[thisrod]

That doesn't necessarily follow. Cars are much more important now than in the 1940s. OTOH, "motor literacy"—in the sense of knowing how cars worked and being able to keep them running—might have been a lot more common back then.

[mvindahl]

That's an excellent insight, actually! A century ago, cars were fairly simple devices which required skill to start and operate. These days they are highly complex and hide their complexity nicely behind a dashboard. Once the abstraction leaks, however slightly, we call the pros. Or at least I do.

Computer technology follows the same trajectory because most people purchase technology for solving tasks, not because they have a craving for complexity. So "computer literacy" is about as important to society as "motor literacy".

Common sense is as important as ever, though. I.e. having a repository of background knowledge to be able to detect bullshit, fake news, and propaganda on the internet. That's the kind of old school literacy that we need.

[thmsths]

It might be some kind of bias but I have always felt like when it comes to cars average Joe is at least capable of changing a tire, but when it comes to computers the very same person does not even seem to try.

[throwanem]

Changing a tire takes some elbow grease, but the nature of the problem and the steps involved in the task are all pretty obvious. It might take 20 minutes or a half hour if the lugs are really tight, but you can grasp the whole problem in just a few seconds' thought.

Little if anything to do with computers manages to be so intuitive.