I recall at the age of 10, I was asked my dad to install LOGO because I was facinated about the idea of instructing a computer to do something. I didn't really use it that much and I had no concept of computer programming was. By the age of 11, I discovered something at my local library, reading a book called "The Beginner's Computer Handbook - Understanding & Programming The Micro". My eyes lit up because of the fact that anyone can create a space shooter game. I was noob back then. I didn't know what a compiler/interpreter was so I thought by typing BASIC source code into notepad, rename the txt file as exe, hoping it would run. Until I found out about Qbasic(My first programming tool) was on every copy of Win95 CD.
During my middle school years, I got more interested in computers, reading fat books about programming during english class. I made a couple of prank virus programs that I installed on other people's computers. I made a friend who was also like me but he wasn't much of a programmer. I got into computer hacking afterwards when he showed me that it was possible to disable desktop restrictions on the Library's computers, free to download at T1 speeds. So I wrote a program in Qbasic to automate the exploit. I eventually de-friended him as he wasn't a good influence.
There were two other people of influence, both had their own personal websites. That got me started on webdesign, and Java applets programming.(My first java app was an online chat server).
Later on I got into game programming starting with Darkbasic, BlitzBasic and now Unity.
Now at 25, I work as a Linux Sys Admin and SaaS Backend integration. My other hobby is building electronics using PIC chips.
Kids today can have a RaspberryPi to tinker with, I happy that schools are providing them the opportunity to get interested in programming, because in my time, I didn't have that and computer classes only thought how to use Excel and typing skills.
Recently, I had an argument with my father about uploading photos efficiently: He got an iPhone4s and took pictures with it. Now my father uses Windows and does not know much about transferring pictures the right way, instead he does what he knows–email the picture to yourself. My mother who uses a mac, but still computer illiterate, wanted to get pictures off his iPhone so she can post it to her Facebook album. So he goes to his iPhone, selects the picture and emails it to her gmail account, and does this same process per picture. After that mom, logs in to her email, clicks on the new message, clicks on view, then drags the picture from the browser to the desktop. She does this same process to the rest of the messages.
Now I was there, watching in agony (–_–") (I was called up earlier to find out how to transfer photos from her cellphone using bluetooth to the Mac. But unfortunately the cellphone did not allow file transfer using internal memory unless using a microSD card.)
So back to mom, she noticed that the pics were too small to edit (about 30kb 200x200px). So my dad was about to do the same process again on his iPhone. Me=Facepalm
To my reaction I said "You are using iCloud are you? Then why don't you just use Photostream? Whatever pictures you taken automatically syncs with the computer, no fussing with files/transfers, just select the picture in iPhoto, edit exposure, then upload to Facebook." I'm not sure if my father was listening, as he was still selecting and emailing the photos.
I proceeded with setting up with iCloud syncing on the Mac to activate Photostream, asked for the password, (he didn't say anything, but mom knew what it was). I then launched iPhoto, clicked on Photostream and pictures started to come in. "See, isn't that easy. Now mom, pick what picture you want. You can drag the picture out to the desktop like you always do, or just use the upload to Facebook button in iPhoto.
Then the internet just halted for a bit, and the 19 of 72 some photos were only downloaded. My dad said: "I don't like this, you are overcomplicating this simple task." I was like "WHAT! How on earth am I complicating this, I am making this simple for you, its less repetitive and more time efficient than what you are both doing!"
Then I go on about the benefits of Photostream to talking about analogies regarding data capture/logging pool, Film/Photographer's DSLR workflow, to data pool auditing workflow.
He said: "What you find simple, is complicated for us. We can work in a linear fashion however long it can take, and you can work autonomously. Anyway, this is only a one time thing, I don't need to use Photostream. If I need to use this everyday, maybe I might but today its not necessary."
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So lesson learned. You can't just force anyone using your methods. It may or may not work for them even if it sounds stupid to you.