ABOUT ME
Albert Padley
Founded in 1999, ap3 Web Development is owned by Albert Padley, a pioneer in the use of computers in the courtroom and as a mass communications medium.
I was first introduced to the world of computer programming in 1970 when my high school in conjunction with CalTech installed it’s first computer. The machine was huge by modern standards and was housed in a portable trailer with lots of air conditioning. While I don’t remember the model of the computer, I do recall learning Fortran and using punch cards.
Alas, my college pursuits led me in a direction away from computer science. Instead, I became a litigation attorney in Los Angeles. However, my interest in computers never wained. In the late 1970’s I started toying with an Apple II and by the time the Macintosh was introduced in 1984 I knew that the practice of law would never be the same. Shortly thereafter, I started introducing computers into our Los Angeles office and we became one of the first computerized law offices in the nation.
I wasn’t satisfied to just have computer work stations on everyone’s desk. So I became one of the first lawyers in the country to use a computer in a courtroom during a trial. With the help of an associate, we used the computer to quickly find deposition testimony through the use of keyword searching. While this sounds mundane today, it was innovative at the time. We also used a computer hooked up to a large format printer to prepare exhibits as needed. Of course, the computer and printer resided in the hallway, not in the actual courtroom.
Based on our experience, we were often approached by companies to beta test new software products. This was long before the concept of public beta testing came about.
Everything changed again in 1993 with the introduction of the Mosaic web browser. Suddenly there was a new way to communicate. I wrote my first web page in 1995 and haven’t stopped since.
Not every technology is right for every project. My long term experience in this industry has proven invaluable to my clients in helping them pick an appropriate technology for the job. More and more that has tended to be WordPress. In addition, my legal background helps guide my clients through the potential pitfals of software licensing agreements, patents and copyrights.