-bit systems offers).
By January/February 2021, McGinn is will finish work on two new blogs with a YouTube channel and podcast coming later in the year about Vintage BASIC and programming in 8-bit languages, including both on the old and the new machines, such as the reintroduction of TheC64. Development was held up for two months as McGinn purchased his own home and is converting his office space into a studio.
He is also working on projects that involve Linux and macOS that run on Intel/AMD and ARM CPU’s, including single board computers such as the Raspberry PI and other brands, and this will be added to either an existing blog or new blog on projects where these boards interface with sensors or devices, including programming in python or scratch or other language is available on the single board computers.
McGinn was an US Army Military Policeman in the early 1980's and was Honorably discharged. He also spent another 4 years as a civilian policeman for two different departments.
He is an award-winning Pulitzer Prize Finalist reporter and photographer who worked 44+ years in print media in New York Metropolitan Area, and statewide in Florida. He was the photo editor for the Venice Gondolier, covered the crime and courts beat for the North Port and Charlotte Sun newspapers, covering police, fire and EMS. He was also their investigative reporter.
McGinn also wrote for The Digital Journal, and is a current photographer for Getty Images and National Geographic. He was awarded Master Photographer by the IFPO in 2015 and was inducted into the IFPO Photographer's Hall of Fame in 2010.
This is a "wishing you were here" sent by my good friend Howard James and created by his son Jon. I was sent a video of Howard's son Jon driving in a nice snowstorm with 4-feet of snow already on the ground while listening to Desiree Goyette while driving in a pristine snowfall. Originally I was supposed to move to Maine in July or August after my divorce of more than 10-years. It was very nice and appreciated to have them take the time to film this for me.
George McGinn – Computer Scientist, Researcher & Writer 