[wplug] Kids can't use computers

Janos Dohanics web at 3dresearch.com
Fri Aug 22 13:49:38 EDT 2014


On Wed, 13 Aug 2014 15:58:15 -0400
Mike Sussman <sussmanm at math.pitt.edu> wrote:

> [...]
> 
> Is this really a good read?  It sounds to me like an "old programmer"
> complaining that "kids these days have it easy: in my day, we had
> to ..." (fill in your own early experience: use a keypunch, use a
> Teletype at 115 baud, use a TRS-80, use an Apple ][,  use a
> Macintosh, etc.) .  The new ways are usually easier and usually
> require less of some types of expertise and more of other types.  If
> you had to program everything in 8080 assembly, would you be a better
> programmer or would you just be less productive?
> [...]

Your point is noted, but I think the point the author makes is the lack
of curiosity of too many people, including kids, which in part may
explain why they lack basic computer skills.

Is it really too much to ask that they know that Explorer is not the
web, a hard drive is not the RAM, and the local network in the house is
distinct from the Internet?

I'm not arguing against automation and progress - I'm saying that we
benefit more from automation and progress if we know a bit about the
underlying concepts. 

-- 
Janos Dohanics


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