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Meditating
Raw Newbie
I worked in the computer industry for 14 years, had a horrible accident, was out of work for app. 7 years, and then started a new profession. Initially, I was a software architect for a medical software company. Although I had no programming skills, I would work the different aspects of medical clinics and emergency rooms to understand how each of them collected, manipulated and disseminated their data. I would then design the software on paper, screen by screen, and take it to the programmers. Within the limitations of the language, the product was created with any necessary work arounds. Since then, I have only programmed a few simple things in a database language and that was many moons ago.
I am in a new profession now. Before I set up my own law practice, I spent 8 weeks working over every established piece of software in my profession I could find. I made all the houses send me live copies and nobody barked at that so I think I got to know the products very well. They all do one or two things pretty well but everything else poorly (in my opinion). Also the transitional steps between tasks is horrible. Yes they are better than a manual system but they aren’t what they could be. Everyday I work I constantly curse my software because it won’t do the simple things that I know it can to make me more efficient. I automated law offices in the past and now have worked as a paralegal, law clerk, and attorney. I know the entire work flow and I have insight into what a product could do only if it were programmed to do so.
I have felt so much better in the short period I have switched to raw foods. My energy and stamina are way up. I am almost regularly working a 40 hour week, which I haven’t done in the past 5 years I have been practicing law. I have often toyed with the idea of writing a program but haven’t had the stamina. I think I can devote 8 – 10 hours weekly to that now and would like to give it a shot.
The problem is I don’t want to invest time in learning the wrong language. I suspect several people here program and might have some suggestions for me. I know everyone has their preferences but how can I figure out which product I want to learn? It doesn’t do any good to call the manufacturer because the answer is always their product. I called the local college and spoke with the dean of the CS department, but they don’t have anyone on staff who is familiar enough with different programs or they were just blowing me off. I really don’t know how to start investigating which language I should use and don’t know anything about programming to have a reference point. Any suggestions about how I can figure this out? I know what I want my product to do and already have some paper outlines. I was hoping I could find some type of consultant and say I want to be able to do this, this, this and then get a recommendation but that doesn’t look like an option.
Thanks.
Comments
Sorry to hear you had a bad accident. Glad to hear you are beyond doing really well. :)
I usually suggest contacting colleges for stuff. But when it comes to state-of-the-art computer stuff, colleges are usually way behind the times. They just don’t have the resources and flexibility to move as erratically as the market does.
Having worked in the software industry for about 20 years (some time ago though), my 2 cents worth is… Work backwards in figuring out your steps. Define problem you want to solve. Define target market. Look at what solves that problem. Then look what is needed for create the solution, etc. You might have done this already and have only expressed the creating a solution phase.
Resources you might contact are:Thanks Bluedolphin for your post. I have already used most of the resources you listed and believe I have a good plan and connections for the marketing aspects of a final product. I just need to create the product.