Seeping Matter

We’re trying to make computers easy to understand for non-technical – i.e. normal – people. If you are one of the normal people, my hope is to make this as easy to understand as possible. Wish us luck!

One thing that makes computers hard to understand is that the modern computer is unlike nearly every invention that preceded it in one very key way – rather than having a specific use and purpose, the computer is a highly adaptable invention with a seemingly unlimited number of applications.

Consider, as an alternative, the light bulb. The primary purpose for the light bulb is to convert electricity into light in order to brighten darkened rooms and areas. There have been a number of modifications to the light bulb over time, a number of improvements and variations. Nevertheless, the primary purpose of each has remained the same – converting electricity into light.

Some might say, “Yes, but a light bulb can be used for other things.” That’s true. I can cook with a light bulb to some degree. I can use it as a signaling device or even to make signs or decorations. You can even get more creative: Light bulbs could theoretically be used as a weapon, for example. But we’re really straining now to make my statement wrong. I think we can all agree that, for the most part, the purpose of a light bulb is to convert electricity into light.

Since a light bulb’s purpose is fairly easily defined, light bulbs are easy to understand. Even a small child knows what a light bulb is for.

Now compare that to a computer. What, exactly, is a computer for?

This is a more difficult question to answer. Is a computer a tool for accessing the Internet? Reading e-mail? Managing finances? Writing letters? Playing games? Editing movies? Making telephone calls? Watching television? Listening to music? Driving a car? Cooking microwave popcorn? The fact is, most of us would use a computer to do nearly all of these things and many more, including a myriad of tasks that use computers even though we aren’t aware of it.

This very fact is what is so fascinating about computers, and yet so daunting and intimidating. Computers are a unique invention because they don’t have a single purpose – rather, they can be applied in many ways to do many types of tasks.

The process of manipulating a computer to do a specific task is the art of computer programming, and it’s larger discipline, software engineering. Lots of people think that computer programming is too complex, too advanced, and requiring way too much intellect for normal people. Trust me, I’ve known a lot of software developers in my career. You don’t necessarily have to be that smart to learn to program a computer.

That’s one of the goals I have for this blog – to teach you how to program a computer. Yes, you, a normal person. You don’t have to turn into a nerd to do it. Stay tuned.