> we theoretically teach every single American student how to write, has that caused an increase in high quality literature being produced?
Maybe, who knows? How many American authors would have been illiterate if we didn't cast a wide net?
More to the point, you don't have to contribute a great piece of literature in order to get some value (and give society some value) from basic reading and writing skills. Basically everyone does some reading in their everyday life which is crucial to their level of productivity (and personal enjoyment).
> I'd expect to see an increase in programming similar in size, scope, and usefulness to email, text, lists, and meeting notes. It would be personal, private, and not meant to last. Tents, not marble palaces.
Very much agreed. I don't mean to suggest that software engineers would be displaced in any meaningful proportion, just that we could increase the productivity of everyone by a little bit :-)
Maybe, who knows? How many American authors would have been illiterate if we didn't cast a wide net?
More to the point, you don't have to contribute a great piece of literature in order to get some value (and give society some value) from basic reading and writing skills. Basically everyone does some reading in their everyday life which is crucial to their level of productivity (and personal enjoyment).
> I'd expect to see an increase in programming similar in size, scope, and usefulness to email, text, lists, and meeting notes. It would be personal, private, and not meant to last. Tents, not marble palaces.
Very much agreed. I don't mean to suggest that software engineers would be displaced in any meaningful proportion, just that we could increase the productivity of everyone by a little bit :-)