The Atari 2600: The Box That Launched A Million IT Careers

"I'd say that general spirit [of modifying consoles] hasn't changed since 1977, although today there are obviously more resources and technology and collaboration with like-minded individuals," said Keeton.

As a youngster, Allen Allison, vice president of security at MTM Technologies, a Stamford, Conn.-based solution provider, attempted his first physical modification of the Atari 2600 when one of his joysticks failed. "I was able to pull it apart, and hook it up to a couple of old telegraph keys I got from my grandfather," Allison recalls.

Later, Allison attempted to replicate games available on the Atari to the Apple II Plus using Basic. "The gaming experience really launched my interest in computer programming and eventually, information security," he said.

John Menezes, president and CEO of Cyberklix, a Mississauga, Ontario solution provider, enjoyed tinkering with the Atari 2600 as well as with Commodore and Sinclair computers. He says the 2600 gave him a solid grounding in technology, especially since the console remained commercially relevant for more than a decade.

"I think the 2600 was the start to the whole technology revolution. I believe we were the first generation of geeks who have now grown up and run very successful technology companies," Menezes said.

Some solution providers even draw a connection between the interactivity of the Atari 2600 and the development of online communications.

"The fact that a real computer could be brought into your house and hooked up to the television set foreshadowed today's demand for ubiquitous Internet and computer resource access," said Joe Bardwell, president and chief scientist at Connect802, a San Ramon, Calif.-based solution provider.

For others, the Atari was simply the first example of technology being boxed up and packaged in such a way as to capture the hearts and minds of consumers, a practice that shows no signs of slowing today.

"The main thing that Atari and all those early computers did was make me dream of a future where computers would be what they are today: Appliances that let us do so many things so much more efficiently," said Andrew Plato, president at Anitian Enterprise Security, a Beaverton, Ore.-based security solution provider.