If someone asked you explain exactly what a computer mouse is, what would you say? A “pointing device”? But how does it actually point? With infrared sensors, of course. But what is “infrared”?

Not everyone knows what a mouse is, or what a gigabyte is, or how the Internet works.

To people who have used computers since the 1990s, this is an unnecessary dialogue. Doesn’t everyone know what a mouse is?

No, not everyone does. Nor does everyone know what a gigabyte is, or how the Internet works, or what a virus does, or the difference between Office 2003 and Office 2007. It’s called the digital divide, and it’s still an issue.

Granted, the digital divide really isn’t an issue in most office environments — you can expect your colleagues to have experience with computing and the Internet. But the fact that it still exists, even when computers are so inexpensive and ubiquitous, should remind us that we are not all at the same level, and it’s not always for lack of interest or aptitude. Read more…

Jenny Sweeney Computer Literacy Bing, CAPTCHA, digital divide, Google, Greater Philadelphia Cares, lingo, Microsoft, Office 2003, Office 2007, spam, Yahoo