Internet is the language of computer science, a universal
web communication; "inter nos" is latin and means "between us".
So much
time has passed since people spoke Latin! ...once upon a time, a long time
ago, the pleasure and the necessity to be with family and friends at home
(or once in the barn) or at an inn or tavern... It seems like the
beginning of a fable though yesterday and the day before yesterday, it was
the reality. And today? Today, many people have a computer or some other
electronic device with which they can connect with whomever has the
same device, wherever in the world, at whatever moment. Unfortunately,
people often assume that everyone knows how to use these tools without
giving a thought to providing adequate training. This is all very
interesting and practical, but if those are not used correctly, one can
risk transforming social relations into virtual ones: "I have so many
friends, but I don't know anyone" can sound absurd but true. Personal,
direct relationships and physical contact are of great importance and can
be accompanied by electronic relationships, but not substituted by them.
In Italy, it is not yet necessary to open rehab clinics for people with
computer addictions like there are in other countries where some young
people spend their time in front of the monitor where they may end up
having only electronic communications. Italians have in their genes the
pleasure to spend time with people, and have good meals in good company
(what goes on virtually will never be comparable). In other words, an
email is very useful, many people can read it at the same time when I want
to, but meeting in the office's corridors office and drinking coffee
together holds another kind of flavour. Electronic tools are essential;
the added-value of a person is priceless.
Test: Is your communication real or
virtual?
1) In 5 seconds, answer this question:
Ten
ships that are alike take 10 days to consume 10 fuel tanks. How many
days does one ship need to consume one fuel tank?
a) 1
b)
10
c) 100
2) What do you think motivates an alpinist to
climb a mountain?
a) a dream
b) courage
c) a
challenge
3) You wake up in the morning and:
a)
you tranquilly make breakfast
b) you listen to the news
c) you
think about the program of the day
4) To change plans at the last moment for you it
is:
a) irritating
b) amusing
c) normal
5) To you, numbered tables are:
a)
something else to throw in the wastebasket
b) one of your
strengths
c) something that needs to be done
6) You are walking on a street that bears the
name of someone you never heard of:
a) you do research to
learn who it was
b) you remain indifferent
c) you would like to know
more, but you won't find out
7) What is your favourite number:
a)
8
b) 73
c) 149
8) Among the following cities: Paris, London,
Frankfurt, Prague, Madrid, which one would you reject?
a)
Paris
b) Frankfurt
c) Prague
9) When you hear the word "web", you
think:
a) confusion
b) a spider
c) a game in a labyrinth
10) In a herd, you would like to
be:
a) the Sheppard dog
b) the sheep with the most
beautiful hair
c) the black sheep
11) Your boss wants to speak with you: his news
will be...
a) lovely
b) bad
c) neither lovely nor
bad
12) The word "mouse" makes you think
of:
a) Mickey
b) a snout, a face
c) a museum
13) You have no romantic link and your friends are
preparing you a blind date with someone you don't know; you
think:
a) let's do it!
b) why not?
c) absolutely not
14) What do you associate with the word
"missile"?
a) danger
b) speed
c) space
15) You think that to learn an aboriginal language
would be:
a) not too difficult
b) difficult
c) very
difficult
SCORE
Question A B
C
| Question | A | B | C |
| 1) | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| 2) | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 3) | 1 | 3 | 2 |
| 4) | 1 | 3 | 2 |
| 5) | 1 | 3 | 2 |
| 6) | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| 7) | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 8) | 1 | 3 | 2 |
| 9) | 1 | 3 | 2 |
| 10) | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| 11) | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| 12) | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| 13) | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| 14) | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 15) | 3 | 2 | 1 |
EXPLANATIONS
FROM 45 TO 36
POINTS:
TELEMATICS
You are really up to date and computers are your daily bread; you spend a lot of time on the computer and not only for your work. It seems that you are in a race to have a large number of friends, but how many real "meat and bones" friends do you have? Blogs and chats are very important to keep contact with others, but the personal contact is so much more important. How about turning the computer off, and getting out of the house to take a walk with someone?
FROM 35 TO 25 POINTS:
USEFUL
TOOLS
Witch hunts are not for you; you use the computer science, aware of its advantages and limits; you use it as a mean, not as an end. You know how to alternate your electronic and personal relationships and even if at home you have a computer and personal games, their use is not your first thought. An evening of conversations or games with family or friends: that is still a priority for you.
FROM 24 TO 15
POINTS:
HOSTILITY
Sometimes, you see the computer as a magic box able
to swallow you up in an unknown world; or you're scared that if you hit a
wrong key everything will blow up. If you don't want to go near it or try
trusting it a little, you need to think that this is the present as well
as the future of our society; the earlier you get used to it the
better.
P.S. And don't worry, no missile is going to be launched if you
press the wrong key... unless you work at the NASA.
