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Mayor Bloomberg Will Learn How To Write Code In 2012

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Re: Mayor Bloomberg Will Learn How To Write Code In 2012

#21
post #5

Considering his whole business is basically being the tech company for the finance industry it's surprising he never learned about it.

Well, NYC finance is still about dealmaking, even in the days of digital trading. Business is still done face-to-face, and the sheer density of New York will probably make sure that deal makers are more valuable than technologists for the foreseeable future. That's not to discount technologists in NY at all, though (they're deal makers too). It's just the reality that handshakes and coffee are irreplaceable.

Speaking of coffee, a lot of his early deals were based on him going around to Merrill Lynch and buying people there coffee, then coming back later saying "I'm Michael Bloomberg. I bought you a coffee. Can we talk?"

Re: Mayor Bloomberg Will Learn How To Write Code In 2012

#22
post #15

Bloomberg was already highly technical once before. Listen to his Techcrunch interview where he talks about having to solder integrated circuits onto boards to build the first Bloomberg terminals. He's not just another clueless MBA CEO. http://techcrunch.com/2011/11/28/founder-stories-how-michael...

What a great video. It gives me a lot more respect for the guy. After watching it I'm surprised that he's made it this long without learning how to code.

Re: Mayor Bloomberg Will Learn How To Write Code In 2012

#23
post #12

Well, is writing code the new literacy? Most people in the west can read and write at some level, even if they never write a novel. The future might be like that with code - there are signs of it, where knowing how to write a little script or a SQL query can make a huge difference in plenty of different fields

This is an interesting point and one I haven't thought of like this. The past year, I kept telling people to start learning to program, because there will be an unprecedented increase in demand for programmers and knowing how to program (even just a little bit) will be greatly beneficial no matter in what line of life you are in. But can it come to the point where if you can't code, you get left behind? It might not…

Or, the more people who can code, the less valuable the skill? Meh, or not.

Re: Mayor Bloomberg Will Learn How To Write Code In 2012

#24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is an interesting point and one I haven't thought of like this. The past year, I kept telling people to start learning to program, because there will be an unprecedented increase in demand for programmers and knowing how to program (even just a little bit) will be greatly beneficial no matter in what line of life you are in. But can it come to the point where if you can't code, you get left behind? It might not…

Or, the more people who can code, the less valuable the skill? Meh, or not.

Maybe it's not supply & demand, but a network effect:

For reading, I would argue the ability to read become more valuable as the literacy rate increases, as society starts to run on the written word.

Perhaps computer literacy is the same.

Re: Mayor Bloomberg Will Learn How To Write Code In 2012

#25
post #6

Note the interesting bit about the London mayor: "The move even prompted London Mayor Boris Johnson to state he was in “awe” of Bloomberg and would consider joining him on the quest to become adept at, or at least acquainted with, programming, as the BBC reported." This is a great thing for Bloomberg to do. In an age where so many politicians are trying as hard as they can to stifle the new economy in favor of the ol…

He's not new to the tech field. He graduated with a degree in Electrical Engineering from Johns Hopkins. Bloomberg's most famous product is probably the Bloomberg Terminal. A dual screen computer and OS for hedge fund manager types, that costs $1900-2500 a month per subscription.

It stopped being its own OS long ago. Now the dual-screen computer is a standard Windows PC with a pretty case and fancy keyboard, and the terminal software is just a win32 .exe.

Re: Mayor Bloomberg Will Learn How To Write Code In 2012

#26
post #15

Bloomberg was already highly technical once before. Listen to his Techcrunch interview where he talks about having to solder integrated circuits onto boards to build the first Bloomberg terminals. He's not just another clueless MBA CEO. http://techcrunch.com/2011/11/28/founder-stories-how-michael...

His book "Bloomberg by Bloomberg" is also a good read. I also find it amusing this even made the news. His billion-dollar fortune comes from a tech company founded with money he got as severance after being fired from a previous tech management position, albeit in the finance sector.

Re: Mayor Bloomberg Will Learn How To Write Code In 2012

#27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is an interesting point and one I haven't thought of like this. The past year, I kept telling people to start learning to program, because there will be an unprecedented increase in demand for programmers and knowing how to program (even just a little bit) will be greatly beneficial no matter in what line of life you are in. But can it come to the point where if you can't code, you get left behind? It might not…

Or, the more people who can code, the less valuable the skill? Meh, or not.

The more people who can code, the more demand there will be for advanced training from experienced coders. The hackers of today will be the teachers of tomorrow :)

Re: Mayor Bloomberg Will Learn How To Write Code In 2012

#28
post #15

Bloomberg was already highly technical once before. Listen to his Techcrunch interview where he talks about having to solder integrated circuits onto boards to build the first Bloomberg terminals. He's not just another clueless MBA CEO. http://techcrunch.com/2011/11/28/founder-stories-how-michael...

I Love this video. Especially his story about keeping burn low as much as possible. One such example of when he did that was when sawed down some desks so more could fit in the same space (i.e. fit more salespeople in the same square footage)- and many of his employees didn't even realize at first.

Love it.

Re: Mayor Bloomberg Will Learn How To Write Code In 2012

#29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It is a symbolic move, but the interesting thing about it is that this kind of symbolism wouldn't work in most other places on this planet.

Agree, and it wouldn't have worked for even New York a couple of years ago. Right now, one of the biggest advantages for New York startups is the terrific (& free) PR push from Bloomberg himself. Go Codecademy!

Thanks!

Re: Mayor Bloomberg Will Learn How To Write Code In 2012

#30
post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

He's not new to the tech field. He graduated with a degree in Electrical Engineering from Johns Hopkins. Bloomberg's most famous product is probably the Bloomberg Terminal. A dual screen computer and OS for hedge fund manager types, that costs $1900-2500 a month per subscription.

It stopped being its own OS long ago. Now the dual-screen computer is a standard Windows PC with a pretty case and fancy keyboard, and the terminal software is just a win32 .exe.

Why do they even bother with special hardware? The keyboard I guess I can see.

Seems like the whole thing could just be web app now.

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