Adult Computer Literacy: Increasing Quality of Life

Computer technology may be a scary concept for adults born before 1970, but computer literacy is a powerful tool for self-improvement as well as enhancing the quality of daily life. Adults who fear that modern technology is too complicated to grasp should take a basic computer skills class at a local community college or hire a tutor to learn three basic tenets of computer technology for the layman: typing a document in a word processor, running any kind of computer program, and using a modem to access the Internet and check email. With these skills under their belts, adults will find communicating with distant friends and loved ones to be a much faster, less costly process than writing letters or racking up high phone bills.

Being computer literate can also increase one’s salary and/or help keep a job threatened by younger or more computer savvy competitors. Computer technology skills are valued in today’s workplace even in jobs that aren’t based on computers. Adults with computer literacy are simply worth more in the workplace than those who haven’t bothered to learn valuable technological skills.

Besides helping adults find and keep high-paying jobs, computer literacy makes everyday life much more interesting and entertaining. There are a multitude of interactive games on the Internet allowing a user to play by his or herself, against a computer, or with an infinite number of other players from around the world. Knowing how to navigate the Internet can make shopping for any product as easy as clicking a button on a mouse. Adults can listen to music and watch movies on the Internet, as well as discover anything they need to know on the World Wide Web, home to a vast amount of easily accessible information. Adults need to know how to find detailed, reliable answers to their questions quickly and efficiently. The Internet can be used to find recipes, quality medical practitioners, and a host of other information ranging from minor to highly significant. The Internet can also be used for more in-depth purposes, like research papers for a continuing education class, second degree, or even personal interest in a specific subject.

A solid knowledge of computer technology is essential for every adult in today’s fast-paced society, in terms of salary, convenience, communication, and entertainment alike.