Having graduated from the University of Miami in 1983, computers did not play any role in my education. In fact, the personal computer wasn't even invented until 1984. Even with its introduction in architectural firms at the time, the computer was relegated to spec writing and mundane office administration tasks.
Today, the computer is a ubiquitous element in all modern offices. It is a very useful tool in the workplace today and should be consider as such much like the triangle and the straight edge. What I feel gets lost in practice today is the knowledge and experience an architect can bring to a project exclusive of his or her abilities with CAD. I personally have learned, albeit grudgingly, how to use this technology over the years and I must say it has made me a better professional. Without this knowledge, communicating with younger professionals would have been very difficult. I have found through the years that without proper oversight and or knowledge, the product that is produced from such technology can be as useless as the paper it was printed on.
Historically, young interns and architects were forced to understand how building components went together through the use of hand drawings. That discipline alone made every line important. Today, with CAD, a young intern or architect can simply copy a detail from another job without really knowing how it might apply to the work that he or she is tasked with. Just because it looks good, doesn't make it right. Without the drawing discipline in the workplace, I think young practitioners are missing an important step in their development as architects. This is where a "seasoned professional" can make a difference as a mentor and a sounding board. We need to be able to bridge the gap between the two professional divides and embrace and incorporate technology as it was meant to be .... a tool, not a replacement for experience.