G azərbaycan respublikasi təHSİl naziRLİYİ azərbaycan texniKİ universiteti M. M. QƏNDİLova e. Q. İsmayilova

JOKES, LAUGHS, SMILES
A teacher to a lazy student, “When I was your age I could answer any question in maths.”
“Yes, sir.” said the student, “you forgot, you had a teacher different from one I have.”


Unit IV

A little, we learn today,

more we know tomorrow.

COMPUTER LITERACY – A REQUIREMENT FOR LIVING

Computer literacy is a growing social concern. But, what is computer literacy? It has been defined variously as the ability to write programs to solve problems, a detailed understanding of the machinery of the computer, or knowledge of the many uses of the computer. However, we will define computer literacy as an understanding of what a computer can and cannot do and an ability to make the computer do what the user desires. This definition emphasizes using the computer as a mind tool to solve problems and accomplish tasks more efficiently.

The importance of computer literacy was once hotly debated, but now most people agree that all students should be exposed to computers at some time during their academic careers. Today, students must be prepared to function in a society in which computers and other smart machines are the rule rather than the exception. This view was well stated by Dr. John Kemeny, past president of Dartmouth College and co-inventor of BASIC (Beginner’s All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code), the most popular computer language for personal computers. According to Kemeny “In the next three decades, intelligence will be built into most manufactured objects and those who lack even minimal computer literacy will have difficulty functioning in everyday life”.

It is important that it is not necessary to learn programming to be a computer user. In the past this was not true; every user also had to be a proficient programmer. Now an enormous amount of software available in retail outlets performs many standard tasks. Computer packages that contain commercial software include explanations for its use. Computer packages make the computer available to everyone, not just to those people who have learned to program.

Note that our definition of computer literacy does not assume either an understanding of the electronics that make up the computer’s machinery or the ability to write programs. The definition does assume an understanding of a computer’s uses and limitations and knowledge of the software packages needed to accomplish a desired end. However, if the purpose for which you wish to use the computer requires a greater understanding of hardware or programming, then you must increase your knowledge to meet your needs.

Beyond computer literacy, two additional levels of knowledge have been defined. Computer competence means that and individual can use the computer to solve sophisticated problems in his or her field of expertise. The computer-competent person is comfortable using the computer and looks for better ways to use it for problem solving. Another term often used to describe the person who reaches this level of computer use is end user. End users are very involved in using existing software to its fullest extent to do their jobs more effectively. However, end users usually are not information-systems professionals or computer scientists, and they are usually not interested in developing applications for others to use. These tasks are normally handled by individuals who achieved computer mastery. This term refers to information-systems professionals computer scientists whose job center on computing and who have acquired the knowledge necessary for success in this field.