How Computer Savvy Are You?

[Patroklos]

WTF is Linux?

[Cort Haus]

Originally posted by Zoid
I'm probably a 7. I haven't done any programming to speak of though...

This is my point. People awarding themselves high marks without being programmers. People giving themselves average marks because they can install their own games.

I write reasonably complex client-server database app installer progs and have learned several proprietory languages but I'm crap at networks and have never written anything in C#. I've done sophisticated data migration projects in SQL and (in the old days) Unix but I've never touched a Blackberry. I've been on a interface design team, led testing teams and been a Release Manager for a market-leading product but I know eff-all about Java or PHP. I've produced multimedia training and marketing material but I've never designed a web page and haven't specced and built a PC for nearly a decade.

Computing is too broad and vast for someone's abilities and experience to be reduced to a simple vector.

Having said that, there are a few people here who are definitely hot on a very wide range of key skills, I'm sure.

[VetLegion]

Uh, given Patroklos' scale I awarded myself a 10, but seeing how Blake put himself at 8 I retract that and put myself at 7.5.

[jkp1187]

Originally posted by Blake
I voted 8. I've never programmed network drivers or OS's or anything, even though I do always build my own PC, install my own software, am a paid programmer and have compiled custom linux kernels.
Maybe I'm a 9 but I really think that the lofty heights of 9 and 10 should be reserved for hardcore linux geeks.

See, I gave myself a "7" because I install my own software, can do some coding in Python, and built my own computer.... but if Blake's an "8", then I probably should be a "5".

[Footie Mad]

Maybe change it to a 1-100 scale, or start using decimals. I'm totally a 3.8 when summarizing all the posts in this thread and calculating an average appropriate value.

[Ben Kenobi]

Or just use a logarithmic scale.

I'd say a 4. Know next to nothing about hardware and the components.

[-Jrabbit]

Originally posted by jkp1187


See, I gave myself a "7" because I install my own software, can do some coding in Python, and built my own computer.... but if Blake's an "8", then I probably should be a "5".

OK, I'm down to a 3.

[Bkeela]

I'm as computer savvy as I need to be. Computers exist to run video games and access the Internet. Just as cars exist to get from point A to point B. I know some people are awfully interested about what is under the hood, but not me.

[b etor]

on a scale of one to ten, i'd rate you a seven.

because when you turn that upside down you get an L. L for loser.

[SlowwHand]

That was a definite shot.

[b etor]

oh, that wasn't directed at anyone btw.

[Omni Rex Draconis]

As someone who has to evaluate the computer savvy of dozens of strangers every workday, I thought I would post my scale and how I determine ranking.

If you are lazy, you can try reading my sample questions until you get one you cannot answer. That is your skill level.

RANK MY COMPUTER SAVVY!

1. How do I turn on my computer?

Total noob. You know, the 85 year old that got a brand new computer as a present.


2. What does double-click mean?

Usually this level is the maximum achieved by those forced to use a computer occasionally at work, or at home for email and web surfing only. They can make a specific subset of things happen on the computer, but are completely without understanding of why they do any particular action or what things are properly called.


3. How do I see what is on my CD?

Starting to recognize what a computer should be capable of, but sorely lacking experience. Or, someone who has used computers for a long time but doesn't like them.


4. What does this error message mean?

The average computer user. Can do all the things they want to on the computer, and most of the things that they should be doing. But when the little box only has gibberish like 0x800CCC0F, they are done.


5. What kind of memory is in my computer?

Knowing that the kind of memory in your computer is of critical importance when upgrading is the mark that puts you above the level 4's. That you have no clue how to find out that information or what it means, denies you access to level 6.


6. The internet is down and the ISP says everything is ok on their end - its the computer. What do I do?

A competent technical support agent. Has the ability to define most computer problems experienced by the average PC user, design tests to establish the specific cause, and then apply a solution.


7. Is my kernel optimized?

The super geek, or the average IT professional. The geek has amazing knowledge but it is limited to the topics that are personally interesting and projects affordable on a hobby budget. The professionals are well trained in whatever field they work at (programming, hardware engineering, etc.).


8. Can I stop the DoS attack on my network?

The heads of IT of most companies should be at this level. They are competent in most areas, if not all. Familiar enough at least to decide which technologies will receive the company's hard-earned cash.


9. Which hardware, software, networking, and policy decisions are optimal for the 5000+ users at an international company dealing with online global shipping?

The level where skill becomes art. A deep understanding of all aspects of computers that comes only with experience.


10. What should I make today?

The gods and wizards of computer technology. If you haven't created a commercially viable OS or protocol, or personally established a fundamental computing paradigm, then you are not a perfect ten.

[Asher]

10 is just absurd.

9 is just stupid. So is 8. The list seems heavily slanted towards IT-monkey work, which is the fluffiest part of computing.

That is the main failing of your list. As far as I'm concerned, if you're in corporate/network infrastructure when only looking at corporate/network infrastructure you'll never be able to tell if somebody is higher than a, say, 8. It's just not that hard. Yes, designing network topologies and determining technology stacks isn't easy but it ain't rocket science either.

Where's the real challenging stuff? The algorithmic designs that were not before possible? Where's pushing the boundaries in AI and graphics and compression? Where's writing a query to search a 5TB DB in under a second? And screw this stuff about "is my kernel optimized" -- what kind of question is that? The answer is always "Yes", the question is the extent. Real optimization, aside from flagging it on the compiler itself, requires very, very deep understanding of computers that cannot be understated. The developers who can write incredibly lean, optimized code should be at the pinnacle of this list.

The deep understanding of theoretical computer science and how it applies to real, practical computer science alone is a pure differentiator between anything above 8 on the scale. All of the stuff you listed -- save for the stupid #10 -- is just IT stuff that I would rate below 8. The real test of computer savvyness isn't network design -- that's one small, and honestly rather shallow aspect of computer science. Your list emphasizes that heavily. To me, that indicates you are at best an 8 or 9 on the list.

The basic hierarchy is as follows:
Hardware
Developers
Infrastructure/IT
Users

Your list seems to stop at the infrastructure level, rather than going all the way up.

[ColdWizard]

I gave myself a 6 for being able to keep myself out of trouble and being able to do minor hardware upgrades without breaking anything.

[Omni Rex Draconis]

Asher is accusing me of having a biased view on computers?

I believe I clearly declared this as being MY scale...

Originally posted by Omni Rex Draconis
As someone who has to evaluate the computer savvy of dozens of strangers every workday, I thought I would post my scale and how I determine ranking.

Yes, yes I did.

Upon checking for where I fit in, I see that I messed up my sample questions. I cannot answer number 7 but my personal level is described as a 6. Likewise someone who is like what I described in number 7 should be able answer question 7.

As anything beyond a six is admittedly beyond me, I deliberately chose networking professionals to display a basic categorization - average, exceptional, world's top, and then the ones who go down in history.

And missing things? Well, duh; this thing reads like a Cosmo poll.