Technological literacy means far more than just the
ability to use computers and other machines. It implies
an understanding of the factors involved in the creation
and development of technologies and of the impacts
of technology on society, on individuals, and on
the environment. Ignorance of any of these facets can
have serious consequences in a future in which technology
will play an ever more determinant role. Unfortunately,
the importance as well as the intrinsically interdisciplinary
nature of technological literacy have
not yet been perceived by the educational system and
used to enrich the content of school curricula and of
traditional liberal arts college curricula. The diffusion
of technological literacy is an urgent priority in helping
shape our culture, in providing a sense of optimism
about our future, and in enabling us to avoid the disasters
that the neglect of technology has wreaked historically
on other societies. |