My view; go for a degree in Engineering or Physics. In some fields it's
adequate to simply know the programming language. As a junior programmer in
a C environment, for instance, you are given a function specification that a
more senior programmer has drawn up and you simply have to write that
function. In Labview, however, things are rather more "real life". You are
required to solve a real life problem- generally involving test, measurement
and control. Here it is essential to understand not only how to make Labview
do what you want, but to understand precisely what it is that you want to
do. You need to understand measurement hardware, and you need the skill of
designing an experiment- since that's what the "test" bit is all about.
These do not come from computer programming courses.
There is, from my point of view, a rather crap book called "Labview for
Automotive, Telecommunications, Semiconductor, Biomedical, and Other
Applications". The reviews on Amazon suggest I'm not the only one who thinks
it's crap, but it does contain many brief descriptions of different projects
that people have been required to do with Labview- the initial brief of what
they were asked to do, and a simple explanation of how they do it. This will
give a good indication of what you need to be able to do in this field. The
reviews indicate that similar information is available on the NI website but
I don't have time to go searching myself.
Post GCSE, the "standard" path would be A-levels in Maths and Physics plus
whatever else is most closely relevant out of the available subjects- if you
choose a computer A-level make sure it's not simply about how to wordprocess
and use a spreadsheet- useful skills but ones you should already have or
should be able to pick up. After that, 4 year MPhys or MEng degree- a
Bachelor's in these subjects will by that time only be useful for people
wanting a generic degree, if they're not like that already.
One thing to consider- most programmers in many fields- let alone Labview-
didn't come in from a CompSci degree.
Should be plenty of fuel in there for everyone's flames. 🙂
Sam Forster wrote in message
news:506500000008000000371F0000-986697009000@quiq.com...
> I am a student, doing my GCSE exams, and I wish to persue a career as
> a programmer, especially working on Virtual Systems and Virtual
> Interfaces for electronic equipment. I was wondering if anyone out
> there would like to give me some tips on the best way to get into this
> industery, are A-levels the best post 16 route, or is a BTEC course
> better? ANY help would be most appreciated...
>
> Thanks
