Patrick von Pattay has a passion for technology that dates back to his childhood in Austria — and his father’s vision of the future.

Von Pattay senior installed internet cables for a living, in the bad old days of dial-up.

The child who grew up to become Wintershall Dea’s vice president of digital portfolio and transformation listened spellbound as his father talked about the “intelligent home” concept, years before it became a commercial reality.