For over fifty years, beginning with the famous EN IAC, a revolution has been taking place in the United States and the world. The personal computer has changed the way many people think and live. With its amazing versatility, it has found its way into every area of life, and knowing how to operate it is a requirement for today’s world. Those who have not taken the time to learn about computers often do not even know what to do once one has been turned on, and this problem should be corrected. That is why all high schools must make a computer literacy course a requirement for graduation. Although a computer course would take away two or three periods of a high school student’s weekly schedule, it will be well worth it in the real world.
With so many careers today involving a knowledge of a computer’s basic functions, computer literacy plays a big part in job security. If a potential employee comes along demonstrating outstanding computer skills, he or she may take a job that formerly belonged to another employee if that employee doesn’t even know how to check his e-mail. A good computer class would teach the basics of computers: typing a document in a word processor, running a specified program, and using a modem to check e-mail and access the Internet. Personal computers now have a tremendous entertainment value due to their versatility. Not only can a computer do all the things that are unique to computers, it can be a television and a radio as well. Computers have also attracted millions of people with games galore.
Immersive, three-dimensional games such as Doom 2, Quake, and Duke Nukem 3 D can keep people glued to their computers for hours. With current technology, two friends can connect from anywhere in the world via modem and play a blazing fast two-player game against one another. With the recent emergence of the Internet, friends that would normally have to pay 25 cents a minute to talk on the phone long distance can play and talk as long as they want for free. The most important reason for required computer classes, however, is the enormous amount of information available on the Internet. The Internet is a 24 hours a day, 7 days a week information resource that cannot be beaten by any library in the world. An experienced user can connect and find the information that he is looking for in as little as ten minutes, without leaving the comfort of his own home.
The Internet will only continue to grow as time passes, and being able to navigate quickly and successfully is becoming more and more important. A computer course is an advantageous investment in a student’s future with today’s technology. A personal computer is the most diverse machine in the world and being familiar with its uses is a must to be successful. The amount of practical application that it will have is astounding, and it will make all students more successful in today’s changing world..