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If you can install an operating system and associated software to use as a restore after an erase you'll be brand new every day.I never leave anything in my computers overnight.
I agree with spdragoo - the list defines someone who is a computer expert rather than someone who is "just" computer literate.
Those of us who know the way the OS and Applications work right down to the bits and bytes, that know how their computers work down to the level of quantum mechanics? Those that understand processor design, language design/theory,..... Those that can say the same for every piece of consumer technology to a similar level of detail?
Your "expert" ain't so expert after all.
Your "expert" ain't so expert after all.
Per dictionary.com
literate (adjective): "4. having knowledge or skill in a specified field: literate in computer usage. "
expert (noun): "1. a person who has special skill or knowledge in some particular field; specialist; authority: a language expert. "
Someone who is literate in the classical sense (i.e. able to read written words) will generally be able to sit down, pick up a book, & be able to read with few to no pauses to look up a particular word -- unless, of course, they picked up some extremely technical journal (i.e. American Physiological Society Abstracts). However, one can be a "literate" reader without being an "expert" writer.
By the same token, one can be "computer literate", yet not be comfortable with the process of restoring their PC from scratch after replacing a hard drive. My wife and her sister, for example, are very computer literate (you could probably even label my wife "computer savvy"), but when it comes to computer issues that require "experts" they call on me & my brother-in-law. Neither one of them really knows the difference between "bits" and "bytes", they know "kilo-" is smaller than "mega-" and "giga-" but don't necessarily know that 1 Mb = 1000 kb but 1 MB = 1024 kB, & they don't know why there's a difference between a 64-bit OS and a 32-bit OS...but for their level of computer literacy, they don't need to know it.
literate (adjective): "4. having knowledge or skill in a specified field: literate in computer usage. "
expert (noun): "1. a person who has special skill or knowledge in some particular field; specialist; authority: a language expert. "
Someone who is literate in the classical sense (i.e. able to read written words) will generally be able to sit down, pick up a book, & be able to read with few to no pauses to look up a particular word -- unless, of course, they picked up some extremely technical journal (i.e. American Physiological Society Abstracts). However, one can be a "literate" reader without being an "expert" writer.
By the same token, one can be "computer literate", yet not be comfortable with the process of restoring their PC from scratch after replacing a hard drive. My wife and her sister, for example, are very computer literate (you could probably even label my wife "computer savvy"), but when it comes to computer issues that require "experts" they call on me & my brother-in-law. Neither one of them really knows the difference between "bits" and "bytes", they know "kilo-" is smaller than "mega-" and "giga-" but don't necessarily know that 1 Mb = 1000 kb but 1 MB = 1024 kB, & they don't know why there's a difference between a 64-bit OS and a 32-bit OS...but for their level of computer literacy, they don't need to know it.
In telecommunications 1 Mb = 1,000,000
but
standard industry practice in RAM and ROM manufacture has been to use 1 Mb = 1,048,576
but
standard industry practice in RAM and ROM manufacture has been to use 1 Mb = 1,048,576
Yes an Mb = Megabit but the meaning of both of those vary according to context.
For example, following accepted practice
A 1 Megabit cable modem transfers 1,000,000 bits/sec
but
A 1 Megabit memory chip holds 1,048,576 bits
For example, following accepted practice
A 1 Megabit cable modem transfers 1,000,000 bits/sec
but
A 1 Megabit memory chip holds 1,048,576 bits
@Cmd_line_dino: you are comparing transfer speed to storage. that would be like saying the meaning of a mile is differnent because the actual distance of a mile compared to miles/per. Perhaps not the best analogy but saying Mb is relative because storage versus cable throughput doesn't "add" up. The Mb file that transfers through the cable is still the same size.
We don't "need" computers. However, we can be more productive if we use them.
Similarly, the more knowledge you have about the tools you use, the better use you can make of them. If they are a primary tool in your line of work, I'd expect you to be expert in their use.
Similarly, the more knowledge you have about the tools you use, the better use you can make of them. If they are a primary tool in your line of work, I'd expect you to be expert in their use.
I agree with you dogknees that if some one is having knowledge about the OS and Applications that person will be fully knowing about the working mechanism of system.
I don't quite understand what you mean by never leaving anything "in" your computer overnight or why? So could you please explain what precisely you mean and why you never do so?
BALTHOR is noted for two behaviors: posting content of highly questionable technical accuracy, and never responding after his initial post.
We agree he's a joke; you assume it's by design, I assume it's via ignorance or worse.
While the points in the article make valid checkpoints, im having trouble understanding who the target audience was on this. Maybe i'm incorrect but I would assume that the majority of readers already understand these basic concepts as I could not see the tech republic being a fan favorite of layman...or is it to guide budding users on the path to better overall computer usage? I did enjoy the part about typing url's into search engines. I find people do that a lot and it literally drives me insane! The part about nic\modem confusion was dead on too. You may want to add something about understanding bandwidth...I find a lot of people telling me that they are getting 54mbps or 100mbps because they see it on the taskbar when they hover over their nic icon!
I think the audience is those of us who know how to do the tasks outlined in the article and have a need to feel superior to those who do not.
I am always amazed by how many people can safely operate their automobiles without knowing how to check the oil or the air pressure in their tires.
I am always amazed by how many people can safely operate their automobiles without knowing how to check the oil or the air pressure in their tires.
I assume most of the readers are pros too, but actually, it may be more like half, 2/3'rds, possibly? I am in NOOOO way anything near approaching a "pro" by about a thousand miles, but I read these articles to learn stuff. So much is above my head that I despair sometimes, but I continue onward. I had a *really* cool teacher who strongly suggested that we (the IT students) subscribe to TechRepublic because it contains so much information that is/will be useful to us. So I guess you could say that [it is a] "guide [to] budding users on the path to better overall computer usage..." For me it truly is that pathway. As for being "computer literate" I guess I need to reassess myself as "basic" or lower, instead of "fairly" because I don't know HALF of what was listed! Yet I can keep our computers running, understand file structure, (although Win7 threw me for a SEVERE loop with their go-to-hades file structure!) Now I make my own folders/files and can modify where I want those files to go. Makes life much easier. I can find, use and update all my spy/malware, firewalls, A/V and defrag/clean up tools and can usually find updated drivers. I can also do some minor troubleshooting, though THANK GOD for my cable company techs - I know all of them and they help me with stuff! (Very small cable company. DEAREST bunch of fellows! I love them.)
Why do I list all this? Because I think these things that were left out of the list are more important than some of that other basic-to-the-techs-but-not-to-the-casual-user stuff is out of line. Hey, all my husband can do is read his email, play his games, (minor ones, not a gamer like our sons) and live on Facebook! (No disrespect to him at all.) I keep the computers running and do pretty well, at least I think so
But what about the new stuff I'll be needing to deal with soon enough? The best products to try/buy? What works for real and not just what's hyped? I rely on you guys/ladies to steer me in the right direction. I consult others, but that doesn't always work either - Acer SUCKS!!! *shudder* I don't care WHAT my favorite techs say! GAH! First time I've ever replaced a laptop before it dies and I have to deal with a new version of Windows. But do I want to/should I switch to Apple? Does MS have a real future, as one one of TR's articles implied they did not, or is Apple just simply going to be the dominant product soon enough with all these iPads and such? How about this Android stuff? (Which I don't own. My phone calls people, it doesn't find the Holy Grail via GPS and do backflips besides.) See why a non-professional would read TechRepublic for the information that seems so basic to the pros? TR ROCKS!
(Sorry if I used up my quota of !!!, but at least I only used one smiley face and no LOL's!)
Why do I list all this? Because I think these things that were left out of the list are more important than some of that other basic-to-the-techs-but-not-to-the-casual-user stuff is out of line. Hey, all my husband can do is read his email, play his games, (minor ones, not a gamer like our sons) and live on Facebook! (No disrespect to him at all.) I keep the computers running and do pretty well, at least I think so
But what about the new stuff I'll be needing to deal with soon enough? The best products to try/buy? What works for real and not just what's hyped? I rely on you guys/ladies to steer me in the right direction. I consult others, but that doesn't always work either - Acer SUCKS!!! *shudder* I don't care WHAT my favorite techs say! GAH! First time I've ever replaced a laptop before it dies and I have to deal with a new version of Windows. But do I want to/should I switch to Apple? Does MS have a real future, as one one of TR's articles implied they did not, or is Apple just simply going to be the dominant product soon enough with all these iPads and such? How about this Android stuff? (Which I don't own. My phone calls people, it doesn't find the Holy Grail via GPS and do backflips besides.) See why a non-professional would read TechRepublic for the information that seems so basic to the pros? TR ROCKS!
(Sorry if I used up my quota of !!!, but at least I only used one smiley face and no LOL's!)
The true computer literate person knows that there is no reason to even open up the search engine page to perform a simple search. Just type in the words into the address bar.
Speaking of address bar: computer literate means keeping an eye on the address bar while typing in an address. You may see the page you wish to go to so all you have to do is highlight the page to eliminate typing the entire address.
A computer literate person not only knows how to use Word and Excel (and/or other word processing and spreadsheet programs) but also when NOT to use them.
At my previous employer, Excel was used for databases. While it is possible to use it as a simple database, they would use it for databases that should be in Access or another database program.
Excel was often used for documents that should have been in Word. The opposite was true, too.
Speaking of address bar: computer literate means keeping an eye on the address bar while typing in an address. You may see the page you wish to go to so all you have to do is highlight the page to eliminate typing the entire address.
A computer literate person not only knows how to use Word and Excel (and/or other word processing and spreadsheet programs) but also when NOT to use them.
At my previous employer, Excel was used for databases. While it is possible to use it as a simple database, they would use it for databases that should be in Access or another database program.
Excel was often used for documents that should have been in Word. The opposite was true, too.
...I'm one of those who had to use Excel as a flat-file database because the organisation I work for sees no reason for staff to use Access. And had to do some fairly hefty coding to do searches and create lists because my chosen 'tool' didn't support SQL. Fortunately, I'm getting ready to port my app to a stand-alone using Gambas in GNULinux and convert the data to SQLite3, so whilst I might have to re-do all my code, at least it will be a bit easier (read: "less kludgy") to maintain.
File and Folder Management.
This is a basic one that so many people don't understand.
The simple processes of creating folders, moving and copying files, moving folders, creating shortcuts to files and using the Windows Explorer (or equivalent) interface. Different folder views, sorting and searching.
This is a basic one that so many people don't understand.
The simple processes of creating folders, moving and copying files, moving folders, creating shortcuts to files and using the Windows Explorer (or equivalent) interface. Different folder views, sorting and searching.
A small business that's outgrown the "everybody can create whatever root folder on the shared drive" stage but try consolidating it all into a rational structure while considering user input. Still, basic folder and file management is a must. don't create arbitrary folders in the drive root, name files so they sort together as desired, save to a new filename when starting further work on a file rather than overwriting/deleteing/loosing the original.. it's not hard stuff; take the ten minutes to understand it rather than claiming "but it's not my job to do that, I'm an XYZ not an IT person".
It's amazing how a person can use a computer for three years, and be totally clueless about files and folders. Since our management places NO emphasis on basic computer operations, I find myself tutoring my users, usually after having to search all over their hard drives for files they "lost." My favorite response to the question "Where did you save the file?" is, "I saved it in Microsoft."
That dog that pops up when you use the Microsoft search function would be wearing black glasses and waving a red tipped cane around!
We had a lot of users keeping their only copy of files on Zip disks. When the Zips started dying by the truckload (remember the 'click of death'?), my boss told them they should be saving files to their C: drives.
Doesn't take a lot of pondering to see where this is going, does it? Wasn't long before we notice there were still no files in My Documents, but tons in the root of C:
Argh
Doesn't take a lot of pondering to see where this is going, does it? Wasn't long before we notice there were still no files in My Documents, but tons in the root of C:
Argh
"On my desktop" But they haven't a clue where it goes after that and their desktops are so littered with documents they can't find their own shortcuts.
A while back (Windows 3.1 days), I had one user try to clean up her hard drive. She went to the command prompt at the root of the C: drive and typed "DEL *.*' She was a bit perturbed when her computer wouldn't boot properly.
I don't think of someone as being computer literate because they can type a letter. Their secretarial skills in Word may be fabulous, but that doesn't mean they know much about computers. Accountants that I've known are wizard at spreadsheets, but knowing how Excel works doesn't make you computer literate either.
In my book, I would think of someone as being computer literate because they know how to switch the machine on and off properly, and has a good grasp of operating system basics like clipboard copy/paste functionality along with basic file management. I would also expect them to have a basic understanding of how to use the desktop properly: Create shortcuts, understand how the recycle-bin works and what it should be used for, to manipulate the desktop resolution, layout and program menus to suit their own needs. Finaly, they need a basic grasp of simple terminology: Know the difference between a hard drive and RAM, what is a USB socket, the difference between a shutdown and a reboot.
With a basic understanding of the operating system, and a simple understanding of basic terminology a user will have a much better grasp on any application that they then use to perform their specific job function be that a spreadsheet, word-processing package or any other more esoteric software package.
Just because someone is a a dab hand with a specific tool doesn't make you computer literate, any more then a guy who can use a screwdriver with some dexterity would be seen to be an electrician.
In my book, I would think of someone as being computer literate because they know how to switch the machine on and off properly, and has a good grasp of operating system basics like clipboard copy/paste functionality along with basic file management. I would also expect them to have a basic understanding of how to use the desktop properly: Create shortcuts, understand how the recycle-bin works and what it should be used for, to manipulate the desktop resolution, layout and program menus to suit their own needs. Finaly, they need a basic grasp of simple terminology: Know the difference between a hard drive and RAM, what is a USB socket, the difference between a shutdown and a reboot.
With a basic understanding of the operating system, and a simple understanding of basic terminology a user will have a much better grasp on any application that they then use to perform their specific job function be that a spreadsheet, word-processing package or any other more esoteric software package.
Just because someone is a a dab hand with a specific tool doesn't make you computer literate, any more then a guy who can use a screwdriver with some dexterity would be seen to be an electrician.
"4: Browser basics
It is almost painful to watch some ???computer savvy??? people operate a Web browser. The most obvious goof is going to a search engine to type in the address of the site they want to go to."
I disagree with this.
I always use the Search box to go to sites that I don't have bookmarked.
It eliminates problems caused by typos.
Where does gooogle.com take you? A malware site?
What about foreign languages?
I can't type kanji, katakana, Russian, etc.
If you use search, an additional bonus is that you are offered a translated page link.
"6: Common keyboard commands
If you do not know how to copy/paste without a mouse, you are not computer literate."
Agreed.
I always cringe when I watch my friend use the scratchpad to force the cursor up to the "Edit" menu and then select "Paste".
He also does this when he wants to use the "Start Menu".
@dogknees
Agreed.
The number of people who just dump stuff at random on their PCs and then complain that they can't find anything is unbelievable.
It is almost painful to watch some ???computer savvy??? people operate a Web browser. The most obvious goof is going to a search engine to type in the address of the site they want to go to."
I disagree with this.
I always use the Search box to go to sites that I don't have bookmarked.
It eliminates problems caused by typos.
Where does gooogle.com take you? A malware site?
What about foreign languages?
I can't type kanji, katakana, Russian, etc.
If you use search, an additional bonus is that you are offered a translated page link.
"6: Common keyboard commands
If you do not know how to copy/paste without a mouse, you are not computer literate."
Agreed.
I always cringe when I watch my friend use the scratchpad to force the cursor up to the "Edit" menu and then select "Paste".
He also does this when he wants to use the "Start Menu".
@dogknees
Agreed.
The number of people who just dump stuff at random on their PCs and then complain that they can't find anything is unbelievable.
All it takes is watching your boss go to whitehouse.com instead of whitehouse.gov once (this was back in 1999) and have to fight off the mass of porn pop-ups to drive home the point that going to URLs via a search engine is the smarter way to do it.
3 incidents within about an year
a) my cousin decided to clean my nephews PC table; pulled off all cables dusted and left them; my nephew comes back fm college plugs all the cables and no picture. he screamed and stormed out, saying his mom has fried his PC. When I swung by to handle this emg., the monitor cable connector was plugged into normal monitor port instead of graphics card port.
b) neighbour was hopping mad screaming that vendor had skrood him with a dead graphics card. same thing. he shoved in the graphics card, but forgot to switch the monitor cable port.
c) frantic call from a niece 'bought a new nokia phone with micro usb port; pls tell me how to connect to PC'. the rest of the call went like this -
take the micro usb chord -
OK, ok, let me take it out -
now insert into USB port on PC
ok, ok, done -
insert the other end into nokia handset -
what other end? -
the other end of the micro usb chord -
but it has gone inside the usb port -
what? pull it out -
ok, ok, let me get a tweezer -
tweezer? ;; eureka moment ;; got the chord out?
yes -
is there anything written on the chord? -
yes, it says 'transcend 2GB microsd' ...
8-)
ever since, I call anything with 'wire' as cable and any data card as 'card'; no more 'chord' in my vocabulary
a) my cousin decided to clean my nephews PC table; pulled off all cables dusted and left them; my nephew comes back fm college plugs all the cables and no picture. he screamed and stormed out, saying his mom has fried his PC. When I swung by to handle this emg., the monitor cable connector was plugged into normal monitor port instead of graphics card port.
b) neighbour was hopping mad screaming that vendor had skrood him with a dead graphics card. same thing. he shoved in the graphics card, but forgot to switch the monitor cable port.
c) frantic call from a niece 'bought a new nokia phone with micro usb port; pls tell me how to connect to PC'. the rest of the call went like this -
take the micro usb chord -
OK, ok, let me take it out -
now insert into USB port on PC
ok, ok, done -
insert the other end into nokia handset -
what other end? -
the other end of the micro usb chord -
but it has gone inside the usb port -
what? pull it out -
ok, ok, let me get a tweezer -
tweezer? ;; eureka moment ;; got the chord out?
yes -
is there anything written on the chord? -
yes, it says 'transcend 2GB microsd' ...
8-)
ever since, I call anything with 'wire' as cable and any data card as 'card'; no more 'chord' in my vocabulary
It misses obvious things, like basic file management, copy, delete, rename. A huge number of users don't even know how to do these basic tasks.
Also, #4, I encourage users to type the address into google search, this way they can't get hijacked by a mistyped URL so easily.
Also, #4, I encourage users to type the address into google search, this way they can't get hijacked by a mistyped URL so easily.
... it happens all the time. I trust my browser's "recently visited" list much more than a search engine. 
J.Ja
J.Ja
You would already need to be infected for that to happen.
I only help people prevent infections and cure them, not help them operate within an infected system.
I only help people prevent infections and cure them, not help them operate within an infected system.
... I'm talking about people planting bad items into the search results... ie, you search for, say, "watches" and the results show something that looks like Rolex's site but it's actually something else or malicious. That happens all the time.
J.Ja
J.Ja
Its a great addin.
And thankfully google prioritizes results, which helps eliminate those bad websites from being the top results. It's not flawless though, but WOT helps fill the gap.
And thankfully google prioritizes results, which helps eliminate those bad websites from being the top results. It's not flawless though, but WOT helps fill the gap.
I'd love to see the folks who negged me or Slayer actually state a valid reason for it...
J.Ja
J.Ja
I can see upvoting without comment; that just indicates agreement. Downvoting ought to carry a mandatory reply.
Yeah, there are junk results in Google, but if you can't glance at the search results preview and make an accurate judgement call about the validity of the result, then you're just not trying.
... this was part of using a search engine, and most people don't have it?
J.Ja
J.Ja
This was the first commandment in an IT department I worked in. Since we were forever being called because someone had saved something "some where".
I worked in K12 education for a long time. My new users were five.
The other basic skill is reading search results. I once had to spend an hour on why we blocked http://www.martinlutherking.org/ until I showed the teacher the parent site.
I worked in K12 education for a long time. My new users were five.
The other basic skill is reading search results. I once had to spend an hour on why we blocked http://www.martinlutherking.org/ until I showed the teacher the parent site.
The system doesn't work when you plug the power strip plug into a socket on the same power strip.
Really.
Really.
Just because you can give files and folders very long names doesn't mean you SHOULD give them very long names.
Exactly! Users do not have a clue where there items are and when you ask them, I don't know, it's just always there
...knowing all "10 things you have to know" eliminates 90% of the population.
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