Tiger Woods Foundation

Job Description

If you have a knack for breaking a task into simple steps, concentrating on one project over a long period, and you enjoy learning about computers and technology, this may be your dream job.

Computer programmers design, write, test, and maintain the instructions, called "programs," which computers must follow to do what they do. These programs give computers directions about how to identify, access, process, and protect the information stored inside them. Programs vary by the type of information they access and the tasks they perform; they are written in a computer language, or "code," rather than in a conventional language.

A programmer can tackle a simple program in a few hours, but some complex programs that perform difficult math and access multiple information systems may take years and a large team of programmers to construct.

Top 10

GET WITH THE PROGRAM: Computer programs have been changing people's lives since they were first introduced into our jobs and homes. Here are 10 ways that computer programs have become members of the family and workforce, doing tasks that give us time to concentrate on other things.

DATEBOOKS: Calendar and phonebook programs are on their way to replacing their paper equivalents. They already do much more -- they send us reminders of birthdays, due dates and appointments. They store, sort and share hundreds of phone and address entries with the touch of a button.

DIGITAL APPLIANCES: Many appliances we find around the house use digital programs to accomplish their tasks: dishwashers, microwaves, washer and dryer sets, televisions, radios, coffee makers and more. Programmers develop the inner workings of these appliances so the machines respond to the information that users input by pushing buttons.

E-COMMERCE: E-commerce programs cover a wide range of tasks involved with the movement of money. They allow us to transfer money, pay bills, buy plane and movie tickets and even purchase cat food - all from the comfort of our homes and offices.

E-MAILING AND INSTANT MESSAGING: Email programs have revolutionized communication by cutting down on telephone and mailing costs, reducing paper use and speeding information, image and business exchange. E-mail and instant message programs also offer inexpensive ways to keep in touch with friends and family.

FILM AND VIDEO EDITING: Video and film editing programs have made movie production a hobby for many amateurs and created a virtual playground for professionals. These programs cut, copy and paste sections of footage and music with little effort.

INTERNET: The Internet is a network of linked computers that allows users to post, sort, surf, share and communicate vast amounts of digital data and information. This interactive structure can be accessed anywhere on Earth that a telephone line or satellite beam can reach. A vast number of computer programs are used to create the data and infrastructure of the Internet. It grows daily, expanding as new users access it and contribute their own data.

WRITING MUSIC: Music-writing programs have made composing and scoring music convenient, flexible, accessible and inexpensive. They allow for many of the same conveniences that word-processing programs have for composing text. They can produce multiple instrumental sounds, store various parts to play simultaneously and cut, copy and paste sections with a few simple keystrokes. Music-writing programs can turn a computer into a desktop recording studio!

THREE-DIMENSIONAL DESIGNING: Three-dimensional design programs allow architects and engineers to draft their plans in three dimensions at once. This means that they can enter the plans and measurements involved in a project and view a digital image of the object, room or building from every side and angle. These "virtual" rooms and objects allow clients to "walk-through" a space or "flip-flop" a model before committing money and time to its construction.

VIDEO GAMES: Video-game programs have taken over the game industry in a way never before seen. These programs offer thousands of entertaining options to folks with leisure time.

WORD-PROCESSING: Word-processing programs have replaced typewriters. They've streamlined the editing process by eliminating the need for composing multiple drafts from scratch and by checking spelling and grammar. They also provide style and formatting options -- like font size and typeface -- previously unavailable to those working outside the printing business.

How to Get There

Plug In

• If you haven't learned to type yet, do so; it will help you make the most of the time you spend at the computer.
• Solve puzzles! The best skill you can bring to programming is careful problem-solving. Try several different kinds of puzzles and decide which ones you like best.
• Use the Internet to find specific information about programming classes and activities. Try keywords: "PROGRAMMING FOR KIDS," "COMPUTER LITERACY FOR KIDS," "COMPUTER CLASSES FOR KIDS," "COMPUTER LANGUAGE FOR KIDS," "COMPUTER TUTORIALS," "LOGIC FOR KIDS," "COMPUTER CAMP FOR KIDS" and "CODE FOR KIDS."
• Visit your school or local public library to find books and magazines devoted to explaining computers, programs and programming. Ask your teacher or librarian to recommend titles that fit your level of experience and area of interest.
• Take notice of programs in your everyday life.
• Enroll in computer classes at school, and get involved with creating your school Web site.
• Find a programming mentor. Talk to your parents and teachers to locate a good candidate. If your school has a computer teacher, so much the better!

Activity

Pushing Your Buttons: You and a friend should each think of a task that you do every day, the kind of task you do almost without thinking. On separate sheets of paper, each of you should write down every step of the task from beginning to end, in as much detail as possible. These will be "programs" that provide instructions for completing your tasks. When you're done, exchange papers and take turns replicating each other's tasks by following the programs exactly. You'll know how well you wrote your programs if they manage to complete your tasks!

Example: Brushing my teeth

1. Enter bathroom and take three steps forward.
2. On step three, turn R to face the sink.
3. Take R hand and pull R side of mirror toward you to open cabinet.
4. Take R hand and retrieve toothpaste from lower shelf in cabinet.
5. Take R hand (with toothpaste still in it) and push mirror to close cabinet.
6. Take L hand and flip open toothpaste cap.
7. Take L hand and retrieve purple toothbrush from far L corner of sink on counter.
8. With R hand, squeeze toothpaste onto bristles of toothbrush in L hand.
9. With R hand, place toothpaste on R side of sink on counter.
10. Take R hand and turn R faucet handle clockwise.
11. With L hand, place bristles of toothbrush under spigot of running water.
12. With R hand, turn R faucet handle counter-clockwise.
13. Smile wide.
14. With L hand, place bristles of toothbrush on teeth.
15. With L hand, use up-and-down and circular motions to scour the outside of all teeth in mouth.
16. Spit suds into sink.

Got the idea? Take notes on each program's performance. When your friend is done, make adjustments to your program to fix any problems.

Q & A

How do you know when a program is done?

Ben S., a Web page developer who works for a big educational Web site in New York City, says:

Programming is a lot like building something with a hammer and nails -- you can build a million different things, so you must plan carefully! For example, if you promise to construct a 50-story skyscraper, then you'd better not call it quits after 30 floors.

Programming works the same way: you'll be finished only when you can demonstrate that your program can do everything you first promised. How? Test your program to find out! If you write a program to drive your parents' car, the program can't just drive -- it has to know not to run over your cat. Never fear -- with a little creativity, maybe you can teach your program to open the back door for your cat and honk the horn at the neighbor's dog!