Consider the scale of this problem, and then consider the percentage of people who may do this that do NOT read this here on/. or elsewhere, before calling people 'dumb' or 'stupid'. Not everyone prone to doing so will even learn of this study. If this issue really matters, companies will take steps to warn employees about sticking random USBs in their computers. Otherwise, it's just a matter of time before something very bad happens, and then there will be consequences. If there are consequences, then realization happens. Otherwise, this will keep happening.
Geeks are usually known for liking things off the societal beaten path. And this story is trying to claim that geeky traits are becoming mainstream. Isn't that a bit contradictory?
On the subject of tablets, the Asus Transformer has a dock/keyboard that one can buy separately, essentially turning the Transformer into a netbook. I personally think (and hope) that this is the future, because tablets need to become more expansive functionality-wise so they can become more than just cool toys to play around with.
I think that a combination of a lack of available resources and late introduction to all things coding are responsible. We have the technology, we just don't have it in the classrooms everywhere. Perhaps due to lack of budget or adherence to "if it ain't broke, don't fix it", the curriculum hasn't quite arrived yet. It can be tough finding the right instructors, teaching style and materials (including facilities and hardware) for the job of educating those interested. Yes it's true that there can be those students who get 'suckered in' to liking programming but then discovering that's not what they want to do, but I think that a late introduction to tech fields such as programming in grade school is at least partially to blame for that.
But hey, there's a new CS Principles course in pilot thanks to CollegeBoard. Perhaps not all hope is lost.:)
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Consider the scale of this problem, and then consider the percentage of people who may do this that do NOT read this here on /. or elsewhere, before calling people 'dumb' or 'stupid'. Not everyone prone to doing so will even learn of this study. If this issue really matters, companies will take steps to warn employees about sticking random USBs in their computers. Otherwise, it's just a matter of time before something very bad happens, and then there will be consequences. If there are consequences, then realization happens. Otherwise, this will keep happening.
Completely agreed. Software developers should consider ethical issues that their software may revolve around.
Geeks are usually known for liking things off the societal beaten path. And this story is trying to claim that geeky traits are becoming mainstream. Isn't that a bit contradictory?
Am I the only one who also read that as Beetlejuice? Man, first that show, and now this star is going out too? Bummer...
On the subject of tablets, the Asus Transformer has a dock/keyboard that one can buy separately, essentially turning the Transformer into a netbook. I personally think (and hope) that this is the future, because tablets need to become more expansive functionality-wise so they can become more than just cool toys to play around with.
I think that a combination of a lack of available resources and late introduction to all things coding are responsible. We have the technology, we just don't have it in the classrooms everywhere. Perhaps due to lack of budget or adherence to "if it ain't broke, don't fix it", the curriculum hasn't quite arrived yet. It can be tough finding the right instructors, teaching style and materials (including facilities and hardware) for the job of educating those interested. Yes it's true that there can be those students who get 'suckered in' to liking programming but then discovering that's not what they want to do, but I think that a late introduction to tech fields such as programming in grade school is at least partially to blame for that. But hey, there's a new CS Principles course in pilot thanks to CollegeBoard. Perhaps not all hope is lost. :)