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From: eugene@pioneer.arpa (Eugene Miya N.)
Newsgroups: sci.philosophy.tech
Subject: Re: Topics to discuss
Message-ID: <1602@ames.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 20-May-87 21:19:30 EDT
Article-I.D.: ames.1602
Posted: Wed May 20 21:19:30 1987
Date-Received: Sat, 23-May-87 08:59:47 EDT
References: <7585@orchid.UUCP> <3439@sunybcs.UUCP>
Sender: usenet@ames.UUCP
Reply-To: eugene@pioneer.UUCP (Eugene Miya N.)
Distribution: sci
Organization: NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif.
Lines: 20
Keywords: literary/illeiteracy

Sure I have a topic from the old comp-soc group which we were
discussing.  Computer literacy.  Not to dredge up old muck.

The weekend before doing on vacation.  I stopped by a fruit
stand/hamburger joint on the way to Tahoe.  I was awaiting for my milk
shake when some older people came into the joint.  Let me make a long
story short.  It was quite clear that these people were functionally
illiterate and had to ask to have the menu read for them.  These are
older people, not poorly dressed (as an indicator of socio-economic
class or anything like that).  I have had this situation happen before.
These people do function and survive in our society.

What I want to ask is not what computer literacy is, but what computer
illiteracy is?  Can people survive in our society as computer
illiterate?  How?  I don't mean Luddites actively trying to destroy a
system.  Why is it WE expect so much out of people (they change rather
than we make systems to fit into existing culture).

--eugene miya
  In the interest of discussion.