General
Computer Question 7: How are computers used in Entertainment and
Recreation?
Answer: Computers can be found throughout the
entertainment industry. They are behind much of the glitz and excitement that
we encounter every time we turn on the television, attend a professional
basketball game, or risk our money in the slot machines of Las Vegas. Computers
are used to create the special effects used in television advertisements, the
colorful displays on the score boards at sports arenas, and the cards that are
displayed on the screen if we play a game of video poker. Computer games are
becoming more and more lifelike as the computer's capability to portray
graphics is constantly improved.
In the motion picture industry, the
time required to create animation has been greatly reduced through the use of
computers and special graphics software. The movie industry also uses computers
routinely for a variety of special effects and specialized computer programs
have even made it possible to "colorize" old black-and-white films.
Musicians are also taking advantage
of advances in technology by using computerized electronic synthesizers to
store, modify, and access a wide variety of sounds. Special word processing
software has been created for scoring music and other applications give
musicians a way to actually cut and paste stored sounds to create compositions.
Answer: With the proliferation of computers throughout
our society, there has been a resultant discussion about what their role should
be. Although almost everyone recognizes the presence of computers in today's
workplaces, not everyone welcomes them. Some employees fear that they may be
replaced by computers. And although it may be true that in some areas such as
manufacturing where robots have taken over the job of human workers, overall,
the employment of computers has not resulted in a net loss of
jobs. What computers have often caused is a need for people to be retrained so
that they can fill the jobs that have been created by computers and new related
technologies. In some cases the retraining is minimal, as when typists learn to
apply their typing skills to word processing but, in other cases, significant
retraining is necessary.
In some jobs, for example, where
assembly-line workers have been displaced by robots, employees have to be
totally retrained. New technology-based manufacturing systems often require an
entirely new set of worker skills and people who have habituated to doing their
work in a particular way often find it difficult to make the changes necessary
to fit in. Many of us are afraid of change, until we learn more about what it
means. Fear of technology is known as technophobia, and
there are a fair number of people suffering from it these days. However, many
people feel that as new generations grow up with computers and learn to use
them in a variety of environments they will feel more comfortable with the
technology and will not suffer the discomfort of this transitional period.
Answer: While some people fear the change that
computers represent, others are taking advantage of the new capabilities they
offer. Using computers and communications technologies, some people are working
out agreements with their employers wherein they do their work in their homes.
These workers can communicate with the office and access information from the
company's computer system by using a computer and modem attached to the phone
line. In addition, many workers are establishing computer systems in their
homes of the same type as they use at work. That way, they can install the same
programs at home as they use in the office and then carry files back and forth
between the two locations. Using one of these methods, if employees have to
work overtime, at least they can do so in the comfort of their own home.
Parents can be available for their children at home and still get some work
done. Disabled workers can have jobs and not have to face the difficulties of
commuting by car or public transportation. By telecommuting,
employees can do the work when they are most productive. As a result, because
the computer never sleeps, night owls can work all night.
General
Computer Question 10: What is ergonomics?
Answer: Ergonomics is the study of
how humans interact with all kinds of machines, not just computers. But today,
with so many using a computer as an everyday part of their jobs, there is
considerable focus on the ergonomic issues that are related to the use of the
computer. As health concerns arise, the computer industry and others are
attempting to solve the problems related to continual use of computers. Special
attention has been focused on ergonomic factors that can improve the design of
input and output devices in order to reduce fatigue and other work-related
problems. Knowing that there are potential problems associated with computer
use, businesses and other organizations are now paying more attention to the
work environment, making sure that desks and chairs are adjustable and that
there are appropriate light levels. Many companies are now purchasing special devices
that are designed to improve the working conditions for their employees who use
computers.
In addition to giving consideration
to physical ergonomic issues, the computer industry is also trying to improve
the way we interface with the computer by making the computer easier and more
intuitive to use. New software designs utilize standard ways to carry out
common computer tasks. If the computer-user interface employed in
software programs is the same or very similar from one program to the next, the
user can generalize from skills they have previously learned. This approach
helps to relieve some of the stress related to having to learn a new program.
Because today's input and output
devices provide the interface between human users and the computer, ergonomic
analysis often focuses on these devices.
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