Computer Book Author

 

Edward Henheffer
Computer Book Author (with electronic telecommunications background)

Eamonn: What is your chosen profession?

Edward: Originally, when I graduated from high school, I wanted to be an accountant! I started university in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. It was boring because I decided more pure math is what I was really looking for. A transfer to a math program was disallowed because it was too late in the semester. I quit university, planning an enrollment the following year and went to work in the oil field until that time.


Eamonn: What were the circumstances which led to you becoming involved in this field?

Edward: Prior to entering university in the math program, I enrolled in a summer session of advanced calculus with students who had failed it in their first year. My results were third in a class of twenty. The professor was impressed because I out ranked the other students even though they had taken the course before and I had not. He asked me what I was planning to study. When I told him "a Mathematicians Program" he simply said "don't do that". Imagine my shock! He then went on to tell me that my abilities to work through given equations and to apply those equations in resolving problems was excellent, however, my abilities to actually develop an equation to resolve a problem was not so good, and that in fact is what Mathematicians were tasked to do. He suggested that I take up something in a more practical field such as electronic engineering. This I did, by enrolling in Electronic Telecommunications Technology, again in Calgary. I found I was much more suited to this and stuck to it.


Eamonn: What is the most amazing thing that has ever happened to you (either as a practitioner in your profession or as a human being)?

Edward: I was about 23 years old working at an engineering firm designing electromechanical interfaces for remote supervision/data collection of power substations. My supervisors boss periodically came down to discuss this or that or just general chat. He knew I wanted to travel and work overseas and one day he came down with a newspaper ad; simply saying I should look into it! The ad was from a local telecomm company looking for people to work in Saudi Arabia. I went for an interview and six weeks later with passport in hand I was boarding a plane for Beirut. Because of this one man, 40 some years ago, my international career was launched.


Eamonn: Where do you see the future of (your chosen field) ending up?

Edward: I retired from the above career a number of years ago, but I bore easily, so I started working in a computer repair shop. I was totally amazed at how many computer users have no idea how to properly use a home computer, getting themselves so loaded with garbage that the computer barely runs. So I decided to write about it. I am totally convinced that 75% of all users could benefit from the first book that is now published and 90% can benefit from the next two books to follow within the next year or so.


Eamonn: Is there anything further you would like to say (or another question I should have asked you)?

Edward: The books are aimed at all computer users out there.


Image Credit: Microsoft

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