Hyderabad: World Computer Literacy Day is celebrated every year on December 2, with the noble aim of promoting computer literacy and making computer use accessible to everyone. Initiated by the National Institute of Information Technology (NIIT), this day is a reminder of the importance of computer literacy in our increasingly digital world.
It was first celebrated in 2001 to mark the 20th anniversary of NIIT's foundation in 1981. The day was created to bridge the digital divide by focusing on educating women and children in computer literacy. It also underscores the need for continued efforts to ensure everyone, regardless of their socio-economic background, has the skills and opportunities to navigate the digital landscape effectively.
Why It Matters
In today's digital era, computer literacy is essential. Yet, many people are still deprived of basic computer skills. This is especially true for women and youth from disadvantaged groups who face significant barriers to accessing digital technology.
A recent study by the Centre for Economic and Social Studies (CES) found that only 12 per cent of individuals above the age of 15 in India are proficient in information and communication technologies (ICT). This day serves as a call to action for individuals and organisations to help improve computer literacy skills for those who do not have the opportunity to acquire them.
Being computer literate involves mastering several key skills that are crucial for professional success, which include keyboarding, writing emails, understanding operating systems, internet navigation, word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, image editing, online research, and database usage.
10 Interesting Facts About Computers
Computers have a rich history filled with fascinating milestones. These machines have advanced through five generations, starting with bulky batch-operating systems (First) to smaller batch systems (Second), integrated circuits (Third), VLSI circuits (Fourth), and AI with parallel processing (Fifth). Following are 10 interesting facts about computers that everyone should know:
- The first computer was invented by Charles Babbage between 1833 and 1871.
- Ada Lovelace, a mathematician and writer, created the first computer algorithms.
- The first keyboard, replacing punch cards, was created in 1947.
- The first computer mouse was made out of wood in 1964 by Douglas Engelbart and Bill English at the Stanford Research Institute.
- The first personal computer, Kenbak-1, was sold in 1971 for $750 (approximately ₹62,000).
- Major computer companies like Microsoft, HP, and Apple started in garages.
- The Creeper program, created in 1971 by Bob Thomas, is considered the first computer virus.
- India's first computer was installed in 1955 at the Indian Statistical Institute in Kolkata.
- The SAGE (Semi-Automatic Ground Environment) system is the most expensive computer ever built, costing an estimated $8 billion.
- Over 40 per cent of Indians aged 15-29 report having basic computer skills.
