Electronic Literacy Narrative

Aaron Luhm

English 191

Prof. Hennes

9/5/2012

My Generation

            Technology is one of the greatest milestones our generation has ever experienced. We see it all around us, It’s everywhere. I will guarantee there is some sort of electronic your living room, in your kitchen, and hell even your pocket! Daily living is now nearly impossible without it. At a very young age, I remember one of the first times I used a computer. It was on one of those ancient Mac computers that had all the hype back in the day. When my dad finally bought the first family computer, I was about five or six. It was crazy; I didn’t know what to think. The workroom was the new computer room. When I walked in the room, all I saw was the bright screen reflecting off the walls of the room. My brothers were huddled around the computer, so couldn’t really get a good look at it. I wasn’t extremely interested because I was six and probably more amused playing with action figures.

            After a couple hours of waiting while my brothers to configured everything, I glanced at the giant 15-inch screen. I kept seeing this tiny little arrow running across the screen side to side. I wondered what it was. I didn’t want to ask or say anything to my brothers because I knew there was a simple answer. Plus, my older brother Ian (aspiring meteorologist) would give me shit for it. I noticed my oldest brother Justin (the computer junkie) doing something strange with his arm. He was holding something in his hand moving his arm back and forth. It wouldn’t stop clicking in his hand; It had a high-pitched click that wouldn’t stop. Sounded like something you’d hear from an African beetle or small rodent. He was moving it back and forth across the table, doing the same motions over and over and over. His eyes were glued to the screen like a zombie fixed on prey. Finally, realized that the arrow on the screen had movement because of the object Justin was holding in his hand.

            After watching for a little bit, I had a good idea on how to use it. My brothers had finally grown tired, so now it was my turn. The start screen showed two pieces of information: Username and Password. For about ten minutes, I sat there trying to figure out what the word username meant. I repeatedly typed random words into text box with repeated failure. I was about to call it quits because I was so frustrated. I found a note above the computer in the cupboard. It appeared to be written by my dad because of the sloppy handwriting. It gave a list of everyone in the family’s usernames and passwords. Username: Luhmaar08 Password:12673. I typed everything word for word, and I was inside the computer.

            Finally, got inside my as account and I immediately started to fiddle. I was timid to click on any applications that the computer had. I was afraid I might cause a malfunction and make the computer break. My favorite accessory on the new computer was the Paint application you find in ‘tools’. I spent hours upon hours just making meaningless pictures any kid would draw. Except there was a difference, I didn’t need a piece of paper. I didn’t need crayons or markers; I didn’t have to get my hands dirty. With a couple delicate clicks I could make a work of art on the computer. I even printed out a picture that I had made because I was so proud. Every picture I made on Paint was a picture Van Gogh would approve of.
            I began to grow tired of the painting, so I decided to explore the computer some more. I looked at so many different applications that did so many different things. I found one called Word that lets you type papers for letters and schoolwork. Another one was call Solitaire. The application symbol was the King of Hearts, so I knew it was a card game. I didn’t really know how to play so exited out of that pretty quick. As I wandered on the endless supply of data, I found Internet Explorer. Curiosity hit me quick, as I moved the arrow above the logo. When I clicked, I waited a moment for it to load. I sounded like an exciting video game where you “Explored the Internet”. I didn’t even know what Internet meant. “eeeeeeee aaaaaaaa e-ung, e-ung pththththththththshshshshshshshshsh eeeeee uuuuuu doo doot!” I immediately jumped out of my seat as the noise started. The computer was talking to me.

            Where in the world did that noise come from? The computer made the strangest noise I had ever heard. It sounded like a Transformer from those old 80’s cartoons. I was so startled I shut the computer off immediately after it stopped talking. I was ready for bed; my eyes were burning due to the computer screen. It felt like I had learned how to ride a bike again. I had my fair share of amusement for the night. It was my first time ever using something like that. I never even knew something like that had existed. My mind was wandering.