Christmas (and similarly festivals such as Eid, Diwali and Hanukkah) is a time for giving, and sometimes those gifts can do more than just make someone’s day. They can spark a lifelong passion and even pave the way for a future career.
Think back to your childhood—there are likely one or two gifts that stand out, defining Christmas for you, and perhaps marking the start of your own journey. For those drawn to STEM fields, this can be especially true.
From computer technology and robots to science kits, STEM-related gifts have topped wish lists for years. But can they truly be a pivotal moment that leads to a career in technology?
We reached out to our Hexagon community to find out, and quickly discovered that computers had been the source of much Christmas morning joy during the 1980s and 1990s. Here’s what they had to say:
“I caught the programming bug young after receiving a Commodore 16 for Christmas when I was 8. Rather than just play games like my brother – after waiting 30 minutes for it to load from the cassette tape – I wanted to be able to write my own. Many frustrating, but ultimately rewarding, hours were then spent teaching myself BASIC, acquiring skills and a logical way of thinking that has served me well throughout my career. Pretty much every job I have done since leaving college has involved some form of programming, from my first role as a CNC machine tool operator, through many CMM programmer/inspection based roles to my current position as one of the PC-DMIS product owners. It all started with that humble little black plastic case with 16k of commuting power (less than many of todays graphical calculators).” Neil Challinor – PC-DMIS Product Owner
Author: Cbmeeks, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
“I suspect I had my first brief contact with a computer at a friend’s house and then my father was trying to buy us a TK 2000, something that looked more like a state-of-the-art video game but was actually a computer that connected to the television. Floppy disks? No, you loaded the application with cassette tapes. My love for technology then started with my first 386 DX2 66Mhz that had a turbo button on the case… After that, there was no turning back, and here we are :-)” Renato Fonseca – IT Support Engineer
It seems that Sinclair computers kickstarted a lot of tech careers in the early 1980s. Enterprise Account Director, Jean-Noel Lagier, had his interest in technology sparked by a robot present and his first computer, a Sinclair ZX81. Gary Peacock had a similar experience:
Daniel Ryde, Skövde, CC BY-SA 3.0 <http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/>, via Wikimedia Commons
“I recall my parents being excited at buying me a Sinclair ZX80 for Christmas (this was way back in 1981) thinking it was a programmable calculator. In one respect they were right but none of us knew the doors it was going to open, in learning and employment. My progression from ZX80 included the ZX81, Spectrum and TRS80 (which I think was a Tandy?). I was also a huge fan of Meccano (engineering kits), so naturally combined the two by adding sensors, motors and automated control systems.” Gary Peacock – General Manager, Metrology Software Business
Even games consoles have been an entry point into engineering:
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Evan-Amos
“Sega Mega Drive! My entry point to the world of technology and engineering. I was totally captivated by the games, especially Sonic. One of the most vivid memories I have is when the game cassette would not work. My brother and I used to take it out, blow air in it and put it back in, hoping it would work. And it always did. 🙂 ” Vicky Tsianika – Product Manager, Nastran
Of course, it’s not just about computers. Making and building things (as Gary Peacock highlighted with Meccano) is at the heart of engineering and kits of all kinds have been inspiring children for decades. Sales Engineer, Ben Naill, mentioned K’nex as a major memory for him, while Applications Engineer, Cooper Ferguson, remembered his Armatron from Radio Shack. For Tom Walin, an airplane toy sent his imagination soaring:
“I became fascinated with airplanes around 8 years old. I got this trainer plane after destroying my older brother’s Control Line airplane. I pursued an Aerospace Engineering degree and subsequently worked for Boeing on various interesting projects. Today, as an ELM Services Solution Architect, I support engineers in a multitude of businesses, primarily in the FEA domain, helping them to define and manage their simulation processes. You must pursue your dreams in order for them to come true.” Tom Walin – ELM Services Solution Architect
Electronics kits have proved particularly instrumental among our respondents:
“100 in one projects to amuse me and scare the dog. I built many of the P-Box kits as well, eventually graduating to a Heathkit Oscilloscope that I wish I still had.” Gary Hatch – Service Engineer
“Mine involved an electronics kit, and also Lego. Following that, came a couple of bikes which required some tuition and help from my father, who taught me how to fix them up. From then on, I think all my Christmas lists included tools of some sort or another!” Andy Lowe – Electrical Engineer
What these examples each show is that a careful (or serendipitous) choice of gift can indeed set the wheels in motion toward a career in technology. It’s all about opening doors and lowering barriers to entry. In particular, the computers of the 1980s, such as the Sinclair ZX range, and electronics kits, did this for many children – making something abstract completely clear and accessible. And fun!
With skills shortages and ageing populations impacting many areas of engineering, this is something we need to keep in mind. Attracting and keeping new talent is vital and with products like the Raspberry Pi still proving popular, maybe the future is still looking merry and bright.
At Hexagon, we’re working hard to ensure a new generation of engineers can access and master advanced manufacturing technology within a rapidly changing environment, whether they design, make or inspect products. Check out our solutions here: Manufacturing Intelligence | Hexagon
We wish you all a happy holiday season.
