Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site ames.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!allegra!mit-eddie!genrad!decvax!ittvax!dcdwest!sdcsvax!sdcrdcf!hplabs!nsc!ames!eugene From: eugene@ames.UUCP (Eugene Miya) Newsgroups: net.cse,net.college Subject: Re: Computer requirements to enter college and hackers as good programmers Message-ID: <738@ames.UUCP> Date: Wed, 2-Jan-85 12:19:18 EST Article-I.D.: ames.738 Posted: Wed Jan 2 12:19:18 1985 Date-Received: Fri, 4-Jan-85 08:12:42 EST Distribution: net Organization: NASA-Ames Research Center, Mtn. View, CA Lines: 32 Xref: watmath net.cse:296 net.college:605 I have been following the discussions on net.college and net.cse, the first on high school computer literacy requirements and the latter on the quality of hackers as good programmers. I especially like the postings by Brian Reid and the professor from back East. I went on a short vacation before having a chance to respond. From the receiving end after college, I would again like to stress the importance of communication skills for anyone entering college. My verbal skills were hardly the best when entering college, but when I entered the working world, most of the people writing memos and papers around me gave me complements for my 'good writing.' Without question, at the different industrial and research establishments, the average person needs better communication skills. My main reason for posting this note is to tie these two common discussions. Many readers have pointed out the need for skills in refining logic and problem solving. There is an excellent book for both those entering college and those hacking. It's written by a professor of Mechanical Engineering at Stanford (know him Brian?). The book in entitled "Conceptual Blockbusting" It's published by W.H. Freeman (The people who reprint Scientific American papers). I don't quite remember the man's name (Perhaps Martin?). It's in it's second edition and the author has been requested to write a follow on text. I highly recommend it. It's quite readable; thin, and it poses some interesting problems for the reader. --eugene miya NASA Ames Research Center {hplabs,ihnp4,dual,hao,vortex}!ames!aurora!eugene emiya@ames-vmsb.ARPA