Computer Literacy is a term that dates back to the early 80's if not before. User end computers at the time were far more simple both for personal and business/academy. At this era computer literacy was far more binary because there was far less variety in skills required.
To be computer literate in the early 80's you needed to know how things are plugged in (power keyboard etc), know how to start the computer or terminal and get to the application they want to use (which at the time involved knowledge of DOS/BASIC or VMS/FORTRAN) and know what error messages mean and who to ask for help.
Today the concept of computer literate is a bit outdated. Modern computers and software is meant to be as transparent as possible. In many cases people use computers without realizing it. This creates a movement to make computer literacy obsolete.
As much as we like MS bashing, they have been a leader in making PCs a transparent device. MS has almost reached the point that Macs were years ago when PC users used to make fun of Mac users (who had a reputation of being computer illiterate artists with expensive computers).
A more modern concept is skill set. Everyone who deals with computers has skills ranging from using a mouse to reverse compiling RISC binaries. People should seek to expand their skill set rather than becoming "computer literate". Most jobs will ask that the applicants have the listed skills. Schools should be teaching sets of skills that match a profession.
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Computer Literacy is a term that dates back to the early 80's if not before.
User end computers at the time were far more simple both for personal and business/academy. At this era computer literacy was far more binary because there was far less variety in skills required.
To be computer literate in the early 80's you needed to know how things are plugged in (power keyboard etc), know how to start the computer or terminal and get to the application they want to use (which at the time involved knowledge of DOS/BASIC or VMS/FORTRAN) and know what error messages mean and who to ask for help.
Today the concept of computer literate is a bit outdated. Modern computers and software is meant to be as transparent as possible. In many cases people use computers without realizing it. This creates a movement to make computer literacy obsolete.
As much as we like MS bashing, they have been a leader in making PCs a transparent device. MS has almost reached the point that Macs were years ago when PC users used to make fun of Mac users (who had a reputation of being computer illiterate artists with expensive computers).
A more modern concept is skill set. Everyone who deals with computers has skills ranging from using a mouse to reverse compiling RISC binaries. People should seek to expand their skill set rather than becoming "computer literate". Most jobs will ask that the applicants have the listed skills. Schools should be teaching sets of skills that match a profession.
-King of sed