Re: Computer Literacy

[Richard elGurutm Howland-Bolton <reh1 -at- CORNELL -dot- EDU>]

>> understanding of how computers respond when you type something in.  They
>> aren't afraid that if they type the wrong thing the system will explode...

>I met a computer trainer who said he had been making significant progress
>helping an elderly and timid woman overcome her computer-phobia. One of
>his favorite consoling phrases was, "don't worry about making mistakes,
>the computer won't blow up!".

When I was training novices I used to do a spiel (is that the right
spielling?  :-) ) about how this fear was all the fault of Star Trek, and
how the only way to harm your computer is to take a hammer and....  I have
since become more circumspect after having had three or four monitors die
more or less sectacularly (though never when training). I have even seen
(though nor really followed) some discussion in the virus-l of software
that changes the sync rate of certain monitors in such a way that
components can overheat and blow!
Mr Spock where are you?



Richard E. Howland-Bolton
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Cornell University
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"I'll have my computer get in touch with your computer"
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