WEDNESDAY 18th October 2000
Carol Vorderman
ICT is evolving at a phenomenal rate. Carol Vorderman gives a
personal insight into the past, present and future.
I can remember when, (why do I sound like my mother), I was studying
for the very first 'O' Level in Computer Studies in 1976, in what
was laughingly described as the computer laboratory in a comprehensive
school in North Wales.
The computer lab consisted of a load of desks, a blackboard and
something resembling a telex machine - no screen, just a glorified
keyboard with a roll of printing paper. This amazing thing had
no brain, but it was linked up once a week to a computer at the
Technical College about 20 miles away.
The lessons were spent writing programs to calculate simple statements
in a weird language called CESIL. Once we'd laboriously written
out our flowcharts and twenty lines of program, we'd all argue
about whose turn it was to type our logical prose into the glorious
machine. 'Rattle, whirr, rattle, rattle, beep' - followed by a
three foot length of paper tape with holes in it. then at the
great moment, we linked up to the Tech, looped in the paper tape
and hey presto - wait a whole week for the machine to print out
LINE 30 - SYNTAX ERROR
God, it was awful.
So sad were we, that we were actually grateful for Clive Sinclair
and his scientific calculators with Polish notation. As the song
says, 'things could only get better'.
Of course, at the very same time, a young boy called William Gates
was being inspired by a machine, operated with a sequence of switches
that had to coded tens of thousands of times in the correct order.
One mistake and you had to start all over again. He could see
that this was just the beginning and so I think could many others,
in spite of the number of times that you could kick the thing
where it hurt if only you knew where that spot was.
In those days everyone was hung up about being able to write a
program. Now, it's a matter of learning how to use the incredible
power that IT is giving us. Our daughter is just six years old
and she, like the rest of her generation, simply accepts computers
as part of life (no big deal, except that they can't get enough
of them). She will be more able to communicate using their techniques
than I ever will. the thought of creating an animated sequence
using Barbie is just what girls do nowadays - for me, it's beginning
to be a big deal.
But with all this comes the need for schools and, of course, teachers
to keep up with the needs of their youngsters. I have toured the
country visiting schools with different IT capabilities. Indeed,
as a former governor of a CTC (whatever the politics were at the
time), I have only ever seen the enormous benefit of IT used in
the right way to increase grades and confidence in ALL subjects.
But I've also seen the massive differences in funding and in training.
Computers don't come cheap and training has to be modified constantly.
It's not like writing a history curriculum - Henry VIII might
have changed his mind a fair few times, but not as often as the
computer industry. Every 9 months the power of new machines doubles,
and every 63 days the applications on the Web do the same. Current
forecasts state that within a few years 25% of Brits and 50% of
Americans will be on the Internet. I believe it will happen even
faster.
Next year, digital television comes on stream via the BBC and
others. With it comes the ability to very cheaply surf the Net.
the TV industry doesn't as yet realise what is about to happen
- its power is about to be usurped. I have seen prototypes of
machines coming on stream next year for about £200; they
are just keyboards with processing power which will link up to
your television and allow you to surf the Net at any time (as
long as you're already hooked upto digital TV). Who's going to
want to watch TV? What are youngsters going to do? I know what
I would do if I were they.
The drive of IT will probably drive you mad, but there is no escaping
it. Where can you get help? From BBC Online, which I love; from
BBC Computers Don't Bite: Teachers; from computer magazines, books
and don't forget the Internet café if you have one locally,
they will often give you a hand with stuff you're stuck on. Failing
that, try parents, remember that many of them use computers at
work and they may be able to get some bits and pieces for you.
It's been a helluva century but we are facing change now that
could not have even been dreamt of before. I'm often asked if
I have any regrets. I have just one - I'd love to be six.