In my opinion this post ignores the significant divide between the general understanding of hardware and software. Most people have a general idea of how an in

In my opinion this post ignores the significant divide between the general understanding of hardware and software. Most people have a general idea of how an internal combustion engine works, how their fridge works, how a tv works, hell, even about how a nuclear power plant works. Most people wouldn't know how to make any of these things, but it's not exactly a "dizzying invisible depth" either, and most people are capable of making informed decisions without being engineers. When it comes to software however, most peoples understanding remains completely at the surface. I don't believe this is something we should accept as "normal", because this is exactly what leads to many of the issues our society is currently struggling with. Not just software patents, but many of the current security and privacy issues or the huge unemployment. The general understanding of software was not, and still isn't part of peoples culture and education in the same way a basic understanding or hardware has always been. This significantly undermines the decision making on all levels of society, from government policy to personal choices. The patent mess is just a symptom.