Computer Literacy

Computer are everywhere. There is one in every digital watch and every pocket calculator. New cars, television sets, microwave ovens, and typewriters often have computers. Without computers, there would be no video games and no electronic toys. At the office, computers help people type, file information, and send messages back and forth. In the factory, computers guide robot arms that build cars.

Computers are making revolutionary changes in the way we life, play and work. Are these good changes? some people worry that we may become slaves to this new machine, totally dependent on it and no longer in control of our lives. Others see a brighter future in which people are masters and machines are helpers. Which future will actually happen?

The answer to that question depends on what you decide to do about the computer. You can decide that computers are too difficult and leave the whole subjects in the hands of the “experts”. Or you can decide to learn about computers and take control of them yourself. In other words, you can become computer literate.

It took you may years to master the skills of reading and writing, but these skills give you freedom. You do not have to depend on others to read street sign for you, or to tell you the latest news, or to write letters to friends or representatives in congress. You do not have to trust experts, you are literate. In the same way, your “math literacy” gives you freedom. You do not have to trust a math expert to tell you wheter three oranges for 80 cents is better buy than one orange for 25 cents. You are in control.

Computer literacy is like these other skills: it takes time and practice to learn, but it puts you in control of the computer expert. When you become computer literate, you will know two important things: (1) What things a computer can do and (2) how to do the things you want it to do.

VOCABULARY:
1. FILE
2. EXPERTS
3. PRACTICE
4. TYPE
5. SLAVES
6. CONTROL
7. MASTER
8. MACHINE
9. LITERATE
10. SKILL

TRANSLATE
1. A computer should take control of by human
2. Technology is changing over time in line with human needs
3. The train in Japan is almost never late. It has a tight and computer schedule
4. The difficulty of learning computer is how to tell the computer to do things we like it to do
5. The people in our computer industry are very professional

Answer the following questions based on the text above!
1. What happens if there are no computers?
2. What can a computer do at the office?
3. What does “this new machine” refer to?
4. In what way can literacy give you freedom? give examples.
5. What can you do if you are computer literate?