This is the story of my life so far: 68 years and counting.
Prequel: [A Brief History of my Family in France](https://steemit.com/story/@vcelier/a-brief-history-of-my-family-in-france-part-1)

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The story starts [here](https://steemit.com/story/@vcelier/the-story-of-my-life-so-far-part-1-i-was-born-in-1949)
Previous episode: [Part 62](https://steemit.com/story/@vcelier/the-story-of-my-life-so-far-part-62-new-furniture-and-new-friends-in-halifax)

***

During the 3 years I was in Halifax, in 1979-1982, I was in a Canadian Forces establishment, probably in the Canadian Forces Naval Engineering School, in the Electrical Division.

During the first year, I was a teaching "digital techniques" to Canadian sailors

# Teaching "digital techniques" to Canadian sailors
#

Digital techniques included Boolean algebra and logic gates.

For the first two months, I sat on the back of the classroom, following two courses of digital techniques, taught by a civilian instructor, so that I could learn what I was going to teach.

Then, I started to teach the course myself.
I had not had much experience teaching before. I had only done alphabetization for immigrants, mostly from North Africa, in France for a few month, volunteering at our church in [Saint-Ouen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint-Ouen,_Seine-Saint-Denis).
However, I realized that I could teach effectively.

One of my pet peeve was spelling. Each time one of my students was making a spelling error when he was writing on the blackboard, I would ask him to correct it. Sometimes they would ask if it was a class of digital techniques or a spelling class!

However, after several months of teaching multiple times the same material, it began to be quite boring.

So, after a year of teaching, I was moved to a new entity to develop Computer-Assisted Instruction (CAI) courses.

# Developing Computer-Assisted Instruction courses
#

We were two officers in the new CAI lab: Don, a Canadian lieutenant-commander and myself.

Don was a reserved officer, who had just started working full time for the Canadian Forces, specifically to start this CAL lab. He was an expert in Computer-Assisted Instruction.

The hardware we had at the CAI lab was just a dumb terminal, probably a [VT-100](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VT100), connected to a [minicomputer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minicomputer) located in [Ottawa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ottawa) through a leased serial line.

We were using a specialized CAI programming language, CAN8, that was the 8th version of the CAN languages. Initially, I thought that, as these languages had been invented in Canada, that explained why they were called CAN. I learned later that in fact CAN was standing for "Completely Arbitrary Name"!

We were also using sometimes the legendary text editor and macro programming language [TECO](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TECO_(text_editor)), that, according to Wikipedia is a direct ancestor of [Emacs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emacs), which was originally implemented in TECO macros.

***

At the Electrical Division, I had met a francophone Canadian officer, Ron, who was working in a hardware lab.

In his lab, Ron had an [IMSAI 8080](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IMSAI_8080) microcomputer, that was his personal property.

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![IMSAI_8080.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmaz2QHTjiyqyhEqbsdHR2hu2k7ao1tpwNM1vHrmDbvU5V/IMSAI_8080.jpg)
IMSAI 8080
[*source*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:IMSAI_8080-IMG_1477.jpg)
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Every day, during lunch hour, I would go to Ron lab and we would play with his microcomputer.

This was my practical introduction to personal computers. Until then, I had only dreamed of owning such a piece of equipment.

Ron introduced me to one of his acquaintances, a guy who was literally building microcomputers in his garage. So, I decided to buy one of those computers in September 1980.

Continue to [Part 64](https://steemit.com/story/@vcelier/the-story-of-my-life-so-far-part-64-september-1980-i-buy-my-first-microcomputer)

***

If you like this story, please consider to [**follow me**](https://steemit.com/@vcelier)

[Summary](https://steemit.com/story/@vcelier/the-story-of-my-life-so-far-summary)
[Part 1](https://steemit.com/story/@vcelier/the-story-of-my-life-so-far-part-1-i-was-born-in-1949) - [Part 2](https://steemit.com/story/@vcelier/the-story-of-my-life-so-far-part-2-the-garden-in-rambouillet) - [Part 3](https://steemit.com/story/@vcelier/the-story-of-my-life-so-far-part-3-playing-in-the-garden-and-starting-school) - [Part 4](https://steemit.com/story/@vcelier/the-story-of-my-life-so-far-part-4-food-and-health) - [Part 5](https://steemit.com/story/@vcelier/the-story-of-my-life-so-far-part-5-leaving-rambouillet) - [Part 6](https://steemit.com/story/@vcelier/the-story-of-my-life-so-far-part-6-moving-to-saint-ouen-just-north-of-paris) - [Part 7](https://steemit.com/story/@vcelier/the-story-of-my-life-so-far-part-7-goint-to-school-at-ecole-emile-zola) - [Part 8](https://steemit.com/story/@vcelier/the-story-of-my-life-so-far-part-8-a-day-in-the-life-of-a-school-boy-in-france-in-the-1950s)
[Part 9](https://steemit.com/story/@vcelier/the-story-of-my-life-so-far-part-9-family-life-at-home) - [Part 10](https://steemit.com/story/@vcelier/the-story-of-my-life-so-far-part-10-summer-vacations-binic) - [Part 11](https://steemit.com/story/@vcelier/the-story-of-my-life-so-far-part-11-summer-vacations-la-salle) - [Part 12](https://steemit.com/story/@vcelier/the-story-of-my-life-so-far-part-12-summer-vacations-maisons-familiales-in-haute-savoie) - [Part 13](https://steemit.com/story/@vcelier/the-story-of-my-life-so-far-part-13-summer-vacations-marie-remembers) - [Part 14](https://steemit.com/story/@vcelier/the-story-of-my-life-so-far-part-14-high-school-1) - [Part 15](https://steemit.com/story/@vcelier/the-story-of-my-life-so-far-part-15-high-school-2) - [Part 16](https://steemit.com/story/@vcelier/the-story-of-my-life-so-far-part-16-vacations-chateau-du-lathan)
[Part 17](https://steemit.com/story/@vcelier/the-story-of-my-life-so-far-part-17-we-bought-an-abbey) - [Part 18](https://steemit.com/story/@vcelier/the-story-of-my-life-so-far-part-18-lycee-saint-louis) - [Part 19](https://steemit.com/story/@vcelier/the-story-of-my-life-so-far-part-19-tv-radio-music-and-movies) - [Part 20](https://steemit.com/story/@vcelier/the-story-of-my-life-so-far-part-20-music-and-movies) - [Part 21](https://steemit.com/story/@vcelier/the-story-of-my-life-so-far-part-21-may-1968-in-paris) - [Part 22](https://steemit.com/story/@vcelier/the-story-of-my-life-so-far-part-22-becoming-a-fistot-at-ecole-navale) - [Part 23](https://steemit.com/story/@vcelier/the-story-of-my-life-so-far-part-23-first-month-at-ecole-navale-the-culations) - [Part 24](https://steemit.com/navalacademy/@vcelier/the-story-of-my-life-so-far-part-24-first-year-at-ecole-navale-learning-navigation)
[Part 25](https://steemit.com/story/@vcelier/the-story-of-my-life-so-far-part-25-first-year-at-ecole-navale-math-and-science-for-a-future-navy-officer) - [Part 26](https://steemit.com/story/@vcelier/the-story-of-my-life-so-far-part-26-end-of-first-year-at-ecole-navale-with-some-success) - [Part 27](https://steemit.com/story/@vcelier/the-story-of-my-life-so-far-part-27-a-year-as-an-aspirant-de-marine-at-ecole-navale-usdd) - [Part 28](https://steemit.com/story/@vcelier/the-story-of-my-life-so-far-part-28-summer-1970-the-jeanne-d-arc) - [Part 29](https://steemit.com/story/@vcelier/the-story-of-my-life-so-far-part-29-cruise-on-the-jeanne-d-arc-dakar-rio-de-janeiro) - [Part 30](https://steemit.com/story/@vcelier/the-story-of-my-life-so-far-part-30-cruise-on-the-jeanne-d-arc-montevideo-purto-belgrano-valparaiso) - [Part 31](https://steemit.com/story/@vcelier/the-story-of-my-life-so-far-part-31-cruise-on-the-jeanne-d-arc-islands-in-the-pacific-ocean-easter-island-moruroa-tahiti-bora) - [Part 32](https://steemit.com/story/@vcelier/the-story-of-my-life-so-far-part-32-cruise-on-the-jeanne-d-arc-san-francisco-accapulco-salina-cruz)
[Part 33](https://steemit.com/story/@vcelier/the-story-of-my-life-so-far-part-33-cruise-on-the-jeanne-d-arc-panama-city-panama-canal-new-orleans) - [Part 34](https://steemit.com/story/@vcelier/the-story-of-my-life-so-far-part-34-cruise-on-the-jeanne-d-arc-fort-de-france-casablanca-trieste) - [Part 35](https://steemit.com/story/@vcelier/the-story-of-my-life-so-far-part-35-cruise-on-the-jeanne-d-arc-split-tunis-and-return-to-brest) - [Part 36](https://steemit.com/story/@vcelier/the-story-of-my-life-so-far-part-36-flying-to-tahiti-for-my-first-post-in-the-french-navy) - [Part 37](https://steemit.com/story/@vcelier/the-story-of-my-life-so-far-part-37-in-trouble-during-my-first-day-in-tahiti) - [Part 38](https://steemit.com/story/@vcelier/the-story-of-my-life-so-far-part-38-the-ship-of-my-first-post-the-bdc-trieux) - [Part 39](https://steemit.com/story/@vcelier/the-story-of-my-life-so-far-part-39-the-bdc-trieux-in-french-polynesia-in-1971-1972) - [Part 40](https://steemit.com/stoet/@vcelier/the-story-of-my-life-so-far-part-40-small-adventures-during-my-first-post-in-french-polynesia)
[Part 41](https://steemit.com/story/@vcelier/the-story-of-my-life-so-far-part-41-returning-to-france-from-papeete-to-brest) - [Part 42](https://steemit.com/story/@vcelier/the-story-of-my-life-so-far-part-42-summer-1972-at-the-abbey-a-motorbike-and-two-cars) - [Part 43](https://steemit.com/story/@vcelier/the-story-of-my-life-so-far-part-43-the-frigate-tourville-and-my-renault-12-gordini) - [Part 44](https://steemit.com/story/@vcelier/the-story-of-my-life-so-far-part-44-first-year-in-lorient-on-the-frigate-tourville) - [Part 45](https://steemit.com/story/@vcelier/the-story-of-my-life-so-far-part-45-august-1973-vacations-in-cameroon) - [Part 46](https://steemit.com/story/@vcelier/the-story-of-my-life-so-far-part-46-august-1973-vacations-in-cameroon-part-2) - [Part 47](https://steemit.com/story/@vcelier/the-story-of-my-life-so-far-part-47-second-year-in-lorient-on-the-frigate-tourville) - [Part 48](https://steemit.com/story/@vcelier/the-story-of-my-life-so-far-part-48-moving-to-the-mediterranean-coast-and-going-back-to-school)
[Part 49](https://steemit.com/story/@vcelier/the-story-of-my-life-so-far-part-49-1974-1975-in-saint-mandrier) - [Part 50](https://steemit.com/story/@vcelier/the-story-of-my-life-so-far-part-50-1975-four-more-months-in-saint-mandrier-mostly-at-the-computer-center) - [Part 51](https://steemit.com/story/@vcelier/the-story-of-my-life-so-far-part-51-1976-six-months-in-paris) - [Part 52](https://steemit.com/story/@vcelier/the-story-of-my-life-so-far-part-52-1976-six-months-in-lorient-temporarily-posted-on-an-aviso-escorteur) - [Part 53](https://steemit.com/story/@vcelier/the-story-of-my-life-so-far-part-53-1976-1977-in-brest-on-the-corvette-georges-leygues) - [Part 54](https://steemit.com/story/@vcelier/the-story-of-my-life-so-far-part-54-computer-officer-on-the-corvette-georges-leygues) - [Part 55](https://steemit.com/story/@vcelier/the-story-of-my-life-so-far-part-55-creating-a-computer-game-on-the-corvette-georges-leygues) - [Part 56](https://steemit.com/story/@vcelier/the-story-of-my-life-so-far-part-56-creating-a-computer-game-on-the-corvette-georges-leygues-coding)
[Part 57](https://steemit.com/story/@vcelier/the-story-of-my-life-so-far-part-57-trials-at-sea-of-the-propulsion-of-the-corvette-georges-leygues) - [Part 58](https://steemit.com/story/@vcelier/the-story-of-my-life-so-far-part-58-1978-1979-on-the-georges-leygues) - [Part 59](https://steemit.com/story/@vcelier/the-story-of-my-life-so-far-part-59-getting-married) - [Part 60](https://steemit.com/story/@vcelier/the-story-of-my-life-so-far-part-60-july-1979-arriving-in-halifax-nova-scotia) - [Part 61](https://steemit.com/story/@vcelier/the-story-of-my-life-so-far-part-61-summer-1979-settling-in-halfax) - [Part 62](https://steemit.com/story/@vcelier/the-story-of-my-life-so-far-part-62-new-furniture-and-new-friends-in-halifax)

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