to the way the computer actually does things, rather than how we,
as humans, would. If you can learn C, then you have broken the
boundaries of any one particular computer platform. There are C
compilers to be found on every major type of computer, from the
PC to the Mac to UNIX mainframes to whatever. C is not the end
of it though. Beyond that is C++ (pronounced "see-plus-plus")
and
then, when you're all over that, there's Java, Pearl, etc... All along
the way are millions of tidbits of information to learn that will all add
up to a well rounded understanding of digital computer technology.
Nothing you learn about computers is irrelevant. It will always apply
to everything you pursue in the future. Take for example html code.
World Wide Web pages are written in a script known as html,
which stands for hyper-text-markup-language. This is what makes
it possible to gather together all of the elements of text, pictures
and sound from anywhere around the world, if necessary, into an
interactive presentation to be assembled in the computer of
someone browsing the Web. In and of itself, it's not difficult to
learn at all. But it takes lots of background information and
experience to do it right. The most important restriction with html
is the amount of space all of your code, sound and graphics take
up, because all of this data needs to get crammed down a thin
telephone wire to get to the average end user.
If all of this sounds overwhelming,
don't despair, you've got the
rest of your life to figure it out. Or, you can do like 98% of computer
owners do. Just use it without understanding any of it. That is the
trend these days and it's more and more possible every day.
|