Computer Literacy: Teach Yourself

 

Feel a pressing need to become computer literate, whatever that might

be? You're not alone. Many see the computer as a permanent addition

to our world, increasingly affecting what is done, when, how, and by

whom. Evidence supporting this view abounds: Computer-related

articles are now common in professional publications and in the

popular press; businesses, institutions, and individuals report growing

use of computers; schools are introducing computer literacy programs

for teachers and students.

Yet, becoming computer literate is, for most adults, strictly a

do-it-yourself process. The first steps are by far the most difficult, but

only because the concepts and vocabulary of the computer world were

not part of the norm during the school days of most adults. The

following is intended to help you start your own process for becoming

computer literate and to give you some suggestions for continuing it.

Although much is omitted, and significant elements only lightly

touched upon, I hope you find this a useful orientation. Let's begin

with a definition of computer literacy.

What is Computer Literacy?

Computer literacy is variously defined. To some, it means learning

to write programs, the sets of instructions computers follow while

performing a task. To others, it merely means having a general

awareness about some aspects of computers, such as a few of their

uses. Still others see a definition of computer literacy falling some-

where between these two positions. Clearly, there is no consensus on

the subject. Until one emerges, I believe people using the term are

obliged to defme it because the defmition of computer literacy governs

what they say on the subject.

The underlying premise, therefore, of what follows is that a

computer literate person is one who at least:

1) can identify the major components of a computer system and

describe the function of each;

2) is somewhat aware of what computers can do and of issues

related to these capabilities;

3) is able to use a computer to meet personal needs.

Anyone meeting these three criteria, at even some minimal level,

will be able to make more informed decisions about computers and

computer-related matters. Note that being able to use a computer to

meet personal needs does not necessarily include being able to program.

More about that later.

Let's start your process of becoming computer literate. We'll

begin by dividing the world of the computer into four major components:

Computer hardware (the physical pieces of a computer system),

computer software (the instructions or programs needed to operate

computers), uses for computers, and significant issues related to

computers. Next, we 'II discuss each of these in turn.

Computer Hardware

A. Types of Computers

First, let's take a closer look at the computeritself. Currently, there

are three general classes of computers:

1) microcomputers

2) minicomputers

3) mainframe computers

Mainframe computers can generally process larger volumes of

information at greater speeds than can the smaller mini- and microcomputers.

In turn, a minicomputer can usually process more information

faster than a microcomputer. Because, however, of the rapidity

of technological improvement, microcomputers today are more powerful

than yesterday's mainframe computers, and are quite adequate

for many uses. Furthennore, increases in the power of microcomputers

have been accompanied by a decrease in their costs. As a result, more

and more people are finding the microcomputer a very useful personal

tool, available at an increasingly affordable price.

B. Parts of a Computer System

It's really more useful to talk about a computer system rather than

just a computer. A computer alone is a machine only an electrical

engineer can love. Although information is actually processed in a

computer, some means of getting information into and out of the

computer are necessary. This is done through devices, called peripherals,

connected to the computer. A computer system, therefore,

consists of input and output devices as well as the computer itself. In

addition, some would include computer programs as part of the

system. We'll discuss programs in the section on software.

Input devices, then, are a means of getting infonnation into

computers. For example, a keyboard similar to the familiar typewriter

keyboard is one kind of input device. Another is a disk drive, a unit

capable of reading information stored on a magnetic surface. Tape

player/recorders are also used. There are other input devices, but these

three are the most common.

Output devices are used to retrieve infonnation from computers.

Printers and video display units are among the most common output

devices. CRTs (cathode ray tubes), often called monitors, are used

with computers of all sizes as display devices. They look like TV s, but

are incapable of receiving off-air broadcast signals. Home TV sets can

serve as display devices for microcomputers, but many prefer monitors

because of their sharper screen image.

1lle disk drives and tape recorders mentioned under input devices

are also used as output devices. They can record information onto a

magnetic surface as well as read information from one, just as cassette

player-recorders can be used either to play music or to record it.

The computer itself contains places to store infonnation and

components to manipulate or process it. We need not be concerned

with how infonnation is processed here. The storage locations, or

memory, require a closer look. You will frequently hear the tenns

ROM and RAM, and its is handy to know the difference.

To Improve the Academy

ROM stands for read only memory. It is the computer's pennanent

memory, containing information that cannot be altered by users. The

other computer memory is called RAM, or random access memory.

Information is loaded into random access memory locations when the

computer is in use. This is done by typing information through the

keyboard or loading the information through another input device.

Anything in RAM is lost when the computer is turned off or often

when different information is loaded into the computer.

Because most people don't want to retype information each time

they need the computer to process it, the information for use in RAM

locations is frequently stored outside the computer on some sort of

material with a magnetic surface. The shape of this material can be

stringy like that of familiar audio tape or round like a disk. The disks

themselves can be hard (rigid) or floppy (flexible). Hard disks are

mostly used on mainframe and minicomputer systems, floppy disks

on microcomputers. These disks, used in conjunction with disk drives,

are a popular way of handling computer input and output.

The size of a computer's memory is measured in units called bytes.

The size of a computer's memory is expressed in terms of the number

of thousands of bytes, or K (kilobytes), it can hurdle. A 48K microcomputer

gives you enough computing power for many kinds of

applications. As the price of memory keeps dropping, however, 64K

and even 128K microcomputers are becoming more common.

There is little need to know much more about computer systems

in order to use one. Finding out how to put a computer system to work

comes next. This is done through software, which is usually stored on

disk or tape

“ Ayudo” grupo informal de voluntarios