February 4, 2010 - (With slideshow) Andrew Munsell, known as the "whiz-kid" who loves computers, is really good at them. He began when he was 10 learning to write HTML code, by age 13 he was creating software, and now at age 15 he's created about 10 apps. And he’s not stopping there.
Andrew shares in an exclusive interview with Examiner how he got started and where he’s headed.
Examiner asked Andrew how many apps he’s created and he said, “I have created about 10 apps-- everything from sticky notes, to weather apps, to a stun gun, and more.”
Andrew’s apps can be found on his website at http://wizardapps.net.
He said for a description of some of the apps, or to browse the Palm App Catalog on Project Appetite, go to http://projectappetite.com and search for any of his applications on the Project Appetite: Weatherman, Stickyman, LOL, Don't Taze Me Man, and Fart man, just to name a few.
Andrew started creating websites when he was about 10 years old. “Around that time I got my pug, and loved her so much I had to create a website dedicated to pictures. After updating the website for about 2 years, I spent a summer building TI Wizard.”
“ TI Wizard,” Andrew explains, “Is a website dedicated to calculator games, programs, and tutorials.”
He said that most people in 7th grade had a Nintendo DS, but they couldn't use it in class. “I had a programmable Texas Instruments TI-84+ calculator. I made and downloaded a few games, and soon enough most of my math class wanted Mario on their calculator.”
Andrew built TI Wizard to help other students find the best games easily for their TI calculators. “While creating TI Wizard,” Andrew said, “I learned quite a bit about monetizing websites. I used Google Adsense to place ads on the site and wrote a few articles while linking to my Amazon Affiliate links. The articles on Livescribe Pens and the Amazon Kindle were a hit, and brought in a lot of traffic.”
“In 2009, I first heard about the Palm Pre,” he said, “I watched a few videos and was hooked. After it was launched in June and the software development kit was released, I created my first apps without even owning a phone to run it on!”
Andrew said that during the fall of last year a reporter from The Wall Street Journal contacted him after finding his TIWizard website. “He wanted to interview me about TI calculators and games. He was surprised when he found out I was 14.”
In Late September and early October, he created Weatherman-- his first huge app. “This app displayed the weather forecast on your wallpaper and lock screen-- something other apps didn’t do,” he said.
“ I offered it to others via a Palm Pre forum and it was extremely popular and well received. After a week or two, Palm called me and asked if I would participate as a developer in their Beta App Catalog, which was by invite only,” Andrew said, “I was 14 at the time, just about to turn 15. It's been about 4 months now, and I have quite a few apps in the official catalog.”
When asked if he plans on making more apps, Andrew said, “Of course, in fact, I have 2 more in development right now.”
Andrew responded to the question “Do you feel you’ve missed out on any part of being a kid?” with “No, I don't think I have. I still have homework to do, and I certainly don't work all of the time.”
With a smile and a wink, Andrew says, “Besides working on the computer I enjoy playing video games. “
When asked how he thinks the skills he’s acquired will help him in his future, Andrew said, “After interviews with Palm, the Wall Street Journal, and King 5, I definitely have had a taste of the ‘real business world’. I also have a lot of experience working with computers-- not just programming. My technical knowledge can even be applied in the medical field-- surgical robots, for example.”
What are Andrew’s future goals? “It may seem odd, but I plan to be a doctor of some sort...But there are plenty of opportunities for me to use my technical knowledge in the medical field. Who knows, I may end up working with medical machines and robots. The University of Washington is at the top of my list, but I am definitely open to other colleges...”
Part 1: Andrew Munsell: The next Bill Gates? Teen prodigy writes HTML age 10, makes 10 apps by age 15
Part 2: Andrew Munsell: The next Bill Gates? Exclusive Interview with Andrew's mom, Katrina Munsell
Part 3: Andrew Munsell: The next Bill Gates? Exclusive Interview with Andrew Munsell
Part 4: Andrew Munsell, the next Bill Gates? Exclusive interview with Andrew’s school advisor
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