Jantje:
I never really considered things like Constantin explains.
As far as I can see he has a point that there is a relation between the "culture" (in casu geeks/nerds not being popular/well paid) versus "electronic shops disappearing".
Imagine following situation
Son: mom I want to be a electronics guy.
Mon: No, you won't.
Son: Mom I like electronics, why would I not do electronics?
Mon: If you want to earn your living you'd better become a banker.
Reminds me of the first lecture my Computer Science professor gave us as incoming Freshmen. "If you want to make money and enjoy your job, go to school for software engineering and teach yourself to be a hardware engineer".
This concept of lack of locally avalible electronic components is nothing new at all, and has almost nothing to do with China and change of where components are manufactured. I first got interested in electronics in the late 1950s, mostly from reading construction projects in magaizines like Popular Science, Mechanics illastrated, and later popular electronics, amoung others. While I lived in the San Francisco bay area, I was still greater the 20 miles from a major city that might have a store that would carry basic components needed for even simple projects, so basically unavailable source for a 10 year old. Sometimes I found a local TV repair shop that would sell me basic resistors or caps, but that wasn't the business they were in and I think they were just trying to encourage my interest in the subject rather then seeing me as a customer. Anyway I found that mail order catalogs were my best avenue to obtaining the components I needed to do some projects, from such outlets as Allied Radio, Lafayette electronics, etc. But more importantly I found that just studying those catalogs listings I could learn a lot about electronics, the components, their specifications, etc. So mail order to me was more then just where I could get stuff, but also a part of my self education in electronic, which was a big help to this 10 year old that had no friends or family members that shared or knew anything about electronics.
It's my opinion that there has never been a better time to be a electronic hobbyist as the present in the way of availability of components, information about electronics, and obtaining help for problems or just learning the art and science of electronics.
Politics and the global market has little to do with an individual's interest in electronics and what he/she can accomplish in this field if they set their mind to it.
My whole life adult life employed in the electronics field was much like most pro baseball players might feel, "I can't believe they are paying me to play this game I would play for free".
Well said. I'll simply add that my former hometown had a independent electronics store in walking distance. And a felt store, a butcher, several bakeries, a cake store, a store dedicated to umbrellas, another store focusing on gloves, arts supplies stores, a plastics emporium, multiple bookstores, goldsmiths, several supermarkets and department stores, etc. within 1000 yards of my home. I imagine like Harvard square in Cambridge that these specialists are a dying breed even in dense urban centers like Cologne, Germany.
That mail order is a 'necessary evil' for many crafts these days is not surprising. What bothers me, is that while the politicians, etc. do the talking about how we need more engineers, etc. scant little attention is put on what it takes to make the next generation of engineers. Unless you inspire kids to follow into the more difficult footsteps of engineering, you won't restock the ranks of the many inspired by Apollo, etc. to join this profession. Never mind the influence of parents, siblings, friends, and (worst of all) popular media.
Can't say I have seen many inspirational depictions of engineers in the popular media. only 'Apollo 13', "The right stuff', and so on comes to mind. No TV shows other than "how its made" that celebrate hard science or engineering accomplishments regularly.
Not sure I agree that Mythbusters would belong in the pantheon of shows celebrating engineering or the sciences.
Sure, they like to blow lots of things up, etc. illustrating some principles of velocity/reaction/etc. along the way but it's pretty repetitive in my book. Perhaps because of the show's premise.
Shows that celebrate engineering marvels in depth (like the modern electrical grid, the internet, even modern bridges) are rare indeed.
But it is shows like Mythbusters, which bring some fun into science, that might be the key to getting the kids off the Iphone and trying some experimenting ?
Boffin1:
But it is shows like Mythbusters, which bring some fun into science, that might be the key to getting the kids off the Iphone and trying some experimenting ?
I agree on that. But Mythbusters is an entry level program. It never really explains the theory. There is no learning curve. To achieve learning there should be some in depth programs as well.
Now I think about it; I think it is nice to compare it with Arduino. Just like Arduino, the Mythbusters show is a great kickstart. But the show is sticking to arduino and shields. Once you have seen some arduino with shields and understand it there is no more learning with this formula. There should be some "how to build a shield/Arduino" or "do it without Arduino" program.
And -as to Constantin- these programs, unfortunately do not exist. (I don't have television ] )
Best regards
Jantje
"I agree on that. But Mythbusters is an entry level program. It never really explains the theory."
This is what the value of such TV shows is ( hang on , you don't have a TV ? )
All the theory any kid could want, can be Googled.
What is the attraction of that, over say them playing with Facebook or BBM ?
All new ideas ( even if they turn out to be old hat ) need to be experimented with - which to me is the best part.
Shows like Mythbusters show how to set up an experiment, they don't go into elaborate detail, ( they have to entertain too ) but show for example how you need a control sample, and how to monitor external influences.
If they can get the kids to think and experiment, thats wonderful !
If you can say that about your vocation you are one lucky person.