The “1970“ is certainly not a strict threshold, but I do think that it can legitimately be seen as a bit of a watershed regarding out-of-field computer skills.

The “1970“ is certainly not a strict threshold, but I do think that it can legitimately be seen as a bit of a watershed regarding out-of-field computer skills. (sorry, I can't consider a mathematician who wrote impactful software truly out-of-field, no matter how blessed with humility) Take for example brick and mortar architecture students. Most of those born mid 1970ies would at one point have put a lot of research in speccing out their personal CAD machine, learn how to apply cracks for the piracy countermeasures of the day and design multiple generations of less and less inadequate personal backup strategies. Their peers ten years older? None of that DIY, most would probably have jumped straight from paper to a professionally supported workstations. Their peers twenty years younger? Walled garden app stores.