OffGridTechie
To commence our journey, welcome to OffGridTechie—a dedicated off-grid technology lifestyle blog. We wholeheartedly focus on:
1) Sustainable off-grid living.
2) Immersing in the realm of technology for off-grid living.
3) Providing essential information to enable off-grid living.
About the Author
OffGridTechie is the brainchild of Rob Summers, who, in a quest to escape the corporate rat race and embrace technology for off-grid living, brings forth unique insights. Rob’s journey unfolds with a natural affinity for technology, nurtured by a teenage fascination with mathematics and the acquisition of software programming skills in the 1980s.
Math and Computer Geek
After graduating with degrees in mathematics and electrical engineering, Rob’s career ventured into software engineering for a satellite imaging system. Subsequently, he assumed the role of a scientist in photogrammetry, focusing on developing software to measure and interpret photographic images. In the 1990s, he transitioned into a systems engineer position at an electric utility company, specializing in programming mainframe SCADA systems, including the VAX 11/780 from Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC), later acquired by Compaq in 1998.
Information Systems Technologist
Rob’s journey continued with several years of information systems consulting, involving extensive travel across the United States. This consulting entailed flying to clients in the financial services, travel, and leisure sectors, often necessitating on-site residence for periods spanning six months to a year. It was an opportunity to intimately experience the diverse geographies and climates of the United States.
Intellectual Property Lawyer in Computer Science
Along this winding path, Rob also pursued a law degree. In 2005, he departed from information systems consulting to practice intellectual property law within the realm of computer science. Notably, despite the U.S. Patent Office’s reluctance to issue software patents, Rob adeptly drafted and prosecuted hundreds of patent applications, successfully securing patent grants for numerous software-based inventions crafted by computer science PhDs.
The Brevity of Life and Life’s Futility
Fast forward to 2015, having spent over 30 years navigating the urban landscape as a technologist, Rob’s journey traversed some of the most dynamic U.S. cities—from Washington, D.C. to New York City. Yet, confronted with the realization that life had become a monotonous grind, Rob took a leap of faith. He meticulously weighed the costs and benefits, ultimately embracing the concept of off-grid living and bidding adieu to the frenetic pace of urban life, all made feasible through technology.