About
Cyberwip
Welcome to Cyberwip, the personal blog of Kent Lacroix,
by Kent Lacroix,
History
My interest in electronics began with a crystal radio I got for my 10th birthday.
My natural curiosity in how things worked, along with my father (a mechanic) having an extensive set of tools, further motivated me into a life of discovery. From that moment on, by taking everything apart and calling it "experimenting in pursuit of scientific research", I've been covered.
I learned radio communications by experimenting with CB Radios while studying for my HAM ticket. After successfully completing all DOC Amateur Class exams (Amateur and Digital) in a single sitting, I started a radio station (VE4ATV), which enabled me to network with other technical professionals worldwide.
Projects:
At the time, I supported my learning by building antennas and linear amplifiers.
As I gained knowledge, my interests expanded into digital electronics, beginning with TTL and through microprocessors. By this time, I had already taken an RRCC Computer Programmer Analyst course and had been programming large-scale computers for a few years, so I naturally gravitated towards microprocessors, envisioning myself with my own computer.
Projects:
By combining my talents, I was able to design, build, and program an M6809-based 1200 Baud, X.25 Packet Radio Controller. This was my first experience with global networking, where I could communicate with some of the brightest technical minds.
Back then, the Internet was still in its infancy (the ARPANET), and businesses were still using 300 Baud modems to communicate via DATAPAC (a switched-packet telephone network).
My First Computer
In the beginning, there was a company called Digital Research and a man named Garry Kildall who, by all accounts, should now be king of the Microcomputer Operating System world. Garry's biggest problem (like many technophiles) was that he cared less about money and fame than about learning and technology.
Projects:
I was lucky enough to be among the first users of Garry's operating system (CP/M) when in 1978 i built a Z80-based, S-100 Bus personal computer into my metal desk that was at almost every level just as capable as the PDP 11/70 I worked on at UofW.
Even better - it had many of the same DOS commands as RSTS/E and a Basic Compiler for developing commercial software.
The Computer Application Years
By this time, I could program in most languages from Assembly Language to high-level languages like Fortran, Cobol, Basic, and even Garry's own PL/I. So for a while, I focused on software applications in:
- Video Games
- Operating Systems
- Accounting
- Taxation
- Payroll
- Inventory Control
- Manufacturing
Luckily for me, the Internet was fast approaching, and I was looking for any excuse to get away from writing applications and back into systems design.
The Internet is Born
Through sharing knowledge and experimentation, computer nerds brought the Internet to life. It was only Microsoft that tried to pass the Internet off as an amateur operation and a passing trend (playing catch-up ever since).
For us computer nerds, the Internet was a new conquest and the future of communication.
The birth of the name “Cyberwip”
Along the way, I was lucky enough to meet Lisa, the love of my life, whom I married, had a family with, and who has been my biggest supporter at every step.
One day, my son Brennan was watching me work on the computer when I asked him, "What would be a good name for a company doing research and development?" After a few moments, Brennan said "Cyberwip" and when I asked him "why the wip?", he said "WORK-IN-PROGRESS".
I liked the name: it sounded snappy (NPI), and, in the context of WORK-IN-PROGRESS, it accurately describes the task at hand.
I began a deep search to see whether such a word even existed or had been used in any way.
My search resources include:
- Dictionaries
- Pre-registration NUANS search
Other than a few spelling mistakes I found in social circles online, the name was unlisted and had never been used for or associated with any given identity.
On November 10, 2006, after securing my NUANS report, I registered the domain name cyberwip.com as official proof of my use of Cyberwip as a trademark. I also registered cyberwip.ca to ensure Canadian recognition.
Current Projects
That's where the fun begins and the reason I've created this website.
Online Projects
- Computer Building - custom hardware and cooling designs
- Performance - optimizing power and performance from Gaming PCs to Servers
- Applications - in search of the best solutions for making life easier
- Networking - Security (VPNs and Encryption), and device management (NAS).
- Graphic Design - Creative Theory, and Inspiration
- Web Design - [WordPress][Divi] CMS Designs
- Web Hosting - [cPanel] my own bare-metal servers
- Web Services - custom WEB applications
Offline Projects
- Micro-controller Designs - [ESP-32] Orchestrators from sensory input to control output
- Flight Simulation - [X-Plane] R/C days were nothing like this (full simulator)
- Robotics - [6DOF] custom boards with sensory inputs and 150Kg/cm torque
- Drones - [DJI] bringing flight simulation to life
- Sound Engineering - [Akai][Ableton Live][Mackie] - pure creative power
Follow Along
Drop by once in a while and see how it's going.
Questions or Comments - visit the contact page.
Have a nice day, and thanks for making it to the end.
- Kent