[LINK] The Emergence of the Casual Programmer.

[JanW]

At 11:54 PM 2/02/2015, Stephen Loosley wrote:

>Now, a shift is underway in software and service design whereby the programming command and control of all these devices in this complex connected world will rely on “casual programming” by their owners. That is, giving every day, non-programming people the tools, services and APIs usually reserved for the tech elite to program their own devices in a friendly, easy and accessible manner. 
>
>Thus, we will soon see the worldwide emergence of the casual programmer. 

I hope this will be an optional aspect rather than a requirement for running devices that aren't now thought of as 'computers'. Granted, there are some in the community who will be able to cope, but a great majority who won't if they have to program. Now confess. How many of us have rellies whose devices with a simple clock still show 12:00, or probably more likely, the offset of time from when they had their last power outage? If they can't 'casually program' the clock by using menus, controlling much else than that is going to be a real challenge.

Your post, Stephen, raised other questions for me. With all this online connection what about:
- when software crashes (which it does - and circuit boards fry, too -- my central heating unit cost me >$500 to replace it!)
- when the crackers figure out how to bypass any password controls (if any) and start turning off people's fridges, and the software needs updating
- when all that 'miniscule' amount of extra data hits the government intentionally crippled network because owners think one day they will need to tell the aircon to turn on an hour before they come home from the office if they haven't set a timer on the device before they left (not saying that clearly; it's early in the day for me)

If we, as a species and according to our "illustrious" treasurer, are going to live to 150 (probably not too copus mentus), this idea of 'casual programming' is going to be quite interesting....

Jan


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