Tuesday, November 30, 2004
The End
Well, our class is almost over! We have to turn in our blogs on Friday, the third. So, I thought I might put in my two cents worth on what I thought of the class. My honors class was originally slated to be Chem 101 (I know, what was I thinking, right?), but I already had credit for Chemistry, so I really wanted to get out of it. Fortunately, for me, I found an open honors class, which happened to be this one, Computers and Society, that fit the EXACT same time as my Chemistry class. I can't tell you how lucky I was, because we were already a week or two into the semester. Anyway, the class proved to be much more beneficial than Chemistry 101 would have been, and I am very thankful for having taken it.
I've always been a computer fanatic, so in a way, this was a great class to take. I've been using computers for as long as I can remember, way back when we had to use MS-DOS to execute programs and view files. I can't believe I didn't turn out to be a computer programmer, because I used to know how to type those commands and stuff for DOS when I was like, seven years old...pretty good for my age! I used to play a lot of computer games as a young kid, most of them which came from a company called Sierra, which used to be a powerhouse in the PC gaming industry, but not quite as much these days. Most of the games required text-inputted commands for characters who roamed 'somewhat 3-D' levels. From them, I really developed a skil at typing. After that, I used CompuServe for email (still before I reached the age of 10) and eventually switched to AOL. I've been Instant Messaging for many years now, and foresee it many years in the future.
Basically this class really gave me a chance to look at the history of computers before I was born as well as their impact through the decades. It was nice to read about some of the history of computers after hearing of my parents inputting cards in the big computers here at Clemson back in the 80's. Finally, it was interesting to hear some of the discussions about where computers will take us in the future...it really makes me excited to see what our future has in store for us. Sometimes, I envy the children of tomorrow who will grow up with all the advantages we talked about in class. But then, another part of me is proud to be a member of the first real generation to grow up entirely in the age of the modern computer. We are truly a pioneering generation, and I truly believe that our wants/desires as teenagers and young adults in the computer age are having the most impact in shaping the direction computers will take in the future.
It will be interesting to use my knowledge from this class in the future to continue to keep an eye on the dichotomy between computers and those who use them.
Thanks, it's been a pleasure. :-)
I've always been a computer fanatic, so in a way, this was a great class to take. I've been using computers for as long as I can remember, way back when we had to use MS-DOS to execute programs and view files. I can't believe I didn't turn out to be a computer programmer, because I used to know how to type those commands and stuff for DOS when I was like, seven years old...pretty good for my age! I used to play a lot of computer games as a young kid, most of them which came from a company called Sierra, which used to be a powerhouse in the PC gaming industry, but not quite as much these days. Most of the games required text-inputted commands for characters who roamed 'somewhat 3-D' levels. From them, I really developed a skil at typing. After that, I used CompuServe for email (still before I reached the age of 10) and eventually switched to AOL. I've been Instant Messaging for many years now, and foresee it many years in the future.
Basically this class really gave me a chance to look at the history of computers before I was born as well as their impact through the decades. It was nice to read about some of the history of computers after hearing of my parents inputting cards in the big computers here at Clemson back in the 80's. Finally, it was interesting to hear some of the discussions about where computers will take us in the future...it really makes me excited to see what our future has in store for us. Sometimes, I envy the children of tomorrow who will grow up with all the advantages we talked about in class. But then, another part of me is proud to be a member of the first real generation to grow up entirely in the age of the modern computer. We are truly a pioneering generation, and I truly believe that our wants/desires as teenagers and young adults in the computer age are having the most impact in shaping the direction computers will take in the future.
It will be interesting to use my knowledge from this class in the future to continue to keep an eye on the dichotomy between computers and those who use them.
Thanks, it's been a pleasure. :-)
# posted by David Duncan @ 7:45 PM 
