Global Village actually started out as JumpStart BBS on an IBM PC-XT Model 5160 with 256k of RAM, 5 Meg hard drive, and a 1200 baud modem. 

I remember that I had to run the system with the cover off with a fan constantly blowing on the components or the system would overheat.  Friends were amazed when I was able to contact my computer from a remote location and actually “talk’ to the computer and -Gee Whiz- even transfer files!  It didn’t last long as the hard drive finally bit the dust and crashed, but I saved the drive and later displayed it opened up in Global Village the computer store.

The very first computer I ever had any contact with was an IBM 514 Punched Card Duplicator Machine in high school. 

It really wasn't a computer but the forerunner in that it handled punch cards and would have been connected to a calculating or tabulator unit.  If any of you can remember that far back you used to get some of your utility bills on punch cards. 

I never got to work with any of it in high school because I don't think anyone had any idea of how to use any of the equipment.  Actually the first thing I think I learned about computers was how to hack them.  In particular the utility company punch cards.  I don't think anyone is still using punch cards anymore. 

It was a simple hack, what you did was soak the punch card in water until the whole card was wet.  It took some time as the card stock was very thin and somewhat resistant to the process.  Once you had it really wet you would then use a clothes steam iron on the card until it was dry again.  The effect was that by getting it wet and then drying with the iron caused the card to shrink in size.  How is this a hack, well because it was handled by a machine any difference would either jam the machine or drop it out.  Not the most exciting hack you could image but I guess it worked for those that wanted to "make a statement" to the utility company.

To be continued…