Are We Illiterate Essay - 1011 Words

Are We Illiterate Literacy throughout history has been defined and redefined nearly as rapidly as new generations emerge. As we tread into the twenty first century, our generation moves to redefine literacy once again. However, unlike generations past, we are taking literacy and rapidly spanning it over new mediums that had been, until recently, unavailable. Advances in technology within the past twenty years have been so immense that the human race has literally packed up centuries of research, data, history and other information and moved it into the digital world, spawning a new necessity to have a general working knowledge of computing technologies. Mainstream society as a whole has concluded and accepted that in the twenty first†¦show more content†¦Since it’s conception in 1962 at MIT and eventual growth through the late 60’s and 70’s2 the internet has grown literally by leaps and bounds. This sudden access to nearly infinite amounts of informatio n has caused society to move towards a more convenient, more abundant source of media to express one’s self with. However, due to it’s rapid growth in popularity, several large populations have been left behind. Even those who did achieve a certain level of competency when dealing with computer applications may find that within as little as one year their knowledge has become superseded, outdated by newer evolving technologies. Thusly, computers and their software have brought an almost burdensome issue along with their immense usefulness: the issue of becoming obsolete. In the past, becoming literate meant, for the most part, that one would remain literate for the rest of one’s natural life (sparing any severe mental trauma). However, becoming literate in the use of computer application software does not ensure that one will remain so for very long. Even the most simplistic of applications, take the word processor for example, have evolved beyond recognition within the past several years. This further complicates our definition of literacy as it introduces the element of time into the very threads of the definition. No longer can one be assured that their literacy will remain intact in this rapidlyShow MoreRelatedThe Human Cost Of An Illiterate Society1048 Words   |  5 PagesAre illiterates just people who exist? Do they just walk around aimlessly, never knowing what to do? â€Å"Illiterates li ve, in more than literal ways, an uninsured existence,† says Jonathan Kozol. In Kozol’s article, â€Å"The Human Cost of an Illiterate Society,† he intensely describes how illiteracy can impact both the illiterate and those surrounding him. There is a tragic human cost for an illiterate society. If people are unable to read, then what can they do? In this case, the least taken-for-grantedRead MoreEssay on Technical Illiteracy and Its Impact on Society959 Words   |  4 Pagesilliteracy â€Å"In a digital age, we must learn how to make the software, or risk becoming the software† by Rush off (Rushkoff). This quotation helps in the paper to support our points against the technical illiteracy and its impact on the society. We are living in the 21st century, we use the benefits of scientific progress, and we consider ourselves civilized people. The future of society is not only to learn new skills, operate a computer, not only become a modern illiterate, but also to make life andRead MoreThe Human Cost Of An Illiterate Society By Jonathan Kozol877 Words   |  4 PagesJonathan Kozol’s essay titled, â€Å"The Human Cost of an Illiterate Society,† he exposes the complications of being illiterate as well as how it affects a person on a social, personal, and financial level. 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The word â€Å"uneducated† can have a different meaning depending on the situation. â€Å"Uneducated† in most cases refers to adults who are illiterate, or adults who have not completed high school. â€Å"Susan B. Anthony stated in a 1873 speech that it might be acceptable for the educated to be given more rights and privileges by society than the ‘ignorant’ or uneducated.† This statement of Susan B