Instruction: Read the article below and answer the questions What Computers Can, Cannot, and Should

Not Do Are you intimidated by computers? Do you worry that computers might eventually take over everything? See what these textbook authors, computer scientists, have to say on the subject. Although computer technology has become increasingly more sophisticated since this selection was written, the principles described in it remain as true today as when they were first written. 1. Computers exist to benefit and assist people, not to replace them. Computers cannot, for example, make emotional judgments, disobey instructions entered by humans, read people's minds, or replace interpersonal relationships. On the contrary, people must be extremely explicit in instructing a computer to perform even the simplest commands. What computers can do, ho ever, is extremely helpful. !hey can

"tore data in vast amounts #rocess data $uickly and accurately "imulate possible outcomes based on a given set of conditions %ecommend or take action based on output

&. Computers cannot be effective unless the people using them are able to identify the results they need and ho to achieve those results. 'ltimately, computers are dependent upon people. (. )ccordingly, people should not relin$uish their decision*making responsibilities to computers. +umans need to be on hand to interpret conditions reported by computers, particularly if medical treatment, national defense, air traffic control, or even loan processing is involved. ,onprogrammable, human factors must complement computer read*outs for a complete and fair analysis. -. )t times computers may appear to make decisions. .or example, in monitoring a refinery /a site here substances such as oil are processed0, a computer of oxygen to a patient. 1n both might trigger a fire*extinguishing system. )nother computer, used for monitoring vital signs, might regulate the flo cases, ho ever, although the computer initiates action, it does not make a

decision. %ather, the decisions of these process control systems ere made by the human beings ho programmed the machines to respond to a particular set of conditions. !herefore, people must take complete responsibility for a computer's actions. !hey must anticipate all potential problems and direct computers to avoid them. 2. While computers may be able to enhance a person's capabilities, they can never ade$uately replace interpersonal relationships. 3ven the most sophisticated computing machinery cannot supplant parent*to*child and teacher*to*student relationships. "imilarly, the rapport bet een physician and patient is essential for successful treatment. 4. #eople, then, are an integral part of any computer system that accepts input, processes it, and delivers output. #eople control computer systems through program design, by monitoring operations, and by making final decisions based upon computer output !hey should not give up decision*making responsibilities because the human $ualities of analysis, reasoning, and compassion are re$uired to interpret computer delivered results. "ource5 !imothy !rainor and 6iane 7rasne ich, 9c:ra *+ill Companies, 1nc., 1;;-, pp. 1&*1-. omputers, -th ed. ,e 8ork 5 !he

Comprehension Questions Directions5 <uestions 1*2 are objective $uestions that are based on the information in the selection. )ns er them by circling on the correct ans er. 1. Which of the follo ing are computers not able to do= a. replace interpersonal relationships b. simulate possible outcomes based on a given set of conditions c. store vast amounts of data d. process data accurately and $uickly

&. With regard to decision making, computers a. are able to make fast, accurate decisions. b. make decisions and store data related to the decision. c. only appear to make decisions. d. make more logical decisions than people do. (. #eople control computer systems in a. by designing the program b. by monitoring operations c. by making final decisions based on the output d. all of the above hich of the follo ing ays=

-. Computers can a. make emotional judgments. b. assist people. c. disobey instructions entered by humans. d. read people's minds.

5. In paragraph 4 the word trigger means a. to install. b. to launch. c. to set off.

d. to shut down.

4. Complete responsibility for a computer's actions ultimately rests ith a. people. b. control systems. c. sophisticated computing machinery. d. data stored in the computer's system.

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