This argumentative essay contends that computer literacy has become an indispensable skill for full participation in contemporary society. Drawing on the rapid proliferation of computers across banking, employment, healthcare, and daily commerce, the paper argues that the advantages computers bring far outweigh concerns about social harms such as cybercrime and diminished personal relationships. By comparing the computer revolution to the societal transformation brought about by the automobile, the essay makes the case that individuals who fail to develop at least basic computer literacy risk being left behind in an increasingly technology-dependent world.
The wealth of knowledge available to the world increases exponentially every day (Zadeh, 2004). Part of this knowledge explosion is due to the increased dependence of business, education, and the professions on the use of computers. Since the introduction of the personal computer in the mid-1980s, computers have gradually, and then fully, begun to dominate nearly every aspect of daily life, and there is no indication that this trend will slow at any point in the near future (Ifrah, 2001). Quite simply, computer literacy is an absolute essential for anyone who anticipates participating in today's society.
To understand how important computer literacy has become, one needs only to review a typical day in anyone's life. It is impossible to visit a bank, difficult to apply for a job, borrow a book from the library, see a doctor, or even purchase gas without having at least a basic knowledge of how a computer or computer-related device operates. This proliferation has only just begun and will likely increase in the coming years as computer technology advances and more and more services and businesses make the transition to conducting operations through computers.
There are many who disparage society's apparent dependence on computers. These critics argue that it is wrong to rely on a computer at the expense of human intelligence. They also contend that computers have damaged personal relationships through the widespread use of email, social networking software, and internet dating. Further, critics argue that computers have created new areas of crime, such as hacking, identity theft, online prostitution, and gambling. Certainly there is no denying that computers have contributed to the development of these sociological problems, but the advantages that computers have brought to society far outweigh these marginal disadvantages.
Computers have changed the lives of everyone in our society so pervasively that we cannot imagine life without them. Computers provide efficient data storage systems and information processors that allow us to store and retrieve enormous amounts of information far beyond the capabilities of any human being. They are able to solve complex mathematical problems faster and more accurately than even the most intelligent individuals, and they are capable of operating machinery and tracking thousands of different operations simultaneously. With such capabilities, it is little wonder that computers have become such an important part of nearly everyone's daily life.
Throughout history, innovations have caused major transformations in how members of society live their lives. For instance, the introduction of the automobile met with opposition from many quarters, yet there is little argument that it permanently altered the entire structure of society. Today it is difficult to function without owning a car and knowing how to drive. Similarly, the introduction of the computer has had the same sweeping effect.
"Literacy compared to driving as a survival skill"
"Unknown innovations demand adaptable, literate users"
Computers are not a panacea. They are limited in their application and use, but like the automobile before them, their importance is so great that they cannot be ignored. Those who choose to ignore computers expose themselves to the likelihood of being left behind and becoming dependent on others for assistance with even basic computing tasks.
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