Just for fun and because I am old[ish]. But more seriously, because people should know the history of computer science and the computer industry so as not to repeat mistakes.
Read more: Computer Science Teacher - Thoughts and Information
- You think garbage collection came in with Java. Garbage collection has been around a long long time. BASIC PLUS in the RSTS/E operating system had it over 40 years ago.
- You think cloud computing is new. It’s different more in implementation than in concept than the old mainframe computing.
- You think internet chat started with either ICQ or AOL Instant Messenger. There was Internet Relay Chat and VAX Phone long before that.
- You think the Internet and the World Wide Web are the same thing.
- You never heard of Digital Equipment Corporation. Once the second largest computer company in the world and a driving force behind the paradigm switch from mainframe computers to mini computers they are now gone. Lots of lessons you’ve missed if you don’t know that story.
- You don’t remember PostScript files. The standard for great printing before PDFs.
- The only mark up languages you know are HTML and XML. Few seem to remember that markup languages were used for document creation before web page creation.
- You don’t know what FORTRAN and COBOL stand for – FORmula TRANslation and COmon Business Oriented Language.
Read more: Computer Science Teacher - Thoughts and Information