[Coco] Computer learning tools (was: Coco4..Who needs it? I do.)

[RJLCyberPunk]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Paul E. Jones" <paulej at arid.us>
To: "'CoCoList for Color Computer Enthusiasts'" <coco at maltedmedia.com>
Sent: Wednesday, December 31, 2008 5:42 PM
Subject: Re: [Coco] Computer learning tools (was: Coco4..Who needs it? I 
do.)


> James,
>
> My son has a Lego Mindstorm NXT robot.  While I am quite interested in 
> it --
> pretty cool with the Bluetooth interface and programmable 
> microcontroller --
> he is far less interested.  The reason is that if he creates something, he
> can't share his creations.  He gets more enjoyment out of scripting on 
> video
> games sites and updating his own web site.
>
> I think it is the aspect of sharing what you have and what you do that 
> helps
> entice his interest and what I believe can help build a community.
>
> He could get into things like Visual Basic or C++, but both of those 
> present
> huge learning curves.  There's a lot to be said for being able to create
> something fairly easily and then sharing that with somebody who can build 
> on
> it.  It was precisely that kind of thing that helped me as I started
> exploring computers.  Magazines like Hot Coco and Rainbow were wonderful,
> with all of the sample programs, hints, and tips.  CoCo user groups sprang
> up all over.
>
> Whatever gets produced, I think it needs to have that same kind of impact.
>
> Paul


Umm... Just FYI Visual Basic does not take a huge learning curve at all, it 
is one of the easiest computer languages that has ever been developed in 
fact it is not that hard to conver a CoCo basic program to to Visual Basic.
Having said that it would still be great to have a virtual next generation 
CoCo around for sure, but the endgame should always be for the CoCo to have 
some physical form at least in the far flung future.