Hour of Code event encourages students to learn programming, with help from tech giants

By Trevor Mogg December 9, 2013

apple swift playgrounds 2016 hour of code — Image used with permission by copyright holder

With the tech industry concerned about the lack of skilled programmers coming up through the ranks, it’s hoped that this week’s Hour of Code initiative, which is taking place as part of Computer Science Education Week, will go some way to inspire a new generation of talent.

The founder of code.org, which is organizing Hour of Code, told Cnet recently he hopes the event will help to demystify the process of computer programming and get more youngsters hooked on coding.

“The idea is to get a one-hour basic introduction to this field that’s sort of behind this veil of mystery, this veil that separates the average person from the Mark Zuckerbergs,” Hadi Partovi said, adding, “We want to break down that veil to let people take one hour to see what it’s like to write code.”

Code.org’s drive to get more people to learn how to program also has backing from the likes of Barack Obama, who, in a video posted on YouTube Sunday, told students, “Don’t just buy a new video game, make one. Don’t just download the latest app, help design it. Don’t just play on your phone, program it.”

The home pages of Web giants such as Google, Yahoo, Apple, and Microsoft‘s Bing will also highlight the Hour of Code event.

Apple and Microsoft’s involvement, however, doesn’t end with its websites – both companies are gearing up to hold special coding education events at many of their stores, with Apple’s scheduled for Wednesday at 5pm. Microsoft’s are set to take place throughout the week, so check in store or online for details if you’re interested in getting involved.

Some 33,000 schools around the world, the majority of them in the US, have pledged to teach at least one hour of computer programming to students this week, in the hope that some of those trying it for the first time will enjoy it enough to take it further.

Dropbox is donating storage space for the event this week, with CEO Drew Houston highlighting the power of computer programming in this succinct thought: “You get to write code, and then press a button, and then millions of people now have a problem that’s solved.”

Computer Science Education Week runs from December 9 through December 15, while more information on Hour of Code can be found here.

[via NYT]

Contributing Editor

Not so many moons ago, Trevor moved from one tea-loving island nation that drives on the left (Britain) to another (Japan)…

Computing

I use these simple printer tips to save money on ink and toner

Printing is fast and economical with the HP Smart Tank 7602.

The cost of a printer can range from under $100 for some good, low-cost inkjet printers to several hundred for the best color laser printers. However, the price you pay upfront doesn’t include paper, and the included ink and toner only lasts so long.

A bargain printer can end up costing you more overall if the cartridges are small and replacements are expensive. Follow these tips to minimize ink, toner, and paper waste, reducing the ongoing expense of using your printer in the long run.
Print in monochrome
Adobe Acrobat's print settings includes a grayscale option. Digital Trends

Computing

Best refurbished laptop deals: How to find cheap used computers

microsoft surface laptop go 2020 on desk

If you're shopping for laptops on a budget, then you probably don't want to aim for the best laptops on the market, since they often cost thousands of dollars and usually give you diminishing returns the more expensive they get. On the other hand, refurbished laptops are a great way to save money while also helping the environment and reducing e-waste. Not only that, but most refurbished laptops tend to be refurbished by the brand and are backed by warranties and return windows, so even if something is not right with your refurbished laptop, you can get a replacement or your money back.

To that end, Best Buy, Amazon, and Dell all have really great refurbished laptop sales that you can check out, and the prices really are great. Alternatively, if you're in the Apple ecosystem, take a look at these refurbished MacBook deals, or if you still want to go for something new, you could consider checking out these laptop deals instead.
Best Buy refurbished laptops -- starting at $113
Best Buy's refurbished laptops are -- you guessed it -- Geek Squad Certified and while they may not be free and clear of absolutely all cosmetic scuffs they are still exceptionally clean and always in working order. Some of them even come with additional software like virus tools, streaming access, like Apple TV+, and much more. Of course, the best part is that you can get a premium and fully upgraded model for less, often with more storage, more power, and more features than you would when buying a base model brand new. You've got some great options from Lenovo, Acer, HP, Dell, Gateway, and even Apple to choose from. The cheapest models start around $120 and increase from there. The best way to know what's available is to head over and browse for yourself.

Computing

Best student laptop deals: Laptops for college from $215

online web browser game list

Going to high school or college can be an overwhelming experience, and you probably don't want to add figuring out what laptop you can buy to that stress, especially when you're working under a limited budget and some of the best laptops cost thousands of dollars. That's why we've gone out and picked some of our favorite laptops that work well for students and listed them below, and we've included some of the best budget laptops out there. If you're unsure of where to start, it's worth checking out our laptop buying guide to give you an idea of which direction to go, and if you don't find that in the laptops we've listed below, you can check out these other great laptop deals as well.
HP Laptop 14 -- $204, was $269

The HP Laptop 14 is a popular choice among students because of its entry level price point. It's specs aren't going to blow anyone away, but they're good value for the price and are plenty to get the job done. This build of the HP Laptop 14 has 8GB of RAM and a quad-core Intel Celeron processor. It does check in with just 64GB of storage space -- this may not be enough for some users, but if you aren't planning on loading your laptop up with media this is one that will accompany you well around campus.