Twisted between Cyberneurology and Programming, (cmon, read it)
by Erik Hallgren · in General Discussion · 08/10/2006 (5:25 am) · 5 replies
Sadly, i have been attracted by two quite distinctly different career worlds, and i don't know what i'm gonna shoot at. I want to program games, AND i want to be a cyberneurologist (or what the heck the "official" name is), calm down, i'll explain;
A cyberneurologist is a rather new profession, and simply, it is a person that makes mechanical components to replace lost limbs on a human, like if you step on a mine and lose your leg, you could get a new, MOVING one thanks to the cyberneurologists there are out there. But also, a cyberneurologist could make game controllers, which, instead of having buttons, respond on what you THINK. Like, you are playing a beat-em-up game, and think: "Come on, left spin kick!" The character does so. And some cool persons even made some small thing that gave ultra-vision to the user, so he could "see" when closing his eyes, think about how many blind persons that would benefit from such a cool/extraordinary invention! You might think i'm just making this up, as kinda like everyone i mentioned the word "Cyberneurology", respondedwith "What the hell is that!?"
Basically, a cyberneurologist makes electronic components that "communicate" with the brain, both sending and recieving data. Not "0101 1101 1100", more like: "Hey, careful, even though i'm a leg made out of metal, i am not indestructible, DONT KICK BRICK WALLS!!!" :)
you know, all movements are tiny electrical bursts from your brain, through your nerves, to your muscles, and all thoughts are the same, except it stays in your brain.
So now to the pros and cons with the proffessions:
Cyberneurology:
pros: It's a rather new occupation, and if one wants to hit it big, and are very technical, this is the THE work. (might come up with more later, but come on, that was a HUGE PRO). And if you make it big, you'll be quite famous :), AND loved for your inventions that made handicapped able to walk, blind able to see, deaf able to hear, etc etc.
cons: Long education (don't worry, i can handle that), You become an Einstein-ish person, might not be so very cool in party talk...
Programming:
pros: playing games are fun, making games are fun, playing games you made would probably be VERY fun!
Only imagination sets the limit.
cons: many are already programmers... so competition will be huge, so you CAN make it big, but it'll be very hard.
now, to what i want/like:
High salary (mmmmm, cash!), no, i mean VERY high salary! Being famous wouldnt be wrong either. (not "Britney-Spears" famous, more like "Bill-Gates" famous). I like creating things myself, like games and electronic... stuff... In example. I would like to start my own company.
What i'm bad at:
I often lose interest in projects, i have a hard time not getting things my way.
What i'm good at:
I am the fastest learner you will ever witness (really, i mean it!).
I am only 14 years, so one might think i have lots of time to decide, but i skipped 7th grade a year ago, so in 2 weeks i will begin 9th grade, which means i got one year to decide what proffesion i am to choose.
The best would if i could combine the two proffesions in some way. Is it possible to work like a cyberneurologist and have programming like a hobby, but still be able to do advanced, nice games without requiring HUMONGOUS amounts of time from scratch to done, i mean, i don't want to sit around 10 years with ONE game just because i have very little free time.
Now, i ask you to help me, push me in any direction (cyberneurology or programming), give me tips, anything! Just as long as it helps me decide what proffesion i should choose (my guess is that most people at garagegames will think i should choose programming, but look at it from MY point of view, what do you think i would fit at best.
pre-thanks, Erik Hallgren...
A cyberneurologist is a rather new profession, and simply, it is a person that makes mechanical components to replace lost limbs on a human, like if you step on a mine and lose your leg, you could get a new, MOVING one thanks to the cyberneurologists there are out there. But also, a cyberneurologist could make game controllers, which, instead of having buttons, respond on what you THINK. Like, you are playing a beat-em-up game, and think: "Come on, left spin kick!" The character does so. And some cool persons even made some small thing that gave ultra-vision to the user, so he could "see" when closing his eyes, think about how many blind persons that would benefit from such a cool/extraordinary invention! You might think i'm just making this up, as kinda like everyone i mentioned the word "Cyberneurology", respondedwith "What the hell is that!?"
Basically, a cyberneurologist makes electronic components that "communicate" with the brain, both sending and recieving data. Not "0101 1101 1100", more like: "Hey, careful, even though i'm a leg made out of metal, i am not indestructible, DONT KICK BRICK WALLS!!!" :)
you know, all movements are tiny electrical bursts from your brain, through your nerves, to your muscles, and all thoughts are the same, except it stays in your brain.
So now to the pros and cons with the proffessions:
Cyberneurology:
pros: It's a rather new occupation, and if one wants to hit it big, and are very technical, this is the THE work. (might come up with more later, but come on, that was a HUGE PRO). And if you make it big, you'll be quite famous :), AND loved for your inventions that made handicapped able to walk, blind able to see, deaf able to hear, etc etc.
cons: Long education (don't worry, i can handle that), You become an Einstein-ish person, might not be so very cool in party talk...
Programming:
pros: playing games are fun, making games are fun, playing games you made would probably be VERY fun!
Only imagination sets the limit.
cons: many are already programmers... so competition will be huge, so you CAN make it big, but it'll be very hard.
now, to what i want/like:
High salary (mmmmm, cash!), no, i mean VERY high salary! Being famous wouldnt be wrong either. (not "Britney-Spears" famous, more like "Bill-Gates" famous). I like creating things myself, like games and electronic... stuff... In example. I would like to start my own company.
What i'm bad at:
I often lose interest in projects, i have a hard time not getting things my way.
What i'm good at:
I am the fastest learner you will ever witness (really, i mean it!).
I am only 14 years, so one might think i have lots of time to decide, but i skipped 7th grade a year ago, so in 2 weeks i will begin 9th grade, which means i got one year to decide what proffesion i am to choose.
The best would if i could combine the two proffesions in some way. Is it possible to work like a cyberneurologist and have programming like a hobby, but still be able to do advanced, nice games without requiring HUMONGOUS amounts of time from scratch to done, i mean, i don't want to sit around 10 years with ONE game just because i have very little free time.
Now, i ask you to help me, push me in any direction (cyberneurology or programming), give me tips, anything! Just as long as it helps me decide what proffesion i should choose (my guess is that most people at garagegames will think i should choose programming, but look at it from MY point of view, what do you think i would fit at best.
pre-thanks, Erik Hallgren...
#2
This is mostly because of you being 14 (as most 14yo's are like this), but if you're like that when you're done with school, you're going to have a very hard time in the workforce. Remember, working means that you're probably doing something your heart is not really into, just to make a paycheck (I like my job, but it's not my dream job, and more often than not, people don't even like what they do- just the way of the world). And not getting things your way... Well, get used to that, because the rest of your life will be like that once you're on your own.
And forget the fame and fortune. You'll probably get a good paycheck at either, but not millions, and you might be known in some circles, but probably not like Bill Gates is.
08/10/2006 (6:32 am)
Quote:I often lose interest in projects, i have a hard time not getting things my way.
This is mostly because of you being 14 (as most 14yo's are like this), but if you're like that when you're done with school, you're going to have a very hard time in the workforce. Remember, working means that you're probably doing something your heart is not really into, just to make a paycheck (I like my job, but it's not my dream job, and more often than not, people don't even like what they do- just the way of the world). And not getting things your way... Well, get used to that, because the rest of your life will be like that once you're on your own.
And forget the fame and fortune. You'll probably get a good paycheck at either, but not millions, and you might be known in some circles, but probably not like Bill Gates is.
#4
Don't let people force you into thinking that way. You have plenty of time to decide exactly what you want to do with your life. You don't have to know for certain what you want to do by your sophomore year of high school. Most people end up in a completely different career than the one they choose in high school. Look at me, I was going to be a high school band director and ended up a game programmer.
Also, I agree with Badguy, do both if you can't decide. There's no reason why you can't make games on the side.
08/14/2006 (9:14 am)
Quote:
...in 2 weeks i will begin 9th grade, which means i got one year to decide what proffesion i am to choose.
Don't let people force you into thinking that way. You have plenty of time to decide exactly what you want to do with your life. You don't have to know for certain what you want to do by your sophomore year of high school. Most people end up in a completely different career than the one they choose in high school. Look at me, I was going to be a high school band director and ended up a game programmer.
Also, I agree with Badguy, do both if you can't decide. There's no reason why you can't make games on the side.
#5
High school (4 years or less if you skip another grade)
About 2 years of college (math, programming, engineering, various humanities, and other required stuff)
So the way I see it, you've got about 6 years before you have to start choosing which classes you want to take. You'll need to take alot of the same introductory classes for both. You'll need math skills, programming skills, basic electrical engineering (at least), and lots of miscellaneous required classes that are unrelated to either regardless of which you choose. You'll need biology and psychology for cyberneurology, but you could count them as humanities or free electives requirements for computer science too.
And you can always double major.
You can read books and articles about both right now though. You can read other things as well. There's no reason to pigeonhole yourself at any point in your life (whether you're 14 or 40).
There is one big difference between cyberneurology and game programming though. No one's going to let a 14-year-old install cybernetic hardware in their bodies, but no one will stop you from programming a video game.
08/16/2006 (3:46 pm)
Alot of the preparation for both professions will be the same anyways.High school (4 years or less if you skip another grade)
About 2 years of college (math, programming, engineering, various humanities, and other required stuff)
So the way I see it, you've got about 6 years before you have to start choosing which classes you want to take. You'll need to take alot of the same introductory classes for both. You'll need math skills, programming skills, basic electrical engineering (at least), and lots of miscellaneous required classes that are unrelated to either regardless of which you choose. You'll need biology and psychology for cyberneurology, but you could count them as humanities or free electives requirements for computer science too.
And you can always double major.
You can read books and articles about both right now though. You can read other things as well. There's no reason to pigeonhole yourself at any point in your life (whether you're 14 or 40).
There is one big difference between cyberneurology and game programming though. No one's going to let a 14-year-old install cybernetic hardware in their bodies, but no one will stop you from programming a video game.
Torque 3D Owner Tom Perry