Lecture 1
Chapter 1: Why Computers Matter to You: Becoming Computer Fluent
After reading this chapter, you should be able to answer the following questions:
- What does it mean to be “computer literate”? (p. 3)
- How does being computer literate make you a savvy computer user and consumer? (pp. 4–5)
- How can becoming computer literate help you in a career? (pp. 5–21)
- How can becoming computer literate help you understand and take advantage of future technologies? (pp. 21–23)
- What kinds of challenges do computers bring to a digital society, and how does becoming computer literate help you deal with these challenges? (pp. 23–24)
Discussion Questions
Chapter 1
- This chapter lists a many ways in which knowing about computers (or becoming computer literate) will help you. How much do you know about computers? What else would you like to know? How do you think learning more about computers will help you in the future?
- This chapter briefly discusses data mining, a technique companies use to study sales data and gather information from it. Have you heard of data mining before? How might companies like Wal-Mart or Target use data mining to better run their business? Can you think of any privacy risks data mining might pose?
- Affective computing is the science that attempts to produce machines that understand and can respond to human emotions and social mores. Do you think humans will ever create a machine that cannot be distinguished from a human being? In your opinion, what are the ethical and moral implications associated with that development?
- How might access to (or denial of) electronic information improve the education of a country's citizens? Could that affect who the world's next technology power will be? Could it eliminate third world status?