|
|
||||||
|
|
Using Computers: Becoming a Personal Computer WhizNeedless to say, computers have changed our lives in almost
every way imaginable and will continue to do so.
Every cohort in history has had to adapt to certain changes.
Even throughout early history, human beings had to adapt to constantly
changing weather, or constant wars at times.
Yes, there may have been periods of stability, but not all periods have
shown stability.
Fast forward to Year 2000 A.D.
and we now have a new change in this
generation, especially for the younger people.
Computers will change the way we
operate, the way we think, the way we run our
lives. Before
computers, there was TV and radio, and those
things changed our lives too.
However, it may be said that computers
may have an even more far-reaching impact, as
the capabilities of a computer seem almost
limitless. Thus, using computers wisely and knowing how to use computers well will be a required task of all people of the future. How does one use the computer wisely and what should one use it for? Computer activity could probably be divided into the two huge categories of (1) internet use and (2) offline use. Hone
your internet and searching skills.
The internet is a wonderfully useful
tool in that it lets you communicate with
others in ways unimaginable before and at
astoundingly quick paces, such as through
video conferencing, emailing, or just surfing
the web and getting information there.
Perfecting one's use of the internet is
definitely a must for people.
One thing that people use most is
search engines, and if you were to improve how
you use search engines, that would be very
useful. For
example, try different searches, read the help
section on advanced searches, search long and
hard, and see what you can pull up.
Often, there are many
wonderfully pieces of well-crafted articles on
the net for all to read and see.
You just have to spend the time
searching, which is why maximizing your
searching skills is a definite asset.
A simple way to improve your searches
may simply be to do an exact search, either by
going to an advanced search form, or in many
search engines, if you type your phrase in
quotations, that can automatically do an exact
search, where the words within the quotation
are matched exactly with what you want. Familiarize
yourself with your operating system and
software.
For offline use, it would be an asset
to know completely how your operating system
works and how to use it to the maximal extent,
since many activities would be sped up or be
possible if one were to know about it.
Programs you use often are also very
useful, but here, probably the best thing to
get more out of them is to use them more
because the more you use them, the more you
will use the help menu or try out new commands
and learn from what you had wanted to learn.
Consider
learning how to program.
If you have the time, or if your kids
do, try to learn a modern computer programming
language.
This is because the personal computer
revolution has already begun, and learning to
talk with computers may be as important in the
21st century as learning to talk
with people was in the previous centuries of
history.
Of course, always, always aim to use
the knowledge that you gain in ways that will
benefit, and not harm, humanity. Try one-on-one
learning.
With computers, as in many other areas of life, one-on-one learning is
probably the most effective.
Here, the tutor, instructor, or your friend, can point out unifying
concepts that make it much easier for you to learn additional skills on a
particular topic.
For example, if you were new to using software, they might point out that
there is actually a help command that you can easily use to find information.
This will undoubtedly speed your learning curve as you will now have
access to information that you never even knew about. With computers, there is so
much new material out there that it is almost
impossible to stay up to date on everything.
Thus, if you have a buddy system or
systems where you can share what you have
learned with a buddy and they, in turn, can
share what they learned with you, you will
quickly speed up your learning. Apply the use of computers to various situations. The power and the many functions of computers make them an almost limitless resource. Remember not to take the computer for granted and to think that it's simply there to send email to your friends, or to type out your report. Instead, make use of its many capabilities. For example, instead of telling the news to your coworkers at the next meeting one week from now, perhaps it might be just as effective to send out emails to everyone concerned today so that everyone knows right away. This may sound elementary, but it is actually surprising how, when we are fixed upon some old way of doing things, we forget there is a new device out there called the internet or called whatever software, that we can actually use to facilitate a task. Like it or not, computers
have infiltrated into our lives.
They do simplify many tasks, of course.
Just don't get carried away and sit in
front of your computer 16 hours a day.
Do some of life's other simpler
activities that people used to do.
Spend time with people in person.
Go out to the park to take walks.
Experience life to its fullest.
The computer is just another tool to
ease the tasks that we do in this world. In summary, to more effectively use computers and take full advantage of the computer revolution,
Back to Computers Home » Computer Skills » Using Computers: Becoming a Personal Computer Whiz |
|||||
|
||||||