life

Feeling Lucky

Let’s calculate the probability of:

• life appearing on a planet
• life evolving beyond bacteria into complex creatures
• creatures developing abstract thinking
• inventing programming
• being a winning spermatozoid and being born
• being born in a time and place where computers are invented and accessible
• in the period where the active development of IT coincided with your formative years

The probability would be 0.0000…, with so many zeroes that, if they were grains of sand, they would fill our whole Universe.

I’m feeling very lucky to be that little “1” at the end of the long trail of zeroes.

I’m computer scientist who started developing at the beginning of a new IT era, which means:

• I experienced multiple stages of IT evolution
• I started early enough to need to learn low-level things that help me have a different view of how things work comparing to people who started later
• I started late enough to have a lot of tools and development comfort, so I can focus on the project instead of focusing on the old constraints

Some might say: “Of course you’re feeling lucky living in a big city in a well-developed country, having such easy access to technology and education”. But another thing I like about the current era is how widespread the technology is and how many opportunities it gives. I worked with many people from other countries, thanks to the network that unites us. People have access to learning many things and be at the age of innovation, regardless of where they live. The world as a whole is getting more open and connected each day, and I’m very lucky and grateful to witness it and be a part of this process.

Photo Credits: Brett Jordan & Clément Falize