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Before we get on to advice for the computer science major, I will give you my perspective on software: writing enables humans to record and transfer knowledge so that future generations can build on the foundations their predecessors constructed; software is the modern evolution of writing and will exponentially increase the spread of knowledge.
The written word helped human society develop slowly for 6000 years until handwriting evolved into the printing press around 1500 A.D (1000 A.D. if you want to credit the Chinese or Koreans instead of the Europeans). The printing press facilitated the mass production and distribution of information. From the 1500s through the mid-1900s, the general population reaped the benefits of information and knowledge. Education and literacy rates improved, more people specialized in advanced crafts, automation techniques appeared, economies became stronger and diversified, and general quality of life improved.
When computers and the internet developed in the late 1900s, they became the evolution of the printing press. Today, executable code to do any task is sent around the world in a click. The instant transfer of information enables society to grow exponentially faster than before. Think back to the early 2000s: you called people over the landline, you used physical encyclopedias in school, and you drove around with a map. Fast forward to today and all you need is a smartphone in your pocket to download apps for video chat, Google search, and GPS. It’s astounding how much the world changed in a couple decades.
In the future, I expect the next stage of evolution will be the automation of information discovery. Not only will we record and transfer knowledge instantly with software, but machines will also discover new knowledge for us at record speeds in an automated fashion. Software is enabling society to grow faster than ever before and it’s never too late to be a part of this revolutionary movement!