Internet is the language of computer science, a universal web communication; "inter nos" is Latin and it means "between us". So much time has passed since people spoke Latin! Once upon a time, a long time ago, there was pleasure and necessity in being 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 tool with which they can connect with whomever has the same tools, 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 an adequate training. Everyone can share the experience of technology, however, and it is like entering a library and learning about research from Nobel prize winners or cooking recipes. These tools are also changing our social life, our personal contacts and friendships because we can communicate regardless of time and space. 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 we 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: Inter-Net or Inter-Nos?
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 is:
a) irritating
b) amusing
c) normal
5)
To you, multiplication tables are:
a) another puzzle
b) one
of your strengths
c) something that needs to be learned
6) You are moving on 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) The word "web" makes you think
of?
a) confusion
b) a spider
c) a game in a
labyrinth
10) In a herd, you would like to
be:
a) the shepherd 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) positive
b) bad
c) neither positive nor
bad
12) The word "mouse" makes you think
of?
a) Mickey Mouse
b) a snout, a face
c) a museum
13) You have no romantic link and your friends
are organizing a blind date for you 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 |
| 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 |
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 technology, aware
of its advantages and limits; you use it as a means, 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 priority. An evening of conversations or games with family or
friends, that is still what is most important to 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.
