Computer Science's 'Sputnik Moment'?

http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2011/06/15/computer-sciences-sputnik-moment/remember-the-tech-bust

by dlitwak • 15 years ago

16 5 15 years ago

dlitwak2• 15 years ago

Vivek Wadhwas comments are a bit unfair in my opinion. "Students are flocking to computer science because they dream of being the next Mark Zuckerberg, not of saving the world. "

One could argue that social media applications like Twitter and Facebook went a long way towards facilitating the revolutions in Egypt, Tunisia and the growing conflicts in Libya/Yemen. No one technology "saves the world" necessarily, but I think Twitter and Facebook don't deserve to be set aside as merely "fun."

lutorm• 15 years ago

It's also probably true that no one that works at Facebook started there with the aim of facilitating regime change in Egypt and Tunisia. So while it seems that they had the unforeseen consequence of aiding these, I think the idea that you should start working at Facebook because you want to save the world is a stretch.

dlitwak2• 15 years ago

While facebook and twitter may not be intended to "save" the world you'd have to be naive to not admit they have definitely changed the world. You have no idea what the founders intentions were when they started either. To interconnect people is a noble idea in itself. Aspiring to be the next Mark Zuckerberg as long as its for the right reasons isn't bad either.

And the idea that you should start working at any company because you want to save the world is a stretch. You could make this argument for any company that is not involved in National Defense/Renewable Energy, or some other field that is so obviously necessary for our future. Enhancing people's quality of life, even if its not completely necessary to survive, should not be looked down on.

pspeter3• 15 years ago

I think the economic argument about the shortage of talented tech workers is well thought out. Salary is a great indication of supply and it's percentage increase is not much higher than inflation. I'm not sure what the author means by repairing the industries credibility though.

marshray• 15 years ago

Uh...Sputnik maybe?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_computer_science

Computer Science's 'Sputnik Moment'?

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