Technology In Action

© 2008 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 1

 Technology In Action

Chapter 1
Why Computers Matter to You:
Becoming Computer Fluent

© 2008 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 2

 Chapter Topics
• Computer fluency
• Computers and careers
• Computer functions
• Data vs. information
• Computer hardware and software
• Societal challenges and computers
• Future technologies

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 What is Computer Fluency?
• To be computer
fluent you must:
– Understand a
computer’s
capabilities and
limitations
– Know how to use a
computer

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 Being a Savvy Computer User
and Consumer
• Make good purchase decisions
• Maintain your computer
• Keep abreast of changes in
technology
• Understand the real risks
• Use the Internet wisely
• Avoid online annoyances
• Avoid hackers and viruses
• Protect your privacy

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 Computers in your Career?
• Computer careers in:
– Business
– The Arts
– The Medical Field
– Law Enforcement
– Legal Fields
– Education
– The Sciences
– Gaming
– Homes

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 Computers in Business
• Point of Sale Terminals
• Tracking merchandise

• Data mining

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 Computers in Farming
and Ranching
• Assist in managing complex farming
business and information systems
• RFID tags track and record animals in
case of diseases
• Computerized sensors and equipment
activation protect crops

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 Computers in the Arts
• Virtual art
• Virtual dance

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 Computers in the Medical Field
• Virtual reality in medical applications
• Patient simulator • Da Vinci Surgical System

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 Computers in Law Enforcement
• Computer forensics

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 Computers in the Legal Fields
• Surveillance cameras
• Forensic animation

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 Computers in Education
• Computers in the
classroom
• Distance education
• Computerized
research
• The Internet

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 Computers and the Sciences
• Supercomputers
• Archeology
• Meteorology

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 Computers in Sports
• Training
• Timing and
scorekeeping
• Data storage and
statistics
• “Smartballs” sense
when soccer goals
are scored

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 Computer Gaming Careers
• Programming
• 3D animation

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 Computers at Home
• Robotics
• Smart appliances

Internet-
connected
refrigerator Robomower

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 Technology of Tomorrow
• Nanoscience
• Biomedical chip implants
• Artificial Intelligence

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 Nanoscience
• Molecules and nanostructures
• Nanomachines
Fluid flow inside
Nanomachines

5.4n
m

Four-α-helix
protein scaffold

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 Biomedical Chip Implants
• Technological solutions to
physical problems Retinal Implants

• Identity chips

VeriChip

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 Artificial Intelligence
• Robots
• Neurons vs. Microchips

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Challenges Facing a Digital Society
• Computer use ethics
• Privacy risks
• Personal data
collection
• Monitoring e-mail
• Copyright
infringement
• Software piracy
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 Becoming Computer Fluent
• Data processing
• Bits and bytes
• Computer hardware
• Computer software
• Computer platforms
• Specialty computers

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 Computers are Data
Processing Devices
• Four major functions:
– Input data
– Process data
– Output information
– Store data and information
DATA
IN

INFORMATION
OUT

© 2008 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 24

 Bits and Bytes:
The Language of Computers
• Bit
– Binary digit OFF ON
Microchip
– 0 or 1 0 1
Switch
• Byte
– Eight bits
• ASCII
– Each byte represents a
letter, number or special
character
=4
0 0 1 1 0 1 0 0
=A
0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1
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 How Much is a Byte?
NAME ABBREVIATION NUMBER OF RELATIVE SIZE
BYTES
Byte B 1 byte Can hold one character of data.

Kilobyte KB 1,024 bytes Can hold 1,024 characters or about half of

a typewritten page double-spaced.

Megabyte MB 1,048,576 bytes A floppy disk holds approximately 1.4 MB

of data, or approximately 768 pages of
typed text.

Gigabyte GB 1,073,741,824 bytes Approximately 786,432 pages of text.

Since 500 sheets of paper is
approximately 2 inches, this represents a
stack of paper 262 feet high.

Terabyte TB 1,099,511,627,776 bytes This represents a stack of typewritten

pages almost 51 miles high.

Petabyte PB 1,125,899,906,842,624 The stack of pages is now 52,000 miles

bytes high, or about one-fourth the distance from
the Earth to the moon.

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 Computer Hardware
• Input devices
• System unit
• Output devices
• Storage devices

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 Input Devices
• Enter data to be processed
– Keyboard
– Scanners
– Mouse
– Trackball
– Touch screen
– Microphone
– Game controller
– Digital camera

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 System Unit
• Cabinet that houses all components
• Motherboard
• CPU
• Memory modules
System Unit
CPU

Memory
Module

Motherboard

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 Output Devices
• Enable us to see or hear the processed
information
– Monitor
– Speakers
– Printers

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 Storage Devices
• Enable us to store data or information to
be accessed again

Hard Disk Drive Floppy Disk CD / DVD Drive

Flash Drive
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 Computer Software
• Software - programs
that enable the hardware
to perform different tasks
• Application software
– Tools for getting things
done

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 Computer Software
• System software
– Essential for platform operation and support

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 Computer Platforms:
PCs and Macs
PC Mac
• CPU – Intel, AMD • CPU – Motorola
• Operating system – • Operating system –
Microsoft Windows Apple Mac OS

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 Specialty Computers
Server
• PDA PDA

• Server
• Mainframe
• Supercomputer
• Microcontrollers
Mainframe
Supercomputer

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 Chapter 1 Summary Questions
• What does it mean to be “computer
fluent”?

© 2008 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 36

 Chapter 1 Summary Questions
• What is a savvy computer user and
consumer?

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 Chapter 1 Summary Questions
• How can becoming computer fluent help
you in a career?

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 Chapter 1 Summary Questions
• What are some future technologies?

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 Chapter 1 Summary Questions
• What kinds of challenges do computers
bring to society?

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 Chapter 1 Summary Questions
• What are a computer’s four main
functions?

© 2008 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 41

 Chapter 1 Summary Questions
• What is the difference between data and
information?

© 2008 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 42

 Chapter 1 Summary Questions
• What are a bit and a byte?

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 Chapter 1 Summary Questions
• What hardware does a computer use to
perform its functions?

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 Chapter 1 Summary Questions
• What are the two main types of software?

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 Chapter 1 Summary Questions
• What different kinds of computers are
there?

© 2008 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 46