Electronic Design Software

I'm 14 and want to start learning about electronics, internet, software, animation, computers...?

I want to know everything. From the fundamentals of electricity, to household electronic appliances, to computer structure, to software, to learning graphic design, animation, web designing, how the internet works..... All of it. What I know now: Nothing. Of course, I don't need to know it all in detail. That would require a lifetime of dedicated studying and whatnot, which I'm not looking for. I want a general background (and especially know-how) on all the above listed stuff. I want to be able to know what I'm doing. Where do you suggest I should start? I can't take any classes in school. If you know about this stuff, where did you start. I have my own laptop (old XP 2004) and enough money to buy just about any program or book (but not another computer). I understand of course that this will take time, and I may not be able to learn everything I want to, but I'm still looking for help and suggestions. Please tell me what you can! 10 points Thanks!!!!

Public Comments

1. I would suggest that you start with some basic books or the internet. Books can be had at the library for free, and the internet is free too. Electricity should begin with basic books on AC and DC current. Computers should start with a the basic dummies books. Not to say that you are a dummy, but rather that they seem to have the best teaching for all of the basics to get you started. These books can get you started with everything. After that, you can start researching the internet to find more books that teach you more than just the basics.
2. That's a pretty broad spectrum. I use Zbrush for graphic design, although it is $495 if you actually buy it and not crack it and get it for free like me. It looks like you want to design software, so I would say get a Mac mini since you are probably on a budget and after a while start developing iPhone games.
3. Well thats a tough one, I had it a lot easier because back in the day there WERE no books, and we all learned it on the fly: if you were interested in computers, you had a job. Not so today. You sound smart, so I am going to assume you are. Purchase Ubuntu Unleashed, and load it onto your system. Learn the very basics of Unis programming, the shell commands and a little system admin. Download PERL from its website, and install it. Learn Perl. Get some basic books on digital projects from radio shack. Wire up a 555 timer, or a UART. Interface your project, whatever it is doesnt matter, to your laptop through the RS232 port - the small dshell connector. Using Perl, or even C, read data off the board. Write data to the board. Thats an excellent start in a non-academic program. Check back in six months, I'll give ya more . . .
4. Make sure you study physics, maths, and computers in high school, then go to university and study an engineering or computer science degree. EDIT: Whatever you do, do NOT buy Ubuntu Unleashed like marty p suggested. Just go to www.ubuntu.com and get ubuntu for free.
5. You can take computer classes at a community college. I started simply by messing around on my home computer. Things like MS Word, Control Panel, ect. are a great way to start. To get into electricity, you need to learn about current flow (AC or DC)*not the band*, basic components ie resistors, capacitors, transistors. For that i recommend going to radio shack and getting an Electronic learning lab. They come with 2 books with different labs to do.
6. For how a computer works or computer structure, you can start with the book for dummy, you can easily get those books from libraries. For web design, animation and graphic design, I think you can start with HTML and javascript. They are easy. There are tons free tutorial and tips online. You can start from www. W3schools.com. After you understand how HTML and javascript works in a web browser. You can start to look into Adobe Flash script which you can make very fancy animations. Over all, don’t forget GOOGLE.
7. I started when i was 9 on computers and lean red most of what i know when i turned 14. I was able to get a class period with the network administrator at my school, which due to him not being a teacher we were given another class but reported to him, and then we learned all of the traits like that. You should talk with your guidance councilor who would recommend it if you were interested but the person that would have to give you permission is the senior director of the school because he/ she is in charge of facilities maintenance, network( computers), and transportation. At least at my school. i am now 16 and i am a payed network administrator... its amazing what kids can do these days hu? an ways the books to start u off with the basics are a++ and C++ computer certification books this will start you off naming each part of a computer and how it all pieces together and what it does and then it starts to get into the bios and the basic makeup of computers the computer industry is ever growing and needs young people to be able to keep up with the changes. With knowledge like i learned it can help with everything you do. I also make a few extra dollars fixing peoples computers as in co workers and things like that. Its a nice little pay check when it is all said and done also =) hope this helps just make sure you dint get in over your head... take it slow and computers are complicated machines, see if you can get old computers for free and piece them together once u learn what each part is and what they do. start from the ground up, you will get there sooner or later! Good Luck!!!!
8. What you need to do is pick a subject that interest you the most, learning software programing graphic design, animation, web designing,is a ever changing subject, Take computers for instance what's in the stores today is out of date tomorrow Things that was developed last year is not the same development this year, it will not be the same next year, The fact is you will never keep up with IT technology so pick a subject and stay with that one subject, In IT what you learn today will be no good to you next year Web design, animation graphic.even the internet is changing on a monthly basis It has change from last year,and will change next year, Most house hold electronic today can't be repaired like they could in days gone by,
9. If you want to learn about web designing in a strategic way read the resources and articles form here. I lived it i hope it helps you too http://www.dot-sign.com/resources_directives.html