photo: whiteafrican/ BY-NC-SA

Seems like everyday we are texting, logging in, emailing, calling or signing off something. Technology is a part of daily lives. Even though my generation grew up with computers, it seems like we are more interested in downloading the newest upgrade instead of learning how to design it.

According to UCLA study, the number of undergraduates choosing a computer science major was down 70 percent from 2000 - 2007. As we depend more on technology and science our interest in the field should grow as well. Surprisingly, that isn’t the case. What’s more alarming is the huge gender gap in this field. The Association for Computing Machinery found that 74 percent of boys - regardless of race or ethnicity - reported that a college major in computer science was a "very good" or "good" choice for them, but only 32 percent of girls rated it as "good" or "very good."

It’s not that girls don’t know how to use computers. I grew up with computers. I am a girl who learned how to type in third grade, and by the time I was 10 and I knew basic HTML code. My father worked for Intel for several years and my mother was always computer savvy. But I must admit I never even considered entering the computer science field. It didn’t seem like fun or exciting.

A major reason for this drastic gap is the image of computer science. This field is often associated with a nerdy man, often isolated from society, who sits alone at his computer all day, hacking or programming.

Honestly, I don’t know what a computer scientist does. Schools and the media don’t really explain it either. I rarely see any women computer scientist on TV, so I’m not shocked that girls aren’t interested.

It’s troubling when this is such a growing field with unlimited possibilities. If we show more appealing views of women computer scientist in media and target young girls to get interested in how their computers and cell phones work there’s still hope that this can change.