WHAT IS IT WITH THIS CODING?

Hurray! I can talk about computer science: one of my passions! It was the early 80s, nobody was talking about coding, least of all children. But I started programming and I was eight years old. Computers were a bit different back then: green phosphor monitors, no hard disks, no internet/youtube/facebook/instagram and so on. But learning at that age really changed my life. In the years when you learn the ‘four operations’ in primary school, I also learnt the three basic programming constructs, so the operations actually became seven. And having seven things ‘in the toolbox’ instead of four allowed me to get by in many situations, as well as to create a job for myself that I still have no complaints about today.

But what about this coding? It is about learning the basics of computer programming. But today, compared to over 40 years ago, it can be done in a colourful and fun way! Do you know what it means to learn something as a child? It means learning it in an easy way and without the thousand mental superstructures that life then loads on us. And what does it do? It allows you to understand how all the things that surround people today work: from the lift to the air conditioner, from the smartphone to the car, from social networking to artificial intelligence. So technology is understood. And a more sensible and reasonable use is made of it. And that is the difference between ‘playing a game’ and ‘designing a game’. A question of perspective. And a broader vision. Which always helps in life: Hip hip hurray for coding!!!