The things that blew me away before I was a programmer myself were graphics, games, encryption, and communications tools like IRC, IM, email, browsers, web servers, telnet, ssh, BBSes, and anything that helps people get information around.

I was drawn to programming as a way to facilitate communication rather than by simulations or game programming, so maybe that's a little skewed. I think the secret is, though, to show how easily you can do something relevant to their interests.