Programming ability over age [modified]
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Years back someone posted an article here (I can't find it now) which claimed that middle-aged programmers (40-68) are not expected to be as good as their non middle aged counter parts. Any link to original article will be appreciated? I did Google fir it but could not find that exact article. These days, I am reading this book: The Secret Life of the Grown-Up Brain: The Surprising Talents of the Middle-Aged Mind[^]. This was one of the popular books on Brain - a topic of my interest. The books cites several research studies citing that some faculties of brain actually improve in the middle age. One such thing is problem solving - which is what programming all about. Things such as ability to recognize and make sense complex patterns also improves - which again a common thing in programming. Another faculty that is expected to grow is the ability to comprehend the whole (system architecture). So what it should imply is that programming as a skill should improve with age. . Is that what happens in the real world? In my case at least, though I have yet to hit middle age, I can see that I have improved in lot of areas but I do not know whether it is due to accumulation of learning over the years or due to development of brain.
modified on Thursday, June 10, 2010 3:02 PM
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Years back someone posted an article here (I can't find it now) which claimed that middle-aged programmers (40-68) are not expected to be as good as their non middle aged counter parts. Any link to original article will be appreciated? I did Google fir it but could not find that exact article. These days, I am reading this book: The Secret Life of the Grown-Up Brain: The Surprising Talents of the Middle-Aged Mind[^]. This was one of the popular books on Brain - a topic of my interest. The books cites several research studies citing that some faculties of brain actually improve in the middle age. One such thing is problem solving - which is what programming all about. Things such as ability to recognize and make sense complex patterns also improves - which again a common thing in programming. Another faculty that is expected to grow is the ability to comprehend the whole (system architecture). So what it should imply is that programming as a skill should improve with age. . Is that what happens in the real world? In my case at least, though I have yet to hit middle age, I can see that I have improved in lot of areas but I do not know whether it is due to accumulation of learning over the years or due to development of brain.
modified on Thursday, June 10, 2010 3:02 PM
Makes one wonder what humans could achieve if our brains developed over millennia rather than decades.
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Years back someone posted an article here (I can't find it now) which claimed that middle-aged programmers (40-68) are not expected to be as good as their non middle aged counter parts. Any link to original article will be appreciated? I did Google fir it but could not find that exact article. These days, I am reading this book: The Secret Life of the Grown-Up Brain: The Surprising Talents of the Middle-Aged Mind[^]. This was one of the popular books on Brain - a topic of my interest. The books cites several research studies citing that some faculties of brain actually improve in the middle age. One such thing is problem solving - which is what programming all about. Things such as ability to recognize and make sense complex patterns also improves - which again a common thing in programming. Another faculty that is expected to grow is the ability to comprehend the whole (system architecture). So what it should imply is that programming as a skill should improve with age. . Is that what happens in the real world? In my case at least, though I have yet to hit middle age, I can see that I have improved in lot of areas but I do not know whether it is due to accumulation of learning over the years or due to development of brain.
modified on Thursday, June 10, 2010 3:02 PM
It's not on Kindle :(
Rama Krishna Vavilala wrote:
I can see that I have improved in lot of areas but I do not know whether it is due to accumulation of learning over the years or due to development of brain.
I think it's both. You learn, the issue is, does your brain deteriorate and negate that learning, is it static, or does it improve ? I wonder if improvement happens because the brain itself is the same, but the user has got better at using it ? Does the book go in to chemical reasons that the brain itself improves ?
Christian Graus Driven to the arms of OSX by Vista. Read my blog to find out how I've worked around bugs in Microsoft tools and frameworks.
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It's not on Kindle :(
Rama Krishna Vavilala wrote:
I can see that I have improved in lot of areas but I do not know whether it is due to accumulation of learning over the years or due to development of brain.
I think it's both. You learn, the issue is, does your brain deteriorate and negate that learning, is it static, or does it improve ? I wonder if improvement happens because the brain itself is the same, but the user has got better at using it ? Does the book go in to chemical reasons that the brain itself improves ?
Christian Graus Driven to the arms of OSX by Vista. Read my blog to find out how I've worked around bugs in Microsoft tools and frameworks.
Christian Graus wrote:
It's not on Kindle
It is on Kindle. I am reading it on my iPad using the Kindle App.
Christian Graus wrote:
Does the book go in to chemical reasons that the brain itself improves ?
Yes, it does in Part Two. It explains the inner workings.
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Makes one wonder what humans could achieve if our brains developed over millennia rather than decades.
New heights of senility?
The narrow specialist in the broad sense of the word is a complete idiot in the narrow sense of the word. Advertise here – minimum three posts per day are guaranteed.
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It's not on Kindle :(
Rama Krishna Vavilala wrote:
I can see that I have improved in lot of areas but I do not know whether it is due to accumulation of learning over the years or due to development of brain.
I think it's both. You learn, the issue is, does your brain deteriorate and negate that learning, is it static, or does it improve ? I wonder if improvement happens because the brain itself is the same, but the user has got better at using it ? Does the book go in to chemical reasons that the brain itself improves ?
Christian Graus Driven to the arms of OSX by Vista. Read my blog to find out how I've worked around bugs in Microsoft tools and frameworks.
Christian Graus wrote:
Kindle
Ah, someone with a good taste.
The narrow specialist in the broad sense of the word is a complete idiot in the narrow sense of the word. Advertise here – minimum three posts per day are guaranteed.
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Years back someone posted an article here (I can't find it now) which claimed that middle-aged programmers (40-68) are not expected to be as good as their non middle aged counter parts. Any link to original article will be appreciated? I did Google fir it but could not find that exact article. These days, I am reading this book: The Secret Life of the Grown-Up Brain: The Surprising Talents of the Middle-Aged Mind[^]. This was one of the popular books on Brain - a topic of my interest. The books cites several research studies citing that some faculties of brain actually improve in the middle age. One such thing is problem solving - which is what programming all about. Things such as ability to recognize and make sense complex patterns also improves - which again a common thing in programming. Another faculty that is expected to grow is the ability to comprehend the whole (system architecture). So what it should imply is that programming as a skill should improve with age. . Is that what happens in the real world? In my case at least, though I have yet to hit middle age, I can see that I have improved in lot of areas but I do not know whether it is due to accumulation of learning over the years or due to development of brain.
modified on Thursday, June 10, 2010 3:02 PM
Rama Krishna Vavilala wrote:
programming as a skill should improve with age
Speaking as an aged individual, I would say that my areas of problem solving, handling complexity and understanding of systems are much better than they used to be. The real problem is that when I get to work in the morning, I can't remember what the heck I was working on yesterday.
Chris Meech I am Canadian. [heard in a local bar] In theory there is no difference between theory and practice. In practice there is. [Yogi Berra]
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Christian Graus wrote:
It's not on Kindle
It is on Kindle. I am reading it on my iPad using the Kindle App.
Christian Graus wrote:
Does the book go in to chemical reasons that the brain itself improves ?
Yes, it does in Part Two. It explains the inner workings.
Rama Krishna Vavilala wrote:
I am reading it on my iPad using the Kindle App.
You don’t like your eyes much, do you? Why just don’t buy a Kindle?
The narrow specialist in the broad sense of the word is a complete idiot in the narrow sense of the word. Advertise here – minimum three posts per day are guaranteed.
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Christian Graus wrote:
Kindle
Ah, someone with a good taste.
The narrow specialist in the broad sense of the word is a complete idiot in the narrow sense of the word. Advertise here – minimum three posts per day are guaranteed.
I don't have a kindle, I use the kindle app on my iPad.
Christian Graus Driven to the arms of OSX by Vista. Read my blog to find out how I've worked around bugs in Microsoft tools and frameworks.
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Christian Graus wrote:
It's not on Kindle
It is on Kindle. I am reading it on my iPad using the Kindle App.
Christian Graus wrote:
Does the book go in to chemical reasons that the brain itself improves ?
Yes, it does in Part Two. It explains the inner workings.
Well, I found it on the store, and searched the author. It must not be on kindle in Australia, even though I am in the US, I am linked to the AU store.
Rama Krishna Vavilala wrote:
Yes, it does in Part Two. It explains the inner workings.
Looks like I have to buy the paper copy then.
Christian Graus Driven to the arms of OSX by Vista. Read my blog to find out how I've worked around bugs in Microsoft tools and frameworks.
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Rama Krishna Vavilala wrote:
programming as a skill should improve with age
Speaking as an aged individual, I would say that my areas of problem solving, handling complexity and understanding of systems are much better than they used to be. The real problem is that when I get to work in the morning, I can't remember what the heck I was working on yesterday.
Chris Meech I am Canadian. [heard in a local bar] In theory there is no difference between theory and practice. In practice there is. [Yogi Berra]
Chris Meech wrote:
The real problem is that when I get to work in the morning, I can't remember what the heck I was working on yesterday.
Yes, the book talks about that too. The ability to remember things fades (which is obvious).
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Rama Krishna Vavilala wrote:
programming as a skill should improve with age
Speaking as an aged individual, I would say that my areas of problem solving, handling complexity and understanding of systems are much better than they used to be. The real problem is that when I get to work in the morning, I can't remember what the heck I was working on yesterday.
Chris Meech I am Canadian. [heard in a local bar] In theory there is no difference between theory and practice. In practice there is. [Yogi Berra]
Last night, I watched Prince of Persia, then Tarzan. By the time I was done watching Tarzan, I had forgotten what movie I saw before it. And I'm only 25.
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Chris Meech wrote:
The real problem is that when I get to work in the morning, I can't remember what the heck I was working on yesterday.
Yes, the book talks about that too. The ability to remember things fades (which is obvious).
Fades. Geez, I wish. In my case it up and disappears. :)
Chris Meech I am Canadian. [heard in a local bar] In theory there is no difference between theory and practice. In practice there is. [Yogi Berra]
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Rama Krishna Vavilala wrote:
programming as a skill should improve with age
Speaking as an aged individual, I would say that my areas of problem solving, handling complexity and understanding of systems are much better than they used to be. The real problem is that when I get to work in the morning, I can't remember what the heck I was working on yesterday.
Chris Meech I am Canadian. [heard in a local bar] In theory there is no difference between theory and practice. In practice there is. [Yogi Berra]
Same problem here and I’m 35, probably it something to do with the Vodka. :-D
The narrow specialist in the broad sense of the word is a complete idiot in the narrow sense of the word. Advertise here – minimum three posts per day are guaranteed.
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Last night, I watched Prince of Persia, then Tarzan. By the time I was done watching Tarzan, I had forgotten what movie I saw before it. And I'm only 25.
Yeah well, Prince of Persia will do that to you. :)
Chris Meech I am Canadian. [heard in a local bar] In theory there is no difference between theory and practice. In practice there is. [Yogi Berra]
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Same problem here and I’m 35, probably it something to do with the Vodka. :-D
The narrow specialist in the broad sense of the word is a complete idiot in the narrow sense of the word. Advertise here – minimum three posts per day are guaranteed.
For god sakes, make sure you don't forget where you put the vodka. :)
Chris Meech I am Canadian. [heard in a local bar] In theory there is no difference between theory and practice. In practice there is. [Yogi Berra]
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Rama Krishna Vavilala wrote:
I am reading it on my iPad using the Kindle App.
You don’t like your eyes much, do you? Why just don’t buy a Kindle?
The narrow specialist in the broad sense of the word is a complete idiot in the narrow sense of the word. Advertise here – minimum three posts per day are guaranteed.
Deyan Georgiev wrote:
You don’t like your eyes much, do you
The iPad does not hurt the eyes. In fact my monitor hurts my eyes more than the iPad. The only place where Kindle may be better is in direct sunlight. iPad is unreadable in direct sunlight or places where glare is expected.
Deyan Georgiev wrote:
Why just don’t buy a Kindle?
Because I already have an iPad.
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Last night, I watched Prince of Persia, then Tarzan. By the time I was done watching Tarzan, I had forgotten what movie I saw before it. And I'm only 25.
When you get to forty you will need a big signs “To The Bathroom=>” in your apartment. :-D
The narrow specialist in the broad sense of the word is a complete idiot in the narrow sense of the word. Advertise here – minimum three posts per day are guaranteed.
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For god sakes, make sure you don't forget where you put the vodka. :)
Chris Meech I am Canadian. [heard in a local bar] In theory there is no difference between theory and practice. In practice there is. [Yogi Berra]
No way! This information is coded on genetic level. :-D
The narrow specialist in the broad sense of the word is a complete idiot in the narrow sense of the word. Advertise here – minimum three posts per day are guaranteed.
-
Years back someone posted an article here (I can't find it now) which claimed that middle-aged programmers (40-68) are not expected to be as good as their non middle aged counter parts. Any link to original article will be appreciated? I did Google fir it but could not find that exact article. These days, I am reading this book: The Secret Life of the Grown-Up Brain: The Surprising Talents of the Middle-Aged Mind[^]. This was one of the popular books on Brain - a topic of my interest. The books cites several research studies citing that some faculties of brain actually improve in the middle age. One such thing is problem solving - which is what programming all about. Things such as ability to recognize and make sense complex patterns also improves - which again a common thing in programming. Another faculty that is expected to grow is the ability to comprehend the whole (system architecture). So what it should imply is that programming as a skill should improve with age. . Is that what happens in the real world? In my case at least, though I have yet to hit middle age, I can see that I have improved in lot of areas but I do not know whether it is due to accumulation of learning over the years or due to development of brain.
modified on Thursday, June 10, 2010 3:02 PM
Rama Krishna Vavilala wrote:
Years back someone posted an article here (I can't find it now) which claimed that middle-aged programmers (40-68) are not expected to be as good as their non middle aged counter parts. Any link to original article will be appreciated? I did Google but did not find that exact article.
It was written by CLK* a few years back.... ;P ;P
_________________________ John Andrew Holmes "It is well to remember that the entire universe, with one trifling exception, is composed of others." Shhhhh.... I am not really here. I am a figment of your imagination.... I am still in my cave so this must be an illusion....