Do you remember your first computer?

Our first computer was huge!  The printer was loud and you had to feed it sheets of connected paper with perforations on the edge that you had to tear off.  The screen was blurry and to operate it you basically had to be a rocket scientist.  Or a 6 year old who wasn’t afraid of pushing buttons! It was exciting and new and I spent hours playing games on it at home.  Then I went to school and we had a special computer class in which we learned to type, played Number Munchers and The Oregon Trail. To me, it was just play time but, it was actually my introduction to technology and the way that I became digitally literate.

In a world in which we can’t imagine our lives before Google and Facebook, it is hard to believe that a large number of Americans don’t have access to technology and more importantly, don’t have the necessary skills to utilize technology.  But that is the case.  Increasingly, what has been deemed the digital divide has compounded the problem of literacy.  Digital literacy, the ability to understand and use digital technology, plays almost an equal role in the success of an individual.  Technology is involved in every aspect of our lives.  As a result, children with access to technology and technology training have more opportunities

It is important to ensure that all people have access to technology.  If you’re interested in getting involved in the fight to close the digital divide and increase digital literacy across the board, check out http://www.digitalliteracy.gov/.

Best,

Ciji Dodds
Miss International 2011