Offshoring is the result of the commoditization of computing power and programming expertise. The computing hardware we have today is tens of thousands of times more powerful than that which was available 30 years ago; the availability and cost of that hardware is more favorable by a similar factor. Most (but by no means all) of that power is going into increased "user friendlyness" (FreeRepublic wouldn't be possible without the Graphical User Interface, which makes profligate use of CPU power). The vast increase in availability of computing power has made it possible for people to make a living by working on computers
without really programming the hardware. The vast majority of "IT" professionals are not computer programmers at all; they are sort of "meta programmers;" programmers of programs, as it were. A much simpler job.
At the same time, the need for large numbers of these people has vastly increased. The computer and communications power that gave these people their job opportunities is at the same time threatening them, because their skills are so fungible.
There are at least two solutions: one is for them to offer their skills to the marketplace at a wage level that is more commensurate with its true economic worth, which is not what it used to be. Let's face it, very few people who go around calling themselves "computer scientists" are any such thing.
The other possibility is for some of those individuals, the reall smart ones, to actually figure out how to do something with all that computer power they are in touch with every day, something more interesting than setting up a LINUX e-mail system or whatever.
There has never been a better time, in all of human history, to be a creative person. If DaVinci or Gallileo were alive today, they'd look at the tools we have at our fingertips and say "Why aren't you all rich?"
(steely)
There has never been a better time, in all of human history, to be a creative person. If DaVinci or Gallileo were alive today, they'd look at the tools we have at our fingertips and say "Why aren't you all rich?" Not sure DaVinci and Gallileo were so concerned about monetary wealth, but your point about the possibilities is very true. Instead of coming out with version 27.4 of a word processor that has worked fine since version 3, why not try to do something new? I think it's just a matter of time before people stop seeing IT work as arcane science, and start taking advantage of the amazing tools already in their hands that they already understand.
The real value will come from individuals who can make heads or tails out of the myriad of options that are available, in order to provide the best solutions for clients. This requires a very broad knowledge of technology, and it takes a lot of time researching to get past the marketing propaganda, and the bigotry. Most individuals in IT are specialists; what we need are more good generalists that can truly and un-biasedly design the right solutions instead of merely employing "resume-driven" design.
...At the same time, the need for large numbers of these people has vastly increased...
Then why have they all been fired?