There are a lot of items or tools we use in our personal and work lives that come out of research done to improve communication. In some ways they are still connected to communication...we communicate a need to a machine or technical gadget and in turn the gadget completes a task for us!
Think about your personal life. What kind of gadgets do you or someone you know use in your daily lives that might have a computer chip inside? See how many examples you can come up with.
| Category | Examples |
|---|---|
| Visual Entertainment | |
| Audio Entertainment | |
| Photos | |
| Fitness and Health | |
| Automobiles Transportation | |
| Time | |
| Personal Grooming | |
| Communication Systems | |
| Security | |
| Kitchen |
This is a term that has become accepted in the workplace. What does it actually mean? That depends on whom you talk to. It probably means that your skills meet the needs of the job tasks you are asked to complete. A software designer needs very different skills than a cashier, yet both in their own way need to be computer literate.
Brainstorm as many jobs as you can. Divide them into two lists, one of jobs that use computer skills and one list of jobs that don't. Which list will be the longest? Are there many jobs that don't need computer skills of some kind?
There is also another term that is being used to describe skills: digital literacy. Is this different than computer literacy? Why or why not? Digital literacy includes computer literacy, but it also suggests the ability to use a broad range of electronic or digital tools used to access and communicate information.
Reflection
There are a couple of expressions that are becoming part of the language; digital divide and digital literacy. What do you think these terms mean? Do you think that being digital literate is important for you? Why or why not?
Do you think computer technology has made our lives easier or more difficult? Do we manage our time better? Do we have more time with family and friends? Can we do things faster and better?