I'd argue that they do, and that will become more and more true. Things as simple as an Excel file, or writing simple email filtering rules may expose you to _some_ programming.
As a side note - I believe this is going to be more and more true, especially among knowledge workers - I'm somewhat bullish on UiPath's low-code app platform [+]. As programmers we understand well the benefits (and pitfalls) of automating our menial tasks, if you can lower the bar so that most people (like assistant managers, receptionists, call center operators etc) can do that - you suddenly start exposing much wider audiences to programming. It's a tough problem but I believe RPA might just be the right foundation to enable that sort of thing.
[+] Disclaimer: I work for them so maybe that's natural :)
My experience with the exposure to excel is that it isn’t used in a way that exposes all users to programming experiences of any sort.
Even presently I’m staring down the barrel of a project that involves what is looking closer and closer to NLP to simply parse cell values to map them to positions in a layout and character styles in a given InDesign template.
The people responsible for a inputting the original data do it in what is basically paper napkin thoughts that have to be interpreted accurately for want of running aground advertising regulations (should a value end up incorrect in the entire process)
So I’m only speaking anecdotally, but applications as seriously powerful and user-friendly as excel do as much to obscure as they do to expose people to programming/computer science. I mean, excel does work so well for so many—even unintended—applications that the users expect unlimited magic in all things computer and fail to understand why new limitations may be imposed when they want their workflow simplified and it can’t “just work” no matter what.
(Forgive any latent frustration making its way into that comment, the project I’m referring to has felt nothing short of Sisyphean while a new application in the space of it would be quite simple to develop)
I don't think people will get more exposed to programming as we go on, currently we are moving away from personal computers to dedicated app machines like smartphones where you don't see files and such.
As a side note - I believe this is going to be more and more true, especially among knowledge workers - I'm somewhat bullish on UiPath's low-code app platform [+]. As programmers we understand well the benefits (and pitfalls) of automating our menial tasks, if you can lower the bar so that most people (like assistant managers, receptionists, call center operators etc) can do that - you suddenly start exposing much wider audiences to programming. It's a tough problem but I believe RPA might just be the right foundation to enable that sort of thing.
[+] Disclaimer: I work for them so maybe that's natural :)