Google Programmer Blind

Google Programmer Blind and Crazy
Current mood: impressed
Category: Life

Actually, he's a super-Human....

Lundblad is a leading contributor to the Subversion open source code project, which has produced a widely implemented code management system. He was among five leaders of open source code recognized in August at the O'Reilly Open Source Conference. Unlike the others, Lundblad is blind, a fact that didn't bother Google, Lundblad's new employer.
By Charles Babcock

InformationWeek
October 2, 2006 12:00 AM (From the October 2, 2006 issue)

Peter Lundblad
Google Programmer
Interview by Charles Babcock

..>..>

Photograph by Wiley Spiller/Getty Images

..>..>

1

In Transition "I have no idea exactly what I'll be doing for Google, but I know they already employ another blind programmer." Google uses Subversion to manage open source projects that it hosts on its site. Lundblad works in Google's Zurich facility."

..>..>..>..>

2

Open Source Guru "My work on Subversion was really helpful. When you work for a private company, it's easy to just sit in a cave. You don't get feedback from other programmers because you're not allowed to show your code to anyone."

..>..>..>..>

3

How He Does It "I was trained as a finger typist. I know from the feel of the keys if I've made a mistake typing. When looking at code, I prefer Braille." Lundblad uses a device that presents each line of code on the screen in Braille for him to read by touch.

..>..>..>..>

4

First Contact "I was 13 years old in 1989 when I got my first computer. Then a few years later, the Internet came along. It was a revolution. I could search for whatever I wanted, instead of going to the library to see what books they had in Braille."

..>..>..>..>

5

Hands On "I've spent much time improving performance in various parts of Subversion, especially the working copy library, the Subversion component that manages the user's copy of files."