Week 1. Digital Literacy

Week 1. Introductions & Welcome.

Digital literacy, simply put, is the capability to use a wide range of digital technology easily and adequately. It is not only being able to use devices, but also to create and understand information. Although some may think that digital devices replace and take away the purpose of "traditional literacy", digital literacy builds upon the traditional forms and adds to their use and purpose. Whether it is a computer, a phone, a tablet, etc. or a combination of devices, there are many platforms to be digitally literate on.

Many people do not like technology, but as time passes it becomes harder to live in the digital age without a cellular device or the internet. Every day there are less people with flip phones and more people with an iphone of some sort. Even now, in a private school, it is assumed that everyone has a iphone and those without have to go through the process of explaining that they do not have one and why. It is assumed that every one is the equally able to use the these coming-of-age devices. In the workforce is prefered that new employees be technology savvy so that the business does not have to pay extra to have the worker trained. (http://boss.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/12/04/why-training-workers-costs-more-than-you-think/?_php=true&_type=blogs&_r=0)

Technology has been a great impact in history. People are able to contact others on a global scale, safety and transportation has improved and the sharing of ideas and information has never been easier.  While many jobs are created through the digital age, it also replaces the need for other jobs. For example Charlie's father's job from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl or the mass layoff of workers at The Daily Press newspaper. "Global unemployment has now reached its highest level since the great depression of the 1930s." (http://www.converge.org.nz/pirm/nutech.htm)

I think myself to be digitally literate in terms of the computer and internet. I do not know how to work a fios television, a tablet, a cloud printer, or even an iphone but I’m pretty good on the cheap-in-quality chromebooks. I find it fun and the internet and the friends I make online and on tumblr make up for my lack of real friends in the 3D world (*whispers* reference).

The debate of whether technology is a bad contribution or an improvement to society continues. A website -http://digitalliteracy.us/.
Another Website: http://www.commerce.gov/news/fact-sheets/2011/05/13/fact-sheet-digital-literacy