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"Now computer literacy is widespread enough, and basic programming tools have gotten easy enough to use, that the ability "to write a program" is no longer in s

by j_baker 17y ago

"Now computer literacy is widespread enough, and basic programming tools have gotten easy enough to use, that the ability "to write a program" is no longer in short supply, and with the Internet at our fingertips we all have the combined output of the whole world's supply of programming talent available to us, not just programmers in our own city, state or country." Methinks that the author doesn't understand the difference between data and information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Data#Meaning_of_data.2C_information_and_knowledge http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Data#Meaning_of_data.2C_informa...

jimmyjim 17y ago
> "Now computer literacy is widespread enough, and basic programming tools have gotten easy enough to use, that the ability "to write a program" is no longer in short supply, and with the Internet at our fingertips we all have the combined output of the whole world's supply of programming talent available to us, not just programmers in our own city, state or country." On the contrary. I wish it were. Notice Apple's efforts to streamline the UI on all of its devices so that any idiot could use them without a problem. The computer literacy goes only so far as operating a GUI application, not anywhere toward the more important underlying theories of computer programming.
henrikschroder 17y ago
Yes, computers are more widespread these days, but I don't see the amount of kids being interested in programming change anytime soon. When I was a kid in the 80s, not everyone in my class or school had access to a computer, but some did. Of those, not everyone cared to learn how to program, only a few did. Today, everyone has access to computers, and the programming tools are better and more varied, but I still think that most kids actually thinks it's boring as hell to learn how to program, there's still only a small amount of people who have a passion for it, and the focus and aptitude needed to become good at it.

by j_baker 17y ago

jimmyjim 17y ago

> "Now computer literacy is widespread enough, and basic programming tools have gotten easy enough to use, that the ability "to write a program" is no longer in short supply, and with the Internet at our fingertips we all have the combined output of the whole world's supply of programming talent available to us, not just programmers in our own city, state or country." On the contrary. I wish it were. Notice Apple's efforts to streamline the UI on all of its devices so that any idiot could use them without a problem. The computer literacy goes only so far as operating a GUI application, not anywhere toward the more important underlying theories of computer programming.

henrikschroder 17y ago

Yes, computers are more widespread these days, but I don't see the amount of kids being interested in programming change anytime soon. When I was a kid in the 80s, not everyone in my class or school had access to a computer, but some did. Of those, not everyone cared to learn how to program, only a few did. Today, everyone has access to computers, and the programming tools are better and more varied, but I still think that most kids actually thinks it's boring as hell to learn how to program, there's still only a small amount of people who have a passion for it, and the focus and aptitude needed to become good at it.