User:Harold Foppele

About Me

My name is Harold Foppele (discuss • contribs) 12:17, 9 October 2025 (UTC). I was born on April 30, 1945, in the Netherlands, where my curiosity for technology, science, and learning has driven me ever since.

Early Years

I grew up helping my parents in their shoe shop during the 1960s. While it had nothing to do with technology, it taught me discipline, problem-solving, and a strong work ethic—values that stayed with me throughout life.

Discovering Computers

In 1975 I encountered computers for the first time, and life changed. I started programming on an HP 9815 with just 8K RAM, later moving to the HP 9825 with 24K RAM and string manipulation ROMs, 9835A with 736K Ram and the 9845 with 2MB RAM—cutting-edge at the time.

One of my earliest achievements was writing a program to automate pairings for Swiss chess tournaments. Organizing 250 players manually took hours/days; my program did it in 28 seconds. We completed 13 rounds in one day, a world record at the time.

Academic Journey

Though I lacked a formal background in computer science initially, my desire to understand computing at a deeper level led me around the world:
- Böblingen, Germany – Studied with support from Hewlett-Packard
- Wokingham, United Kingdom – Continued my studies near London
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), USA
- Completed advanced studies. Focus: computer architecture, processors, memory systems, and logic design

These were the days following IBM 360 systems, Hollerith punch cards, and paper tape—a revolution in computing history.

Entrepreneurship

I went on to found Transmit Data, an OEM software and hardware company that grew to around 30 employees. Today, I still run a smaller company called Civil Trading to stay active and engaged in business and technology.

Lifelong Learning

My curiosity didn’t stop at computers. Five years ago, I began studying Chemistry at HAN University of Applied Sciences NL Arnhem/Nijmegen and truly enjoyed it. Although I don’t hold a university degree in Quantum Physics, I am passionate about:

- Quantum Science - Quantum Mechanics - Quantum Computing

I regularly study at the University of Amsterdam library (UvA) and I’m a member of the Natuurkundig Gezelschap Utrecht (NGU). I enjoy writing articles that share scientific knowledge in an understandable way.

Today

I continue to explore science, technology, and quantum theory. Curiosity doesn’t retire. I believe knowledge grows by sharing it.