Rick Rashid in "Communications of the ACM", July 2008
The author of the article presents some of the misconceptions behind the drop of interest in Computer Science in the Unites States of America, namely:
1 - "the stereotype of the solitary male programmer who slaves over a keyboard and subsists on snack food";
2 - "underestimate the role that computing can play in changing the world";
3 - "belief that computer-related jobs are quickly being outsourced".
He knows what he is talking about, as he is head of Microsoft Research.
My opinions about the misconceptions are the following:
1 - This is not true. In fact, from my experience, computer science is a highly collaborative profession. Communication with other people is crucial to the success of your projects. Just look at the thriving open-source communities... However, the individual discipline and contributions are still very important.
2 - Computer science doesn't save the world by itself, but it helps almost all sciences and businesses to work better and progress faster.
3 - Some jobs will be outsourced, but the demand for computer knowledgeable people at the decision level is on the rise.
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