Computing is not just about computers or code. Discover how information, internet, and digital tools shape daily life, autonomy, and modern work.
AI Mention : Translated from french to english en/us and spoken using AI. Thank you for your understanding.
What Is Computing, What Is It Really Used For, and Is It Truly Necessary?
When people talk about IT or computing, many immediately think of computers, smartphones, or modern technologies. Yet computing is a much broader concept than that.
In this article, I would like to explain simply:
- what computing really is
- what it is actually used for
- whether it is truly necessary for success in life
A personal discovery of computing in the 1990s
Personally, I discovered computing quite early. I had a computer in my childhood, in the 1990s, at a time when the Internet was not yet as widespread as it is today.
From a very young age, I became interested in computers. But at the same time, I also loved reading and educating myself. For example, I used to spend time reading encyclopedias to learn new words and better understand the world.
Sometimes I would start with the letter A, then move on to the letter B, and so on. Other times, I would simply choose a random word that caught my interest.
And that is where we can make an interesting connection:
? An encyclopedia is already a form of computing.
Why?
Because an encyclopedia contains organized information.
Computing: above all, the organization of information
In reality, computing is прежде all about structuring, processing, and transmitting information.
This information can take many forms:
words
definitions
images
data
knowledge
So computing is not only related to:
a computer
a phone
a printer
an internet box or router
an antenna or a network
All of these are hardware and technologies, but the core of computing remains information itself.
We can even broaden this idea further.
For example, a journalist also works with information. They collect information, analyze it, and share it.
An infopreneur does the same thing: they turn information into content that can be monetized.
In all these cases, it is always about managing and transmitting information.
Information and communication technologies
Today, we often talk about information and communication technologies, or ICT.
These include, among other things:
computers
smartphones
television
the Internet
social media
digital platforms
The current trend is, of course, artificial intelligence.
But once again, behind all these technologies, the same reality remains:
? organized and processed information.
When you use a conversational agent or artificial intelligence, you write a few sentences and receive a structured answer in return.
That too is a form of computing.
Do you really need to be an expert in computing?
An interesting question then arises:
Is it really useful to be an expert in computing or to have a master’s degree in this field?
Today, many applications have become very simple to use. For example, they allow people:
to communicate with others, whether near or far
to exchange information quickly
to work remotely
So it is not necessary to understand all the technology behind them.
It is a bit like the law:
? everyone is supposed to know the law, yet no one knows every law.
In computing, there are also rules, such as:
data protection laws
the French Data Protection Act
digital security rules
Very often, it is enough to understand the basic principles.
The exchange of information does not depend only on the Internet
Computing is often associated with the Internet, but the exchange of information has existed for a very long time.
Before the Internet, information was already circulating:
by mail
by telephone
through books
through newspapers
through direct conversations, letters, or dialogue
For example, writing a letter to someone is also a form of transmitting information.
And sometimes, what is written on paper can have more depth than what we quickly type on a keyboard or smartphone.
Screens have changed the way we access information
Today, much content exists in several formats:
printed books
ebooks
online articles
videos
podcasts
A book can be read:
on paper
on a tablet
on a computer
on a smartphone
But this also raises an important question.
? Do all these technologies really bring us closer together, or do they isolate us?
The original purpose of new technologies is simple:
to allow people to exchange more easily and more quickly.
But as with any tool, there is both good and bad use of these technologies.
The risks associated with using the Internet
The Internet also involves risks.
For example:
hacking
digital surveillance
online scams
malicious use of data
Some security practices should be better known by the general public.
For example:
changing passwords regularly
securing accounts
protecting your phone
using security protocols
In some IT training programs, people are even advised to change their main password every month.
In reality, it is sometimes very difficult to know whether you have been hacked or not.
Laws that protect users
There are, however, many laws that govern the use of computing and digital technologies.
In France, certain laws protect citizens and Internet users.
But in the media, we often hear more about:
abuses
scandals
misuse
rather than about the protections that already exist and are worth knowing.
As for me, what interests me more is how to use technology in a responsible and constructive way.
New technologies and success
Another question arises:
Do new technologies really make it possible to “succeed”?
Technologies can help people:
learn new skills
access knowledge
meet new people
develop projects
But everything depends on how they are used.
There can be:
good research
bad research
inspiring content
negative content
Finding sources of inspiration through the Internet
Today, there is an immense amount of information available.
Social media and the Internet can become real sources of inspiration if we choose carefully what we consume.
The more you look for:
inspiring content
constructive ideas
people who share their experience
the more platforms will offer you that kind of information.
That is how a positive digital environment can be created.
Inspiring people have often gone through difficulties
When we look at people who succeed in different fields, such as:
personal development
marketing
entrepreneurship
computing
we notice one thing.
Very often, these people have gone through:
difficulties
failures
complicated periods in life
and it is precisely that experience that later allows them to share valuable lessons.
Conclusion: computing is much more than technology
In the end, computing cannot be reduced to computers or smartphones.
Above all, it concerns:
information
the way it is organized
the way it is transmitted
New technologies make access to information easier, but they do not replace:
reflection
critical thinking
the search for reliable sources
When used well, they can become a powerful tool for:
learning
communication
inspiration
and personal or professional development.
José D.
Related: L'informatique est-elle utile ?