Unscientific Poll

[Brian Wood]

Jack,

Here's an interesting tidbit that a coworker at Agilent told me about. He
said that many HP engineers built Heathkit color TVs because they could get
them either free or at a huge discount as part of the GI Bill. It was an
attempt by the government to foster the creation of more engineers after
WWII (or maybe Korea; it was before my time). Perhaps we need an equivalent
"Bill" today to rekindle youngster's fascination with electronics. I can
tell you that in our lab, there aren't many EEs left, and the ones that are
still there are getting retrained in CS. It's to the point that if you want
to design something, you might just have to subcontract it. Blecch.

The other thing that comes to mind is that perhaps in the 21st century, a
fundamental discovery will create a whole new industry that will fascinate
the next generation of kids. Maybe anti-gravity. Who knows? Perhaps there'll
be a new Mr. Heath making "flying car" kits. I know I'd make one!

Brian

>
> Your comment re kids struck a responsive chord.  ...

> The reason I'm making the point is that, as you point out, today's kids
don't have that
> kind of opportunity.  In my day, you could take apart a radio, see what
was inside.  Or
> you could build your own, from plans.  Or build a Heathkit.
>
> What can today's kids do?  If they take apart their Gameboy, what do they
find inside?  A
> LQ display, a keypad, and a chip.  Big deal.  Who's gonna do anything with
that?
>
> I was discussing this issue with an electronic engineer, who was decrying
the fact that
> today's kids have no way to learn electronics.  We _NEED_ kits that kids
can build and
> tinker with.
>
> Jack
>

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