Talking engines with young tutor

Thomas Williams might spend as much time on computers as the next cool teenager, but certainly ups the ante when it comes to addressing a hunger for empowering himself and others with knowledge about the abilities and potential of what has been referred to as an analytical engine of yonder years.
An interview with the Tenth Grader American citizen on Polokwane soil steers one on the trail of the work of English mathematician and writer Augusta Ada King on Charles Babbage’s proposed mechanical general-purpose computer, referred to as the Analytical Engine in the 1800s. She was hailed as the first computer programmer and sometimes regarded as the first to recognise the full potential of a computing machine way back then, in terms of available information on the internet. The Countess of Lovelace undoubtedly would have been a phenomenon in her time and background on her legacy evidently contains an element of fascination for Thomas.
As he excitedly sings the praises of computers and tells of the rush experienced when solving a problem, one needs to keep one’s wits together about the jargon he uses for the terminology adopted could easily conjure up images of scary snakes and culinary temptation.
After many years of being intrigued by modern day computers, he remains in awe of how a device is composed and operated. Programming of computers, the distinct language entered into, problem shooting and gaming are seen contributing factors to his captivation with the technology that connects him with the world. Earlier this year he took it a step further when he started tutoring a 13-year-old girl student with her prospects set on game programming through Python, and in such a way manages to expand on his own knowledge, he explains.
On weekends Thomas and his scholar can be found programming on the Raspberry Pi device, a prototype micro computer comprising the size of a bank card holding endless possibilities which he was exposed to for the first time a year ago. Not too long after Thomas’s Raspberry Pi was converted into a fully functional weather station measuring barometric pressure and entered for an Eskom expo for young scientists in the Western Cape last year, landing the Pietersburg Hoërskool learner a first place.
With pride he refers to his scholar having managed to programme a cat-and-mouse game during her last Saturday session and expresses the belief that she definitely has what it takes to be a future programmer. Thomas further emphasises that he plans to expand on his intended tutoring for teens by offering a Python stand-alone course in future.
His passion for computers was preceded by an interest in electronic games since the age of 3 years, but he started learning programming rather late in life, he pointed out. His interest in computer games was sparked by Minecraft, which remains dear to him as it was his first game ever. He doesn’t play it as often anymore but he has kept it for sentimental reasons. These days Overwatch, a multi-player shooter game receives all his attention.
Apart from school keeping him rather busy and spending time on computer games, the versatile Thomas can otherwise be found playing the piano or on an adventurous Voortrekkers camp.
He reckoned that predicting the possibility of a future in computers is way too premature, but his sights are set on an internship with an IT company in Colorado in his country of birth once done with matric.
The possibility that a young American raised in rural Limpopo makes his presence felt internationally shouldn’t be ruled out.

Story: YOLANDE NEL
>>observer.yolande@gmail.com