Webster's New World Compact Dictionary defines a computer as "an electronic machine that performs rapid, complex calculations or compiles and correlates data" (Computer, 1995, p.226). While this definition gives one a very narrow view of what a computer is capable of doing, it does describe the basic ideas of what I will expand upon. We have been living through an age of computers for a short while now, and there are already many people worldwide that are computer literate.

According to Using Computers: A Gateway to Information World Wide Web Edition, “over 250 million Perso

One of my favorite reasons for having a computer is for playing video games. With a PC you can play card games, simulation games, sport games, strategy games, fighting games, and adventure games. Today's technology provides the ultimate experiences in color, graphics, sound, music, full motion video, animation, and 3D effects. Computers have also become increasingly useful in the music, film, and television industry. I have used my computer to compose music, create sound effects, create special effects, and create 3D life-like animation. I haven’t done this but I know its possible to edit previous existing movie and TV footage into new programs, as seen in the movie Forrest Gump. All this and more can be done with computers.

Microsoft has also produced a software package called Microsoft Office that is very useful in creating reports, databases, spreadsheets, presentations, and other documents for school and work. Included in Microsoft Office, are Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Access, and Microsoft PowerPoint.

I have found millions of examples of hypermedia on the Internet. While “surfing” I also found art, photos, information on business, the government, and colleges, television schedules, movie reviews, music lyrics, online news and magazines, sport sights of all kinds, games, books, and thousands of other hypermedia on the WWW. Through the Internet I can use, electronic mail (E-Mail), chat with other users around the world, buy airline, sports, and music tickets, and shop for a house or a car. All of this, and more, provides me with a limitless supply of information for research, business, entertainment, or other personal use. Online services such as America Online, Prodigy, or CompuServe make it even easier to access the power of the Internet. The Internet alone is almost reason enough to become computer literate, but there is still much more that computers can do.

“Computer”. Webster's New World Compact School and Office Di

Some topics in this essay:
Unit CPU, Internet Internet, Browsers Netscape, Cashman Waggoner, Compact Dictionary, Cashman Vermaat, Forrest Gump, Internet Answers, Cashman Jordan, Microsoft Word, shelly cashman, computer literate, wide web, microsoft office, system unit, world wide web, world wide, professional looking, shelly cashman jordan, data computer, cashman jordan, navigator 2 running, applications utilities, running windows 31, 2 running windows,