Rosheika Grant, STAR Writer

At age 16, Dean Morris started teaching himself how to code programmes for websites because it seemed fun. Seven years later, and he is a professional program developer, who also teaches.

Morris, a point developer for several projects, including mobile applications and websites, describes his job as one where he works closely with the client and designer about a project and then code it to suit their needs.

The program developer for Grapevine and The Vinelist says his desire to hack systems is what led him to his career choice.

"I always wanted to learn how to hack, so I tried to learn how websites worked and how to manipulate them," Morris said.

But after learning how to hack, the St Jago alum realised he was in love with program development and coding, and it eventually became his career choice.

"I found out I had something that I really liked, and then someone wanted a website. I designed it on paper and people liked it so I coded it, then I started getting referred to others for jobs," said Morris.

But being in a technological field, Morris admits that it is one that presents certain challenges from time to time.

"Trying to understand what the client wants and replicating it can be difficult because coders have to bridge the gap between the client understanding and their expectations," he said.

Greater achievements

However, Morris uses the obstacles he faces as a way of motivating himself and as a springboard for greater achievements.

"Everything (that happens in technology) makes your life more interesting. It keeps you on your toes because it is constantly changing and is very demanding," Morris said.

Nonetheless, he says his job has the potential to fulfil his dream of being at the forefront of making Jamaica the technology hub of the Caribbean.

"I want to create jobs and help create product solutions for Jamaica on a wider scale," Morris said.

The Vinelist, one of Morris' main projects, is an application that he says builds consumer-business relationship in Jamaica through technology.

The application connects businesses with persons trying to find specific products. The person simply posts a picture and then the mobile application then finds the product and their different prices in stores.

"This application drives traffic to Jamaican companies as we are sending consumers straight to them for their different desires," noted Morris.

But Morris is not only focused on his computers and making programs, he is actively involved in a project in which imprisoned men are taught information technology, which they later do in the Caribbean Secondary Examination Council examination.

"This is my way of giving back to Jamaica through technology," said Morris, who expressed pride in the performance of his students who sat the exam.