Minecraft -- keep calm and code on: Stephen Foster at TEDxUCSD
Summary
TLDRStephen Foster's talk explores the origins of Minecraft and its potential to shape the future of computer science education. He links the game's development to WWII's technological advancements, highlighting Alan Turing's pivotal role in computing history. Foster advocates teaching coding to children, using Minecraft as a tool to spark interest, and envisions a future where society widely embraces computer science to drive innovation.
Takeaways
- 🧙♂️ Stephen Foster is passionate about teaching coding to kids and has created educational games like 'Code Spells'.
- 🎮 'Minecraft' is one of the most popular video games, played by over 30 million people, and has educational potential.
- 🏭 The story of Minecraft is deeply connected to the history of computing and World War II, particularly through figures like Alan Turing.
- 🔐 World War II was pivotal for the development of early computers and cryptography, with machines like the Enigma and the Bomb.
- 👨💻 Alan Turing is a foundational figure in computer science and his work was crucial in breaking the Enigma code, affecting the outcome of the war.
- 👩💻 Grace Hopper, who trained during WWII, invented the first compiler used in programming languages like Java, which Minecraft is written in.
- 🌐 The origins of computer networking, which Minecraft relies on, can be traced back to systems developed to defend against Soviet missiles in the 1950s.
- 💾 Minecraft's ability to be reprogrammed makes it an excellent tool for teaching coding and computer science to children.
- 👨🎓 Foster advocates for teaching coding to all children to increase innovation and problem-solving in society.
- 🚀 He believes Minecraft can be a gateway to introduce a large number of people, especially children, to the world of computer science.
- 🌟 Foster hopes Minecraft will be remembered as a key moment in the history of computer science and human advancement.
Q & A
Who is Stephen Foster and what is his mission?
-Stephen Foster is an individual who has spent years developing innovative ways to teach coding to children. He has created a video game called 'Code Spells' and founded a company called 'Stem' to bring computer science education into schools across America. His mission is to teach coding to children and inspire them to love humanity and the world they live in.
What is the connection between Minecraft and World War II according to the script?
-The connection between Minecraft and World War II is established through the historical development of computer science and technology. Minecraft is written in Java, a programming language that is compiled using a compiler, the first of which was invented by Grace Hopper, who was trained by the US Navy during World War II. Additionally, computer networking, which Minecraft relies on for multiplayer gaming, has its roots in the SAGE network built in the late 50s to defend against Soviet missiles, which was powered by computers that used vacuum tubes perfected in the Colossus computer used during World War II.
Who is Notch and what is his role in Minecraft?
-Notch, whose real name is Markus Persson, is the creator of Minecraft. He is credited with writing many of the lines of code for the game, which has become one of the most popular video games played by over 30 million people.
What is the significance of Alan Turing in the context of the script?
-Alan Turing is mentioned as a foundational figure in the history of computer science and World War II. He is known for his codebreaking work that helped the Allies win the war and for pioneering the concept of stored-program computers. His work is intertwined with many computational technologies used today, including those that enable Minecraft to exist.
What is the 'dark future' mentioned in the script and how does Minecraft relate to it?
-The 'dark future' mentioned in the script refers to a potential future where things stay the same, with only a tiny fraction of society being computer scientists. Minecraft relates to this as it is a game that can be reprogrammed, which has the potential to inspire a large number of children to learn how to code, thus increasing the number of people who understand and can innovate with computer technology.
Why does Stephen Foster believe we are at a 'Tipping Point'?
-Stephen Foster believes we are at a 'Tipping Point' because of the potential for a massive fraction of society to become computer scientists if children are taught how to code. This could lead to a dramatic leap forward in human achievement, similar to how Alan Turing's work during World War II was a pivotal moment in the history of computer science.
What is the main goal of Stephen Foster's plan to teach children how to code?
-The main goal of Stephen Foster's plan is to empower children with the skill set of computer science, enabling them to build software that can positively impact the lives of millions of people they've never met, thus increasing innovation and problem-solving capabilities in society.
How does Minecraft serve as a tool for teaching computer science according to the script?
-Minecraft serves as a tool for teaching computer science because it is a game that can be reprogrammed, which is considered 'cool' by many kids. This makes it an engaging way to introduce children to coding and computer science, as it allows them to modify the digital world they are already obsessed with.
What historical event is used to illustrate the beginning of the age of information in the script?
-The script uses the end of World War II as the starting point of the age of information, highlighting the construction of the first modern computers and the use of technology like the Enigma machine and the British 'bomb' for codebreaking during the war.
Why is the story of Minecraft important according to the speaker?
-The story of Minecraft is important because it is not just the story of a popular video game, but it represents the story of modern humanity, which is fundamentally based on computers. It also serves as a potential catalyst for a future where a significant portion of society understands and can utilize the power of computer science.
Outlines
🎮 The Origin of Minecraft and Its Impact
Stephen Foster introduces himself as an advocate for teaching coding to children, mentioning his video game 'Code Spells' and his company STEM. He then transitions into the story of Minecraft, one of the most popular video games played by over 30 million people. Foster draws a parallel between the game and the broader impact of computer science, hinting at the historical significance of computing that began with World War II. He discusses the invention of early computers and their role in the war, particularly the German Enigma machine and the British bombe. These machines were pivotal as they were used to encrypt and decrypt military communications. Foster emphasizes the importance of information in warfare and how the Allies' success in decrypting Enigma codes with the help of Alan Turing and early computer scientists was crucial to winning the war. He suggests that the story of Minecraft is not just about a game but about the evolution of computing and its profound effect on modern humanity.
🔗 Tracing Minecraft Back to World War II
The speaker connects Minecraft to World War II in three ways. Firstly, he mentions that Minecraft is written in Java, a programming language that compiles code through a compiler, the first of which was invented by Grace Hopper, who was trained by the US Navy during World War II. Secondly, he points out that Minecraft is a multiplayer game that operates on computer networks, which have their roots in the SAGE network built in the late 1950s to defend against Soviet missiles. The SAGE network was powered by massive computers that used vacuum tubes, a technology perfected in the Colossus computer used during World War II to break German codes. Lastly, he notes that Minecraft, as a game stored in a computer's memory, is a product of the von Neumann architecture, which was inspired by a paper written by Alan Turing before the war. The speaker emphasizes Alan Turing's pervasive influence on computational technology and reflects on the public's limited awareness of Turing's contributions despite their significance.
🚀 Envisioning a Future with More Computer Scientists
Stephen Foster envisions a future where humanity is significantly more innovative due to a larger portion of society being proficient in computer science. He argues that the current age, which began with a computer scientist building a machine to win a war, has evolved to a point where a single computer scientist can create software like Minecraft that brings joy to millions. Foster calls for teaching all children to code, emphasizing the potential for a massive leap forward in human achievement if more people掌握 the power of the programmable computer. He acknowledges the challenge of engaging children in coding while they are already engrossed in video games but sees Minecraft as a unique opportunity. Minecraft's popularity and the desire of many children to learn how to modify it provide a chance to introduce them to computer science. Foster expresses hope that Minecraft might be remembered as a pivotal moment in the history of computer science, unlocking the field for a large portion of humanity and leading to a future with many new computer scientists.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Minecraft
💡Coding
💡Alan Turing
💡Enigma Machine
💡Bombe Machine
💡Grace Hopper
💡Compiler
💡SAGE Network
💡Von Neumann
💡Tipping Point
💡Modding
Highlights
Stephen Foster is dedicated to teaching coding to kids through creative methods like his video game 'Code Spells'.
Foster founded a company called 'stem' to bring Computer Science Education into American schools.
Minecraft, a game played by over 30 million people, is the focus of Foster's story about the impact of computer science.
The story of Minecraft is intertwined with the history of modern computing, starting with World War II.
The Enigma machine and the British 'Bombe' were crucial in the war of information during World War II.
Alan Turing, the father of computer science, played a pivotal role in breaking the Enigma code.
Minecraft's success is rooted in the history of computer science, dating back to World War I.
Minecraft is written in Java, a language whose compiler was invented by Grace Hopper, who worked on the Mark 1 computer during World War II.
Computer networking, essential for multiplayer games like Minecraft, has its origins in the SAGE network from the 1950s.
Von Neumann's concept of stored-program computers, which allows programs like Minecraft to run, was inspired by Alan Turing's work.
Alan Turing is a foundational figure in the history of computational technology.
Foster conducted a poll revealing that less than 5% of people knew about Alan Turing.
Foster believes we are at a Tipping Point where we can significantly increase innovation by teaching coding to children.
Minecraft can be reprogrammed, making it an ideal tool for teaching coding to kids.
Foster's plan is to teach all children to code, which he sees as a way to unlock the potential for massive innovation.
Minecraft's popularity among children makes it a powerful educational tool for computer science.
Foster hopes Minecraft will be remembered as a key moment in the history of computer science and humanity.
The potential of 30 million new computer scientists could lead to a dramatic leap forward in human achievement.
Transcripts
so hi I'm Stephen Foster and I have
spent the last several years trying to
come up with cool ways to teach coding
to kids for example I built this video
game called code spells where you play
the part of a wizard and you craft your
own magic spells by writing code and I
founded a company called stem to try to
bring Computer Science Education into
schools all across
America now those are stories for a
different time but in doing those things
I became aware of the story that I want
to tell today which is the story of
Minecraft one of the most popular video
games of our day played by more than 30
million people this is a story about
where Minecraft came from and it's a
story about what I think Minecraft can
do for our future
it's also a story about how one computer
scientist changed the world and it's
also a story about why you should even
care about the story of Minecraft and
just to spoil the end on that a little
bit you should care if you've ever used
a
computer because this isn't just the
story of Minecraft this is the Story of
All of Us it's the story of modern
Humanity which is fundamentally founded
on
computers so with that in mind let's
begin the story of Minecraft that what I
think we can all agree is the obvious
place the death of
Hitler World War II really sparked the
age of information we see the first
modern computers being constructed right
after the war and very much as a result
of technology that was invented during
the war not only that the war itself was
a war of
information this
machine the German Enigma machine was
used to encrypt German military
Communications it was used to hide
information and this machine which the
British called the bomb was a secret
weapon that could decrypt whatever the
Enigma machine encrypted it was used to
reveal
information here's both machines in a
museum somewhere two of the most crucial
weapons during World War II and yet
neither one of them ever exploded or
pierced or punctured or vaporized or
shot down or sunk anything at least not
directly they were weapons of
information and because of them the war
itself was this amazing intricate
informational fencing match see the
Germans believed that Enigma was
unbreakable they believed that a machine
like the bomb couldn't exist and the
Allies did their best to try to keep
that secret which they miraculously
managed to do throughout the entire War
but the Germans did get suspicious and
in 1942 they modified Enigma and they
rendered the bomb useless for about a
year this is a chart of Allied ships
sunk every month for the duration of the
war and as you can see in
1942 right after the Enigma machine has
been modified casualties Skyrocket and
for the duration of that year in which
the Allies are in this kind of
informational Darkness
casualties remain high but then at the
end of the year when British
mathematicians and code Breakers and
early computer scientists have
appropriately modified the bomb so that
they can once again decrypt Enigma
traffic casualties drop back in
half now this data allows us to do a
thought
experiment and that is to ask what if we
had never had the bomb what if the
Allies had never cracked the Enigma
code in
1942 the Allies are losing about a 100
ships every month every month for a year
to put that into perspective that
averages out to about one ship every
eight hours so a ship every eight hours
for a year that's millions of tons of
cargo lost thousands of lives Supply
chains broken and it only lasted a year
but we can imagine that the war itself
may have had a very different outcome if
those levels of casualties had been
spread across the war's entire
duration after the war Winston Churchill
told King George it was because of
decryption that we won and he was right
we won the war of information and so we
won the
war now there are a lot of Heroes in
that story but the one I would like to
mention because he invented the bomb is
Alan Turing also known as the father of
computer science now we'll come back to
him in just a minute but first first
what does any of this have to do with
Minecraft one of the most popular video
games of our day it's played by more
than 30 million people and if you're not
one of those 30 million imagine this
imagine that it's like digital Legos so
you log on on your computer and people
across the world log on on theirs and
you all work together to build cool
stuff out of digital
blocks it's a breakout success but
breakout success like Minecraft don't
come out of nowhere they have a history
and like many popular pieces of software
it is a history of blood and sweat and
tears and lines of code in this case
many of which were written by one man
his name is Notch that's his nickname
Notch but the history of Minecraft goes
back before its first line of code was
written in fact it goes back before
Notch was even born in fact it goes all
the way back to world War I and when I
tell this to the average Minecraft
player they are
skeptical so if there are Skeptics in
the audience I'll prove it to you and
and I'll prove it to you in three
different ways in less than two minutes
so three ways two minutes I'll Trace
Minecraft back to World War II right
start my timer there we go all right
Minecraft is written in a programming
language called Java when you write in
Java the program you write gets fed into
another program called the compiler
first compiler invented in 1951 by Grace
Hopper Grace Hopper got her training by
the US Navy in World War II when she was
assigned to work on the Mark 1 computer
which did calculations for the atomic
bomb so there is your World War II
connection and since we have some time
bonus Allan Turing connection the US
Navy at the same time was constructing
their own version of the British
cryptographic bomb machine they were in
collaboration with the world's leading
expert on the subject its inventor Alan
Turing so bonus alen Turing connection
there all right number two Minecraft is
a multiplayer game that means it runs on
a network computer networking dates back
to the late 50s where the sage network
was built to help defend against Soviet
missiles Sage was powered by Massive
computers four stories tall using 60,000
vacuum tubes each vacuum tubes had just
previously been perfected in the
Colossus computer used during World War
II to break German code bonus Allen tur
connection Colossus was designed by
Tommy flowers who worked directly with
Alan Turing on the British
bomb number three Minecraft is a game a
game is a program a program is something
that is stored in the computer's memory
and it can be executed without having to
manually rewire the hardware now that
sounds obvious but today it sounds
obvious today but it was first pioneered
by Von noyman in 1945 Von noyman worked
on the Manhattan Project during World
War II so there's your World War II
connection and by his own admission
his ideas were fundamentally inspired by
a 1936 paper written before World War II
by Allan Turing once
again so what is up with this guy Allan
tur thank
you a lot of Allen Turing fans
here so what is up with this guy Alan
Turing you take any piece of
computational technology today and you
trace its history back you find Alan
Turing somehow intertwined inside it
that alone is enough to qualify somebody
as a foundational figure in world
history and on top of that he helped us
win World War II with his codebreaking
work that's
amazing what's also amazing and actually
a little bit sad is that I conducted a
poll of 100 random
strangers and less than five per of them
had ever even heard of Alan
Turing World War II was a Tipping Point
and we tipped the right way thanks to
Allan Turing but there was a time when
nothing was certain 1942 for example we
didn't know if we would win and we
didn't know if we would lose and today I
think we're at another Tipping Point and
there is a dark future but don't worry
it's not as dark as losing World War II
it's basically that we might miss one of
our best chances to improve our world
the dark future is that things might
stay the same it'll continue to be the
case that less than 5% of the people I
poll have ever heard of alent Turing
it'll continue to be the case that
millions of people play Minecraft and
they don't have any idea how it actually
works it will continue to be the case
that we as a society delegate our
computer work to the tiny tiny fraction
of us that are computer scientists and
that's that
now is it a bad world no it's not a bad
world the age of information is a
fascinating time to be alive it's an age
that began with one computer scientist
who built a computer that helped us win
a war and today it's the kind of age
where one computer scientist can build a
piece of software like Minecraft that
brings joy to 30 million people he's
never met it's the kind of age where
computer scientists almost on a daily
basis are revolutionizing every field of
human achievement from science to
technology to engineering to mathematics
to Art to space travel to basic human
communication
but I invite you in spite of all the
amazing things we see in the world
around us I invite you to imagine a
possible
future in which the human race is a
hundred or a thousand times as
Innovative as it is today because
instead of a tiny fraction of society
being computer scientists there is a
massive fraction of society each one of
which has mastered the skill set that
will allow them to build software that
can touch the lives of millions of
people they've never
met now I can't imagine the awesome
technological achievements of that day I
can't paint a picture of it for you but
I contend that we don't have to imagine
it because we can see that world in our
lifetimes if we want to back Bly enough
and I want to very badly so here's my
plan for seeing that possible future in
my lifetime here's my
plan
teach all the
children how to
code teach all the children how to code
teach them to love humanity and love the
world they live in in but most of all
teach them how to code and then we can
watch what happens when a massive
fraction of society knows how to use the
most powerful problemsolving tool that
has ever been invented by
mankind the programmable
computer now it's not easy it's hard
enough to get kids to stop playing video
games long enough to do their normal
homework let alone also learn how to
code but we do have one lucky thing
going for us and that is
Minecraft because Minecraft is not your
ordinary game Minecraft is the kind of
game that you can reprogram you can
recode Minecraft and recoding Rec
reprogramming Minecraft is considered
cool and millions of kids feel this way
and it is not easy to get millions of
kids to agree that something is cool but
today kids are walking through the door
of my business and they're wearing
Minecraft t-shirts and they're saying
please teach me how to cope because I
want to learn how to mod Minecraft
because to them Computer Science
Education knowing how to code gives them
this kind of magical power over the
digital fantasy world that they are so
obsessed
with will Minecraft be cool next year or
the year after that I don't know I hope
so I think it might but we know those of
us who know children know that they can
be excited about something today and not
excited about it tomorrow they do grow
out of things and so that is why I use
Minecraft today to teach computer
science because it's a chance that may
not be around
forever that is why I say that we're at
a Tipping
Point so in
closing I'll say something that people
might make fun of me for but I'll say it
anyway and that is I hope Minecraft goes
down in the history books as it key
moment in the history of computer
science maybe even the history of
humanity I hope we tip in such a way
that in 20 years people look back and
they realize two things
one Alan Turing gave us computer science
As We Know It And by extension Humanity
as we know it and
two I hope they look back and realize
that Minecraft today unlocked computer
science as we know it for a massive
fraction of humanity that didn't already
know about
it so how many how many new computer
scientists will it take for us to see
that dramatic Leap Forward in human
achievement to see that possible future
I don't know but I do know this it took
a computer scientist to build a machine
to help us win a war and there are 30
million people who play Minecraft many
of them children I believe the human
race can achieve a lot with 30 million
new computer scientists I don't know how
much but I am on a mission to find
out thank you
浏览更多相关视频
Alan Turing - Celebrating the life of a genius
O Computador de Turing e Von Neumann | Por que calculadoras não são computadores?
The danger of science denial - Michael Specter
How Gaming can Increase Engagement in Education | Arnav Patel | TEDxYouth@YCYWShanghai
OS COMPUTADORES HERÓIS da Segunda Guerra Mundial #SagaDosComputadores Ep. 3
How AI Will Step Off the Screen and into the Real World | Daniela Rus | TED
5.0 / 5 (0 votes)