Technology In Action © 2017 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 1 Technology In Action Chapter 1 Why Computers Matter to You: Becoming Computer Fluent © 2017 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 2 Objectives • Computer fluency • Computers and careers • Computer functions • Data vs. information • Computer hardware and software • Societal challenges and computers • Future technologies © 2017 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 3 What is Computer Fluency? • To be computer fluent you must: – Understand a computer’s capabilities and limitations – Know how to use a computer © 2017 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 4 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 © 2007 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 5 Computers in your Career? • Computer careers in: – Business – The Arts – The Medical Field – Law Enforcement – Legal Fields – Education – The Sciences – Gaming – Homes © 2017 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 6 Computers in Business • Point of Sale Terminals • Tracking merchandise • Data mining © 2007 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 7 Computers in the Arts • Virtual art • Virtual dance © 2007 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 8 Computers in the Medical Field • Virtual reality in medical applications • Patient simulator • Da Vinci Surgical System © 2007 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 9 Computers in Law Enforcement • Computer forensics © 2007 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 10 Computers in the Legal Fields • Surveillance cameras • Forensic animation © 2007 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 11 Computers in Education • Computers in the classroom • Distance Education • Computerized research • The Internet © 2007 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 12 Computers and the Sciences • Supercomputers • Archeology • Meteorology © 2007 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 13 Computers in Sports • Training • Timing and scorekeeping • Data storage and statistics © 2007 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 14 Computer Gaming Careers • Programming • 3D animation © 2007 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 15 Computers at Home • Robotics • Smart appliances Internetconnected refrigerator © 2007 Prentice-Hall, Inc. Robomower 16 Technology of Tomorrow • Nanoscience • Biomedical Chip Implants • Artificial Intelligence © 2007 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 17 Nanoscience • Molecules and nanostructures • Nanomachines Fluid flow inside Nanomachines 5.4n m Four-α-helix protein scaffold © 2007 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 18 Biomedical Chip Implants • Technological solutions to physical problems • Identity chips Retinal Implants VeriChip © 2007 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 19 Artificial Intelligence • Robots • Neurons vs Microchips © 2007 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 20 Challenges Facing a Digital Society • Privacy risks • Personal data collection • Monitoring e-mail • Copyright infringement • Software piracy © 2007 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 21 Becoming Computer Fluent • Data processing • Bits and bytes • Computer hardware • Computer software • Computer platforms • Specialty computers © 2007 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 22 Data vs. Information • Data vs. Information: – Data is a representation of a fact or idea • Number • Word • Picture • Sound – Information is data that has been organized or presented in a meaningful fashion. © 2007 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 23 Computers are Data Processing Devices • Four major functions: – Input data – Process data – Output information – Store data and information DATA IN INFORMATION OUT © 2007 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 24 Bits and Bytes: The Language of Computers • Bit – Binary digit – 0 or 1 Microchip Switch • Byte OFF ON 0 1 – Eight bits • ASCII – Each byte represents a letter, number or special character =4 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 =A 0 © 2007 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 25 How Much is a Byte? NAME ABBREVIATION NUMBER OF BYTES RELATIVE SIZE 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 bytes The stack of pages is now 52,000 miles high, or about one-fourth the distance from the Earth to the moon. © 2007 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 26 Computer Hardware • Input devices • System unit • Output devices • Storage devices © 2007 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 27 Input Devices • Enter data to be processed – Keyboard – Scanners – Mouse – Trackball – Touch screen – Microphone – Game Controller – Digital camera © 2007 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 28 System Unit • Cabinet that houses all components • Motherboard • CPU • Memory modules System Unit CPU Memory Module Motherboard © 2007 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 29 Output Devices • Enable us to see or hear the processed information – Monitor – Speakers – Printers © 2007 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 30 Storage Devices • Enable us to store data or information to be accessed again Hard Disk Drive Floppy Disk CD / DVD Drive Flash Drive © 2007 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 31 Computer Software • Software - programs that enable the hardware to perform different tasks • Application software – Tools for getting things done © 2007 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 32 Computer Software • System software – Essential for platform operation and support © 2007 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 33 Computer Platforms: PCs and Macs PC • CPU – Intel, AMD • Operating system – Microsoft Windows © 2007 Prentice-Hall, Inc. Mac • CPU – Motorola • Operating system – Apple Mac OS 34 Specialty Computers • PDA • Server • Mainframe • Supercomputer • Microcontrollers PDA Server Mainframe Supercomputer © 2007 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 35 Chapter 1 Summary Questions • What does it mean to be “computer fluent”? © 2007 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 36 Chapter 1 Summary Questions • What is a savvy computer user and consumer? © 2007 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 37 Chapter 1 Summary Questions • How can becoming computer fluent help you in a career? © 2007 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 38 Chapter 1 Summary Questions • What are some future technologies? © 2007 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 39 Chapter 1 Summary Questions • What kinds of challenges do computers bring to society? © 2007 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 40 Chapter 1 Summary Questions • What are a computer’s four main functions? © 2007 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 41 Chapter 1 Summary Questions • What is the difference between data and information? © 2007 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 42 Chapter 1 Summary Questions • What are a bit and a byte? © 2007 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 43 Chapter 1 Summary Questions • What hardware does a computer use to perform its functions? © 2007 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 44 Chapter 1 Summary Questions • What are the two main types of software? © 2007 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 45 Chapter 1 Summary Questions • What different kinds of computers are there? © 2007 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 46