About Me

Executive Summary

If you want to cut to the chase, just jump to the final two sections.

In General

My name is David Barts. I have over twenty years of experience working with technology professionally.

Oscar Wilde once wrote:

Well, the way of paradoxes is the way of truth. To test reality we must see it on the tight rope. When the verities become acrobats, we can judge them.

One of the paradoxes in my life is that despite my fascination with technology, I’m also quite skeptical of it. I’ve never rushed out to embrace all the latest new devices. I’ve been interested in plants and nature at least as long as I’ve been fascinated by things technological, and I am painfully aware of how much society’s love for technology has led us to destroy the so much of the natural systems that sustain us. I’d much rather spend my days off from work hiking or camping in some wild, remote place than doing gaming or recreational coding.

That tends to be considered a liability for many high-tech employers. I have found that many such employers don’t want mere technical competence; they want young, eager cult members. This is not who I am; it is in conflict with some of my most fundamental core values.

In contrast, that liability becomes an asset if you’re looking for expertise that can give you honest help with technology that serves your needs, not merely the emotional needs of some technology fanboy to see his personal biases validated.

I am not your average techie, and I am not looking for your average techie job. I am looking for something that truly engages my passions and motivates me to do my best work for someone who needs something other than your average tech worker.

I consider it an indictment of our society that “Luddite” is used as an insult, to imply an unthinking rejection of technology. If you study the history of the original Luddites, you will see that they were not opposed to all technology, and not even opposed to the idea that technology might automate their jobs! What they were opposed to was the concept that it was always fine to use new technology, even when such use had extreme adverse consequences.

I think our society could benefit from a healthy dose of constructive Luddism. We need neither to embrace nor reject technology unthinkingly; we need to make technology appropriate.

How All This Means I Can Help You

I Know The Virtue of Simplicity

More is not necessarily better. Simpler systems are generally easier to learn how to use, easier to maintain, and less costly to produce and run.

I Do Not Blindly Follow Trends—Or Tell Others To

I know the difference between “can it be done” and “should it be done.”

I Have Respect for Non-Techies

I don’t think any less of those who have a different subset of knowledge than I do. I’ve delved into enough areas of knowledge myself to know they all can be fascinating and engrossing, and no one person can know it all. Unlike most computer geeks, most of my friends do not work in “the industry;” I interact with non-techies on a regular basis.

I Do Not Need a Fancy Office

I prefer to live close to nature and work remotely. I get my best ideas when I’m inspired by the natural world and have a peaceful and private place to work.

My Motivation Is Different

I’m not motivated much by the prospect of acquiring lots of stuff by which to impress others, by the pursuit of social status. What matters most to me is living honestly and decently while making the world a better place.

Where (Physically) I Can Help You

I often get unsolicited leads that would require me to make a relocation that I am unwilling to consider, so I figured I’d add this section to help save both of us some time. Note that this assumes a permanent assignment; for something temporary, I can be significantly more flexible.

  1. Remotely, via the Internet, wherever you happen to be in the world.
  2. Here in the Vancouver, BC area.