why do you love being in the tech industry?

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Permalink Reply by Patrick Ahler on January 27, 2009 at 10:41am

I think gaming is or at least used to be the main reason kids get interested in the tech industry. It's where I started, a summer olympics game on a Commodore 64... (followed by Wolfenstein, Command and Conquer, Rainbow 6, etc...) ah, good times. Wish I still had time to play!

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Permalink Reply by Attila Seress on January 27, 2009 at 11:08am

Agreed. I remember playing Prehistorik and Monkey Island on my 8088. Have 0 time for video games now. So sad....

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Permalink Reply by Daniel Leuck on January 27, 2009 at 11:08am

I agree with Patrick - Talking about game development is a good way to get kids attention. I would also mention that tech salaries are significantly higher than most jobs in travel and tourism. Finally, I would mention interesting local tech companies and what they are doing. Obviously you know about the projects at Referentia. You could also talk about the nanotech work happening at Oceanit (bring up the surfboard resin), Blue Mars project at Avatar Reality, GB Hajim's Strangeframe project and Kuehnle AgroSystems fuel producing algae.

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Permalink Reply by Nate Sanders on January 27, 2009 at 1:57pm

Games were definitely a huge "gateway drug" early on, but now, for me:

- the means of production are cheap/the barrier to entry is low: with a PC and an internet connection, you can both make a lot of money and make a product/service that people want....money/fame/fulfillment

- the computer is a laboratory: you can run simulations and change parameters at will, run what-if scenarios, create as many objects of various types as your memory hierarchy allows and program complex interactions between them

- instant gratification: this sort of goes along with the laboratory thing above, but especially in vision/graphics programming, there is HUGE gratification with hacking out some code, parts at a time, and testing them and seeing them work, then gluing the whole thing together -- you get gratification along the entire process...not just at the end

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Permalink Reply by Sid on January 27, 2009 at 2:19pm

I would say it's the flexibility. As opposed to many industries I love that I can come and go early or late if I want, work from home occasionally, etc - as long as the work is done and communication is maintained, etc. All my jobs have offered some flexibility in terms of remote work. AscribeData, truman, may be a great case study for this - works where and when he pleases, as long as he handles what needs to be done.

For intermediate and high school students, I think Facebook and iPhone Applications might be the coolest things that get their attention. iFu from Oceanit for example.

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Permalink Reply by cindy matsuki on January 27, 2009 at 2:30pm

Patrick has a point. I think kids would be interested to know that you can make good money being in tech. I know our staff get asked how much they make when they do student outreach... especially at the high school level. In the tech industry, you get to work on cool projects, definitely. Like Daniel mentioned, the nanotech stuff, "lasers" :), iPhone apps!, etc... Let me know if you'd like to use any of our animations. Those get some wows from the kids. :)

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Permalink Reply by aaron kagawa on January 27, 2009 at 3:23pm

hey cindy,

i'd definitely be interested in your awesome animations.

btw, perhaps we dual use companies should get together and trade a few ideas on outreach events. share resources, etc.

thanks, aaron

cindy matsuki said:

Patrick has a point. I think kids would be interested to know that you can make good money being in tech. I know our staff get asked how much they make when they do student outreach... especially at the high school level. In the tech industry, you get to work on cool projects, definitely. Like Daniel mentioned, the nanotech stuff, "lasers" :), iPhone apps!, etc... Let me know if you'd like to use any of our animations. Those get some wows from the kids. :)

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