Witnessing the early stages of computing in Sri Lanka, a key milestone for me was the emergence of CD and VCD shops. While music and movies on CDs were already popular, the real game-changer was the availability of software CDs and educational tutorial CDs. With just 100 LKR, one could become the proud owner of the latest Windows release, complete with a serial key or crack software for activation. You could even find CDs packed with multiple applications, like audio programs and multimedia players.
What truly captivated me, however, were the educational video CDs – a wealth of knowledge at such an affordable price! I remember spending a lot of time and money on these CDs, amassing a large collection of training material for 3D Max, Maya, and Visual Basic. These resources were a valuable extension to my core knowledge gained from books.
My favorite spots were a shop near the Nugegoda supermarket and another near Liberty Plaza. Unfortunately, I can’t recall their names, and they probably don’t exist anymore, or they might have shifted to a new business model. I even loved the ambiance of these shops – the smell of new CDs and the cool relief of air conditioning in the hot Sri Lankan climate.
Thanks to these resources, I learned Visual Basic, Dreamweaver, Photoshop, and Corel Draw in-depth. I spent many nights watching these tutorials and practicing the tips they offered. The trainers in the videos were incredibly skilled and provided practical instructions.
Looking back, even though I didn’t know the term ‘self-learning’ then, I now realize I engaged in extensive self-learning thanks to these additional resources. Every minute I spent on them was incredibly valuable and contributed significantly to my education.
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