By Derrick Brown (follow on Twitter @dbrowndbrown)
KnowledgeBase Launches 3.5" Floppy Diskette Collection Project
Friends & Family,
We are collecting 3.5" floppy disks / diskettes in large (and small) quantities for a Summer project.
Why?
Because they are useful!
Contact us if you have some – or know someone who does.
We will follow up to coordinate pickup / shipping logistics.
Feel free, too, to forward / share this.
Thank you - and read below for the rest of the story!
Contact: Derrick Brown
(Principal Consultant, KnowledgeBase)
Email: derrick.s.brown at att.net
Phone: 678-467-1256
Blog: http://reachthenteach.com
Linked In: http://bit.ly/li_db
Facebook: http://bit.ly/rtt_fb
Email: derrick.s.brown at att.net
Phone: 678-467-1256
Blog: http://reachthenteach.com
Linked In: http://bit.ly/li_db
Facebook: http://bit.ly/rtt_fb
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The Rest Of The Story ...
For years, I have repaired, recycled, and redistributed broken / obsolete laptop & desktop computers.
I used to do this as a summer camp and after-school program.
I
financed the program through corporate sponsorships and resale of the
repaired computers - or the working parts harvested from the dead ones.
I am now using this approach to engage and organize Marietta City School families.
I have limited time and space now, so sourcing and storing laptops is more of a challenge.
So, I started thinking about how to adjust.
Since
the beginning of the year, I have had my memory jogged several times
about how floppy disks were like Swiss army knives in the "old days" of
computers (before CDs, DVDs, USBs and flash drives).
You installed software with them.
You backed up your computer with them.
You could use them to start and clean your computer if it had a virus (or some other issue).
If you had a Sony Mavica digital camera, you stored your pictures on them.
If you had a MIDI keyboard, or an Akai music production center (MPC), you stored music patterns on them.
If you are a court reporter (stenographer), your recording machine uses them.
If you embroider, your machine uses them.
They also pack and stack well, taking up very little space.
When diskette drives were removed from computers, I threw all of my floppies away - except for one that I called "MacGyver."
A buddy called yesterday with a dilemma.
He designs and builds custom car stereo speaker cabinets using an old computer program written for him in the 1980s.
It was installed on his computer for him by the program's author in 1986, and he was given no installation diskettes.
His computer only has a diskette drive, and he now needs to move the design program to another computer.
"MacGyver" is the only tool I have that can help him - but it is the only tool I need.
This experience was my epiphany.
We
can make "MacGyver" disks and several other obscure,
specialized tools using those old floppy diskettes ... if we can source
them!
Hence the request ...
About Derrick Brown (Principal Consultant)
I am Keisha's husband, and Hannah's father.
My *other* passion is empowering people via methods that balance skill & will, analysis & synthesis, ideas & execution, and activity & achievement.
My *other* passion is empowering people via methods that balance skill & will, analysis & synthesis, ideas & execution, and activity & achievement.
I solve problems.
Copyright © 2017 Derrick Brown. All Rights Reserved.
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