President Barack Obama today encouraged Americans from all backgrounds to get involved in mastering technology of code and computer science, which he said is having tremendous influence on one's life.
"Learning these skills is not just important for your future, it is important for our country's future. If we want Americans to stay on this cutting edge, we need young Americans like you, master the tools and technology that would change the way do just about everything," Obama said in a video message to young Americans.
Obama released the video in support of Computer Science Education Week, an annual grassroots campaign dedicated to highlighting the importance of computer science education for K-12 students.
The effort, supported by a broad coalition of professional associations, corporations, governmental entities, and NGOs, promotes the importance of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education, and is expected to engage millions of students in hands-on computer programming and coding activities.
Obama was joined by several other leaders, including the House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, calling on students in the US to learn to code, timed in conjunction with the "Hour Of Code", a worldwide education event in celebration of Computer Science Education Week, produced by non-profit Code.Org.
This week, 5 million students -- in 33,000 classrooms, across 167 countries, and in every Apple Retail Store and Microsoft Retail Store in the US -- will be first to experience the Hour of Code, to learn one hour of computer science, a media note said.
The campaign will be featured on Google, Yahoo, YouTube, Apple, MSN, Bing and Disney home pages.
In an unprecedented show of unity, over 100 partners have come together with celebrities, athletes, and politicians to promote the Hour of Code.
"Although only 10 per cent of schools teach computer science classes, even one hour of exposure can be enough to change a student's life, as it did mine," said Hadi Partovi, founder of Code.Org, the organiser of this campaign.
"In the 21st Century, this isn't just a course you study to get a job in software - it's important to learn even if you want to be a nurse, a journalist, an accountant, a lawyer or even a president," he said.
Code.Org has also announced the support of top celebrities for the Hour of Code, including: stars such as Shakira, Ashton Kutcher and Angela Bassett, athletes Chris Bosh, Warren Sapp, and Dwight Howard, who are featured in Code.Org's kick-off video alongside tech luminaries Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, and Susan Wojcicki, with the message that anybody and everybody can learn to code.
