Positive and Negative Effects

Like it or not, computers are part of our lives. A good grounding in computer con­cepts and applications can help you get the benefits and understand the negatives of the computer's massive penetration into society.

Computer literacy means learning fundamental computer concepts and application programs. Computer literacy means also recognizing both the positive and the nega­tive consequences of computers in our society.

The positives are all around us. For example, a rescue squad has reduced its emer­gency response time by nearly 20 percent by using a custom-designed computer sys­tem that optimizes its operations. For some accident victims, the difference is literally a matter of life or death. Computers also ease your daily activities by brewing your coffee, priming your newspaper, and helping you write your letters and pay your bills. But there are negatives too:

• Computers may pose a threat to personal privacy, because firms can so easily accumulate a detailed picture of an individual's buying habits.

• Computer manufacturing processes require the use of hazardous chemicals, which could endanger workers and pollute water supplies.

• Discarded computers are taking up too much room in our nation's landfills.

• Too much work at the computer can result in painful nerve injuries, such as carpal tunnel syndrome, the fastest growing type of occupational injury in the U.S.

• Computer failures do occur - and if they occur in a critical system, such as the air traffic control system, lives may be endangered.

• Computers may displace workers by automating tasks that people used to per-form or by enabling fewer workers to perform tasks more efficiently. Dis­placed workers may find jobs that pay substantially less- if they can find jobs at all.

Like it or not, computers are part of our lives. A good grounding in computer con­cepts and applications can help you get the benefits and understand the negatives of the computer's massive penetration into society.

The positives are all around us. For example, a rescue squad has reduced its emer­gency response time by nearly 20 percent by using a custom-designed computer sys­tem that optimizes its operations. For some accident victims, the difference is literally a matter of life or death.

 

Look through the text and find the passage where it is told about the positive effects. Read this passage and translate in the written form.

 

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People

You may be surprised to learn that people are part of the computing process. Some computers, such us the computer chip that controls an automobile engine, function without human intervention. But even these computers were designed by people and occasionally require maintenance by people. Most computers require people, who are called users (or sometimes end users).

Some users progress beyond the basics of computer literacy. They learn the advanced features of application programs. With this knowledge, these users can customize an application program for a specific task. These knowledgeable people are called power users.

Computer professionals have taken intermediate and advanced courses about computers. These people apply their professional training to improve the performance, ease of use, and efficiency of computer systems. One kind of computer professional is the programmer, who creates new computer programs. Excellent career opportuni­ties exist for students interested in becoming computer professionals.

Procedures

Procedures arc the steps that you must follow to accomplish a specific computer-related task. Part of a user's computer literacy is knowing common procedures. Chances are, you already know several computer procedures. У or example, you have probably used an automated teller machine (ATM). Inside the ATM is a computer. In response to on-screen messages called prompts, you insert your card, enter your per­sonal identification number (PIN), and tell the machine how much money you want. You also follow computer procedures when you program \oliv VCR or set the coffeepot to brew your coffee at 7:00 A.M. In this course, you will become familiar with many more computer procedures.

Data

Сomputers transform data into information. What's the difference between these two terms? Data is the raw material; information is processed data. Data is the input to the processing; information is the output.

A useful model to describe the relationship between data and information is called the systems model. It shows that data goes into a process and information is then output.

Several characteristics distinguish useful information from data. The purpose of in­formation is to help people make well-informed decisions, but what makes informa­tion useful? Information must be relevant, timely, accurate, concise, and complete in order to be useful. Data must be accurate but doesn't need to be relevant, timely, or Characteristics of Useful Information

Look through the text and find the passage where it is told about programmers. Read this passage and translate in the written form.

 

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