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From: edwards@unix.macc.wisc.edu (Mark Edwards)
Newsgroups: mod.comp-soc
Subject: Re: Literacy versus Computer Literacy
Message-ID: <1434@hplabsc.HP.COM>
Date: Mon, 16-Mar-87 14:48:53 EST
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Posted: Mon Mar 16 14:48:53 1987
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   I think you are missing the point. While the dictionary does give the 
definition you base your arguments on, I do not think the word literacy as 
used in the sense argued is necessarily correct.

   When one refers to literacy and computer literacy, I think that they are 
refering to fundamental skills necessary for a productive life in the society. 
Presumably if one is not literate, meaning that one cannot read or write, he 
could not be a mailman or journalist. On the same lines for being computer 
literate, if one had access to a computer, but did not use it in the following 
case. One is given a long list of numbers to add, and the person did it by 
hand. Clearly there may be reasons why. But say the person had time 
constraints in which to accomplish this task, and he was terribly poor at 
adding numbers and getting a realistic number. I would say that this person 
is computer illiterate.

   I do not think being computer literate means to be able to program a 
computer, only to have sufficent knowledge inorder to use it. The same applies 
for being literate. He does not have to be well read, or need to be able to 
write persuasively, only to be able to read and write (perhaps only at the 
6 grade level).

   There are probably also different levels of literacy and computer literacy. 
They probably depend upon knowledge levels. A Ph.D in CS, should be more 
*literate* in CS then the BS or the MS. The MS in CS should be more literate 
then the BS ( this is not always the case however).

    In short literacy involves the pratical knowledge and use of some basic 
tools where needed. These are basic tools needed for survival in the modern 
world.  And therefore it seems obvious that computer literacy is quite possibly 
a superset of literacy.

mark