About the Author My first degree was in physics and as head of a college physics department my interest in computing was sparked with the development of micro-computers, machines which seem so puny in memory and processing power by today's standards. Although we'd regard them now as being limited, they were revolutionary in bringing com- puting capability to the individual and I found myself spending increasingly more time learning to program them, using machine code and the BASIC programming language. I went on to develop software for one of the more prominent of these systems, the Acorn/BBC Micro, and completed a Master's on the ways in which computing might be used to support and enhance physics education. Subsequently, my role at the college changed to that of de- veloping and teaching computing courses instead. The technology developed apace, with the micro-com- puter giving way to the IBM personal computer, whose processor was the first in a line leading to those powering today's desktop and laptop systems. I developed bespoke PC database packages for organizations, dividing my time between this activity and teaching, which included tutoring students for the UK's Open University. In the 1980's I was appointed as Senior Lecturer in Computing at the University of Wales, Newport, a post that I occupied for some twenty years, teaching computer science and software engineering to under- graduates and master's students: in addition I led the undergraduate computing degree programmes, which involved liaison with other, overseas institutions where they were taught on franchise. This included occasional travel to these institutions, and the meetings and discussions with colleagues there were rewarding and fulfilling experiences. I am a member of the British Computer Society and a Chartered IT Professional; current interests include `cloud computing' and the impacts upon society of information technology. My first discipline retains its fascination still, and I try to keep up to date--as far as possible--with developments in physics such as the current search for the elusive sub-atomic particle, the Higgs Boson. As to other interests: I am a glider pilot and flying silently above the countryside is a sure-fire way of escaping from desk and computer. I also enjoy hill walking, snorkelling (but only in warm clear waters, which regrettably the UK rather lacks) and overseas travel. Although not over-endowed with musical ability, I enjoy music, mainly classical--though Dire Straits and Springsteen get played too. I've developed an enthusiasm for cooking and enjoy seeking out new recipes from around the world, even though my efforts in the kitchen may not always receive the rapturous reception which I feel certain they deserve!