Technology has come quite a long way since we first started doing business over twenty years ago. Back then, being a teen and being into computers meant you were instantly classified as a nerd. And since this was before being a nerd was a cool thing, that meant general ostracization from the larger pack. Technology wasn’t “cool” the same way it is today. It wasn’t ubiquitous yet. Cell phones were still relatively new – texting was just becoming a thing. To be a teen into tech then was to be into the nitty gritty of the internals of a computer, doing your own upgrades and reading Wired Magazine. It was connecting peer-to-peer through a modem in order to play Diablo, or just plain carrying your PC over to friend’s place for a good old fashion LAN party. Those were the good ol’ days, we thought, we were the vanguards of the Internet Generation. The 14.4k Cowboys of the Silicon Wild West.

Fast forward to today, and computer technology is everywhere. Literally, in the pockets of nearly everyone. And finding a teen who isn’t into technology would be a lot harder than finding one that is. But it’s a different kind of experience, these days. Polished laptops, tablets, and video game consoles all with the end (uninitiated) user in mind. Operating systems that are harder to break; safe, and easy.

Find me a teen that wants to understand what’s under the hood. That wants to know how things work, that wants to tinker and explore computer technology.

Turns out, there are a lot of kids interested, they just need to be given the tools, mentorship, and opportunity.

When the South London Neighbourhood Resource Centre invited Keystone to partake in their annual Tech4Teens program we knew it would be a great way to give back a little, and inspire our own techs and engineers while also inspiring the next generation. Youths that might not normally get the chance to get so hands on with technology.

We had a blast and so did the kids. Installing Windows 10, creating a LAN, and playing a little Quake Arena, just a typical weekend for us, and hopefully something a little special for them. This is the second year we’ve done this now, and we’re already seeing changes. Last year, it was all boys, this year it was an even mix of boys and girls (admittedly, the girls seemed less enthused about playing Quake). But it’s great to see more diversity in a field that desperately needs to be more inclusive.

If just one of these kids decides they want a career in computer technology over being an Instagram influencer, we’ll have done our job. Here’s to the 14.4k Cowboys, and here’s to the new vanguard ushering in the next era of I.T.