Why javascript should lead developer volunteering

[pjbr]

I want to speak about how, on top of creating new libraries or tools, you can have a direct and immense impact by volunteering at the edge of the web and evangelizing the JavaScript track into programming.

The internet's influence on the world is growing in both depth and scale, users in remote places are becoming increasingly introduced to and dependent on both web and browser centered technologies. JavaScript is in a perfect position to be people's first foray into programming. With technologies like Johnny-five, Espruino and most of all Node.js, the influence and ability of JavaScript is expanding exponentially. The learning curve from hacking around in a chrome console to being able to code meaningful web applications, interactive hardware and more advanced computing is becoming less steep and long-held barriers to entry are dropping. Unique to JavaScript is the ability to have your social impact scale at the pace of the web, and to be the community welcoming new developers in emerging markets to new, complex, and powerful interactions with computers.