Being a Computer Engineer is not easy. No, I am not talking about the academics part, I am talking about some myths that the Indian society has about Computer Engineers. These myths are so perplexing that sometimes you need feel like banging your head to the wall. It is so frustrating when people miscalculate our skills in computers with our academics. And when stare at them – with blank expressions – wondering what to say next.
This understanding gap is because of the fact that in the previous generation, only a fraction of people knew what a computer was. Others had only heard about it, and wondering that it would take lot of skills and knowledge to operate it. The myth still lives on, and one can find it spread across the society. I do not blame them for the myths, but sometimes, they are really funny.
So, the following messages are for people who have some inherent myths about Computer Engineering. I have experienced some personally, some I have heard of happening to my friends, and some are just thought up based on my imagination. Please read this, and spread this message, so we can have an easy life.
Computer Engineering does not teach us how to turn on and turn off a computer.
Never ever in those entire span 4 years, no one tells us. We just learn that, like a baby who learns to walk.
Studying Computer Engineering does not increase our typing speed.
Although 4 years of incessant code writing may increase our tying speed, but we do not practice “type” in our labs.
Computer Engineering does not teach us how to fix or repair a computer.
This is by far the biggest myth that has troubled me. Every relative or friend comes up to me and said “My computer is not working. Can you please repair it?” Please people, we are not taught how to repair a computer, in fact, we are fined if we try to open one of the CPUs in the lab. Although I have some basic hardware knowledge, this is not what those college people have taught me, so don’t dare tell to anyone “You are a Computer Engineer. Can’t you repair a computer?” It infuriates me.
Computer Engineering does not teach us MS Office.
MS Office is the most widely used software for office applications, and has thus gained reputation among the masses. Some people tend to think that learning Word, Excel and PowerPoint is a rare feat and can only be performed by some people. Also, they tend to think that Computer Engineers know MS Office better than others, because, well, they are Computer Engineers. No, they don’t teach us MS Office, we have to learn it ourselves, just like others.
Computer Engineering does not teach us hacking.
Another myth associated with Computer Engineers is that they are those mean hackers who can steal your passwords and hack any account on the web. One of my friends comes to me and says “Please hack my ex-girlfriend’s Facebook account; I want to teach her a lesson”. They do not teach us hacking, it is something people learn by themselves, and not all Computer Engineers are hackers, so please stop viewing us with that look on the face.
Computer Engineering does not teach us how to efficiently use Windows.
Many a times, people don’t know how to clean up a hard-disk drive, how to defragment a drive, how to make a zip file, how to create virtual drives, how to mount images, how to install complex programs, how to update an anti-virus etc. The list goes on. If I know it, it is because I have used it, and if I do not know something, it is because they do not teach us how to use things on Windows.
Computer Engineering does not teach us how to make a computer/laptop.
Some people just ask me on my face “So, now you will make computers?” No, we do not make computers; they are made in a factory, just like a car, with millions of circuits being embedded on a single chip – a technology known as VLSI, and that doesn’t mean an Electronics engineer can make a computer too – its requires firmware and assembly coding and what not. In short, we cannot make a computer at our home.
Computer Engineering does not teach us how to make robots.
This is a much less myth compared to others, but still I have found this myth present among the people. Robotics is a special field of study and all engineers – mechanical, electronics, and computers can take interest and learn it. Just because Computers and Robots both are machines that doesn’t mean at all that they teach us how to build robots. Not all Computer Engineers are robot programmers.
Computer Engineering does not teach us the specs of latest laptops in the market.
Some people come to me seeking advice in buying laptops. Ok, I appreciate it, and I help them too. But, what makes me angry is that they think we know this because we’re Computer Engineers. They do not teach us the specifications of latest laptops; we simply know it because we use it. A non-computer engineer can also know it, that doesn’t mean he should’ve taken Computer Engineering.
Computer Engineering does not entitle us to own a laptop.
This situation is frustrating for non-computer engineering folk. One of my cousins was arguing with his father about buying a laptop. He cited my example and said that he could use the laptop to read e-books, write a blog, read journals etc. His father said, he has a laptop because he is a Computer Engineer. No, being Computer Engineers does not entitle us to use a laptop, it can be used to watch movies, play games, surf the internet and what not, nothing among that is related to Computer Engineering.
Well then, the question must be, what do they teach us at Computer Engineering? They teach us Operating Systems, Database, Mobile Computing, Networks….aah leave it. It is useless to tell anyways.
Please don’t expect us to do things simply because we are Computer Engineers and please respect our skills and knowledge in Computers, don’t take it for granted simply because we are Computer Engineers. That is because they don’t teach us all this back there.
This understanding gap is because of the fact that in the previous generation, only a fraction of people knew what a computer was. Others had only heard about it, and wondering that it would take lot of skills and knowledge to operate it. The myth still lives on, and one can find it spread across the society. I do not blame them for the myths, but sometimes, they are really funny.
So, the following messages are for people who have some inherent myths about Computer Engineering. I have experienced some personally, some I have heard of happening to my friends, and some are just thought up based on my imagination. Please read this, and spread this message, so we can have an easy life.
Computer Engineering does not teach us how to turn on and turn off a computer.
Never ever in those entire span 4 years, no one tells us. We just learn that, like a baby who learns to walk.
Studying Computer Engineering does not increase our typing speed.
Although 4 years of incessant code writing may increase our tying speed, but we do not practice “type” in our labs.
Computer Engineering does not teach us how to fix or repair a computer.
This is by far the biggest myth that has troubled me. Every relative or friend comes up to me and said “My computer is not working. Can you please repair it?” Please people, we are not taught how to repair a computer, in fact, we are fined if we try to open one of the CPUs in the lab. Although I have some basic hardware knowledge, this is not what those college people have taught me, so don’t dare tell to anyone “You are a Computer Engineer. Can’t you repair a computer?” It infuriates me.
Computer Engineering does not teach us MS Office.
MS Office is the most widely used software for office applications, and has thus gained reputation among the masses. Some people tend to think that learning Word, Excel and PowerPoint is a rare feat and can only be performed by some people. Also, they tend to think that Computer Engineers know MS Office better than others, because, well, they are Computer Engineers. No, they don’t teach us MS Office, we have to learn it ourselves, just like others.
Computer Engineering does not teach us hacking.
Another myth associated with Computer Engineers is that they are those mean hackers who can steal your passwords and hack any account on the web. One of my friends comes to me and says “Please hack my ex-girlfriend’s Facebook account; I want to teach her a lesson”. They do not teach us hacking, it is something people learn by themselves, and not all Computer Engineers are hackers, so please stop viewing us with that look on the face.
Computer Engineering does not teach us how to efficiently use Windows.
Many a times, people don’t know how to clean up a hard-disk drive, how to defragment a drive, how to make a zip file, how to create virtual drives, how to mount images, how to install complex programs, how to update an anti-virus etc. The list goes on. If I know it, it is because I have used it, and if I do not know something, it is because they do not teach us how to use things on Windows.
Computer Engineering does not teach us how to make a computer/laptop.
Some people just ask me on my face “So, now you will make computers?” No, we do not make computers; they are made in a factory, just like a car, with millions of circuits being embedded on a single chip – a technology known as VLSI, and that doesn’t mean an Electronics engineer can make a computer too – its requires firmware and assembly coding and what not. In short, we cannot make a computer at our home.
Computer Engineering does not teach us how to make robots.
This is a much less myth compared to others, but still I have found this myth present among the people. Robotics is a special field of study and all engineers – mechanical, electronics, and computers can take interest and learn it. Just because Computers and Robots both are machines that doesn’t mean at all that they teach us how to build robots. Not all Computer Engineers are robot programmers.
Computer Engineering does not teach us the specs of latest laptops in the market.
Some people come to me seeking advice in buying laptops. Ok, I appreciate it, and I help them too. But, what makes me angry is that they think we know this because we’re Computer Engineers. They do not teach us the specifications of latest laptops; we simply know it because we use it. A non-computer engineer can also know it, that doesn’t mean he should’ve taken Computer Engineering.
Computer Engineering does not entitle us to own a laptop.
This situation is frustrating for non-computer engineering folk. One of my cousins was arguing with his father about buying a laptop. He cited my example and said that he could use the laptop to read e-books, write a blog, read journals etc. His father said, he has a laptop because he is a Computer Engineer. No, being Computer Engineers does not entitle us to use a laptop, it can be used to watch movies, play games, surf the internet and what not, nothing among that is related to Computer Engineering.
Well then, the question must be, what do they teach us at Computer Engineering? They teach us Operating Systems, Database, Mobile Computing, Networks….aah leave it. It is useless to tell anyways.
Please don’t expect us to do things simply because we are Computer Engineers and please respect our skills and knowledge in Computers, don’t take it for granted simply because we are Computer Engineers. That is because they don’t teach us all this back there.
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