[Fresh Wind]

Building a computer today is basically just the process of gathering a group of building blocks and connecting the cables. It involves very little understanding of what is actually happening inside.

[KC_for_Freedom]

I would add — learn to program a computer in one of the many possible languages.

The message to a person should include something like an understanding of how a computer accepts and manipulates data and how computers are used to support positions.

[semaj]

"Building a computer today is basically just the process of gathering a group of building blocks and connecting the cables. It involves very little understanding of what is actually happening inside."

I don't consider that building a computer. Ensuring that that the CPU, motherboard, and other components are compatible, not just with each other, but with the OS, is not as easy as it might sound.

[sharpee]

It is a great time to build computers. A Raspberry Pi allows you to do programming and also connect up to the Internet of things through the standard IO pins. Cost around $40. The power supply and other things can double the price. But kids and adults can put together systems that are amazing. You can start with Node-Red for initial projects and then move to many programming languages.