from
The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (8 July 2008)
computer literacy
<education> Basic skill in use of computers, from the
perspective of such skill being a necessary societal skill.
The term was coined by Andrew Molnar, while director of the
Office of Computing Activities at the {National Science
Foundation}.
"We started computer literacy in '72 [...] We coined that
phrase. It's sort of ironic. Nobody knows what computer
literacy is. Nobody can define it. And the reason we
selected [it] was because nobody could define it, and [...] it
was a broad enough term that you could get all of these
programs together under one roof" (cited in Aspray, W.,
(September 25, 1991) "Interview with Andrew Molnar," OH 234.
Center for the History of Information Processing, Charles
Babbage Institute, University of Minnesota).
The term, as a coinage, is similar to earlier coinages, such
as "visual literacy", which Merriam-Webster
(http://m-w.com/) dates to 1971, and the more recent
"media literacy".
A more useful definition from
(http://www.computerliteracyusa.com/) is:
Computer literacy is an understanding of the concepts,
terminology and operations that relate to general computer
use. It is the essential knowledge needed to function
independently with a computer. This functionality includes
being able to solve and avoid problems, adapt to new
situations, keep information organized and communicate
effectively with other computer literate people.
(2007-03-23)