With the first automobiles, each driver also needed to be a competent mechanic as cars frequently failed. Even when running, the driver regularly needed to adjust ignition timing, fuel/air mixtures, and other mechanical settings. By the '50s, these functions were all automated to the point that someone can now drive an automobile with little understanding of the underlying mechanical and combustion technologies.

Computers are undergoing a similar transformation. The early units required a good appreciation of computer logic and the ability to program in one of the standard languages. Graphical User Interfaces and steadily improving reliability are reducing the need for advanced computer skills.

More importantly, the purpose for using the computer has changed dramatically. The computer is not an end in itself, but merely the tool to compose documents, communicate with friends, or locate information via the web. While some students will opt to study computing as a discipline, most will value it solely for its ability to collect, manipulate, and share information.