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October 01, 2004

Digital divide SNP-style III: Computer literacy for politicians

What are the skills that politicians need to keep in touch with the world and be effective communicators? Here is my provisional list:

  1. The ability to type
  2. The ability to write and save a simple text on a computer
  3. The ability to make a simple spreadsheet on a computer
  4. The ability to take a photograph and upload it to a server
  5. The ability to receive and reply to an email
  6. The ability to use an online search engine
  7. The ability to make a multimedia presentation
  8. The ability to make a blog to communicate with constituents
  9. The ability to create a personal website
  10. The ability to create a relational or spatial (geographical information system) database to analyze a (social, political or economic) problem

All these skills, with the possible exception of the first and last, are easy enough to pick up - a bit like learning to use new household appliances!

Posted by Simon Holledge at October 1, 2004 12:53 AM