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The Sputnik Effect
Sputnik was the first satellite, put into space by the Soviets. There was concern in the US about having something untouchable overhead, launched by the country's enemy. And so the US leadership resolved to catch up, and part of the effort was to teach every kid in the country a lot more math and science, supposedly.
The space program was eventually successful, at least in its initial goals.

How many people were actually involved in the effort? Thousands, out of the millions of people in the US. And many of those thousands came from or were educated in other countries.

So what I'm calling the Sputnik Effect is training far too many people than will ever be needed to achieve specific goals.

That's the main problem with what Bill Gates is saying. Yes, lots of interesting and exciting problems will be solved. But the number of computer science graduates could decline further, and the problems would still be solved in the same time frame and by the same number of people.

So what happens to the computer science people who are educated but not needed for the glamorous jobs Mr. Gates is talking about? They get 'ordinary' jobs keeping things going or solving ordinary problems. Just the kind of jobs that are disappearing because of outsourcing/off-shoring, more efficient software, volunteer labor on open source projects, etc. etc.

Mr. Gates shouldn't worry: there'll be enough of the cream of computer scientists available to do all the exciting things he's talking about. The problem is that the remainder, the milk, will be skimmed.
Posted by: Anton Philidor   Posted on: 03/01/04 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use
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Interesting, sort of.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 03/01/04
Of course Gates has probably been the BIGGEST detractor to the industry  Bobby Sskcat | 03/01/04
Only a small part?  Michael Kelly | 03/01/04
What people want from pc's.  Anton Philidor | 03/01/04
What comp sci students are interested in  Mark Miller | 03/01/04
Gates distance  Louis Ross Focke | 03/02/04
Put your money where your mouth is  Michael Kelly | 03/01/04
They do, in India.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 03/01/04
They do..... what?!!  el1jones | 03/01/04
Ummm Bill does invest in US education  Squawkbox | 03/01/04
And how do you know those numbers aren't fudged???  Bobby Sskcat | 03/01/04
Ya know it must suck to be you  Squawkbox | 03/01/04
You mean like the "research" that Arthur Andersson and Enron put out?  Bobby Sskcat | 03/01/04
this "ehtics" problem started when  JWatson77 | 03/02/04
god damn conspiracy theorists  PmAc_z | 03/02/04
$2Billion in Microsoft Money? What is that in Real dollars?  brenthawkinsmd | 03/01/04
re : $2Billion in Microsoft Money? What is that in Real dollars?  JWatson77 | 03/02/04
The Sputnik Effect  Anton Philidor | 03/01/04
Maybe that's what he wants  el1jones | 03/01/04
MS Employees very well paid.  PmAc_z | 03/02/04
Seems you would know... no salaries on their site.  el1jones | 03/02/04
A contradiction in terms  michael-t | 03/01/04
The Linux dialogue is interesting.  Anton Philidor | 03/01/04
innovation needs talent, not numbers  GDF | 03/02/04
Capture Suckers Early Before They Experience Linux  brenthawkinsmd | 03/01/04
Re: Capture Suckers Early Before They Experience Linux  Mark Miller | 03/01/04
really  JWatson77 | 03/02/04
FLASH: MS to encourage export of US jobs by lowering non-US prices !  Plain Logic | 03/01/04
So out of touch with reality...  emartin_z | 03/01/04
Very interesting article!  GraysonPeddie | 03/01/04
XML IS just like COBOL  jorwell | 03/02/04
Computer science is a poor career choice today  AV . | 03/02/04
Computer Science is a great career choice today  bjcollin | 03/02/04
If (or should I say 'when') you get your pink slip...  emartin_z | 03/02/04
Re: If (or should I say 'when') you get your pink slip...  bjcollin | 03/09/04
excellent observation  dmennie | 03/05/04
CEOs don't hire USA Computer Science graduates.  dianna.terry@... | 03/02/04
Adapt or Perish  Debunker | 03/02/04
fool's gold  AV . | 03/02/04
(NT) Great Interview!  P. Douglas | 03/02/04
Microsoft is wellknown market driven  ccnote | 03/03/04
Excellent Mr. Gates  msdead | 03/03/04
Reality check for Mr Gates  OverTheHill | 03/03/04

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