The outcome of a person’s future with computer knowledge is different than a person’s future without computer knowledge. In this world which is being ran by computers, you have to become a part of it or you will be lost in the future. Computer experience is a necessity for people who seriously want to progress in a career. Some will receive higher levels of employment than others mostly depending on their skill level in computers.

     This is great news for those who were born between 1965 and 1978 who are also known as Generation X. "The X’er population has had years of experience with computers. Interactivity is key in marketing and merchandising for the X’ers; they’ll respond to a display more fully if there’s a button they can push" (Owens, J’Amy, 1995)." The writer continues on to discuss the marketing issue. She concludes "It’s high time that retailers, insurance companies, banks, and everyone else focused their attention on Generation X. Because they’re getting older, they’re purchasing more and their ripe for the picking, in terms of brand loyalty...It all comes down to leaving them guessing, giving them a button to push, keeping them entertained. So, are you?" She is advising that these businesses should be prepared to meet Generation X. This is good example of the old being replaced with the new.

     The generation after Generation X seems to be moving in the same direction. A survey was taken in 1992 on students with different amounts of computer experience. From grade 5 to grade 11, the most children who were taking subjects in computers were children who used computers outside of school. In grade 11, 35% of all students have used the computer more than ten times a day. These same students make of 88% of computer users who use it at least ten times a day. Professor Becker (1998) assures that "For a change to occur, we need to rethink instructional goals, provide clear models for how technology can be used to help attain those goals, improve teacher’s understanding about how to use technology in those ways, and develop rational systems of jointly planning curriculum improvements and investment in instructional resources --including but not exclusively technological." The computer will always be a part of learning whether it is in junior high school, high school, or college. It is the tool you need to know in order to have success financially in life.

     It seems that experience in computers is extremely important in whatever career you want to pursue, but for people without computer knowledge there is still hope. In an article titled Computer training to the rescue(1995), Ellen Walterscheid wrote about Maggie Vogt telling her story of how she had no experience of computers twenty years ago. "She was told that she didn’t have to know how to use computers as a new analyst for a bus company in Portland, Oregon. Two of her staff computer programmers went on vacation, and suddenly the board of directors needed a report on bus ridership." Maggie described how she didn’t know how to save a file and how she was on her own for the first time using computers. Maggie said "today, you don’t have to be a techie to get in-depth training. Whether you want to learn new computer skills or update the ones you have, user-friendly options abound --many of them available from A.B.W.A. (American Business Women Association)." Maggie is now a computer and time management consultant.

     Even those who have computer experience will make mistakes along the way. Mistakes don’t only occur with beginners. "Experience users often take shortcuts because they have enough knowledge to be able to recover rapidly. In other words, they are as vulnerable as anyone else, they may just make less basic mistakes"(McMullen, 1996). A problem has been that beginners have made mistakes and gave up pursuing computers afterwards. Many times students drop-out or change careers due to not having the experience from the start and never wanting to proceed into more knowledge of computers. "Students lacking sound computer fundamentals may find it difficult to subsequently acquire more sophisticated computer skills."

     In an article about relationships of computer experience and computer self-efficacy Omar (1991) states that "Accordingly, students entering college today are expected to be more computer literate than their counterparts in years past (Omar, 1991). Therefore, if students bring to class the basic computer knowledge and skills regularly taught in introductory courses, then the novice-level training approach typically employed in first year college courses may not be appropriate." These courses were unnecessary and students may become discouraged and avoid computer use. A survey was conducted (Brock 1992) and it was found that "nearly any type of computer experience, especially video game experience, increased the computer literacy levels of incoming students to some degree... exposure to computer information systems at the high school or community college level was found to have little significant impact on student computer literacy." It is concluded that "the relationship between computer experience and computer performance is positioned to occur only when that experience directly impacts computer self-efficacy. Although an individual might have substantial computer experience does not guarantee successful performance with a computer."

     In some cases jobs that require computer experience is not that rewarding financially. In an article titled Looking for cheap hires, a survey shows small daily newspapers are seeking high quality college graduates but looking to pay them under $16,000 a year. Computer experience is needed for journalism.

     It does matter what kind of experience you have to have success in the future and what type of salaries will be made. This does not mean life will be successful with the experience. In 1999, having computer experience is no longer looked upon as a positive, but it is a basic skill like reading. People who do not have computer experience will be viewed by society as strange individuals. Those who lack computer skills now should’ve had them yesterday.
 
 

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