Computers
Merit Badge
Brazos Valley Merit Badge College
January 12 and 26, 2013
Your Instructor – Mr. Abernathy
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Assistant Scoutmaster with Troop 326, Fort Worth, TX
Webmaster for the Trinity Trails District, Longhorn Council
Contact Information
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Work History:
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Email: webmaster@trinitytrails.net
Home phone: 817-441-8706
Research Program Manager at Lockheed Martin
Teach several subjects, perform research, manage both internal
and external (government-paid) research contracts
Education:
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Bachelors and Masters degrees in Mathematics
Class Administration
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Fill Out Blue Cards & Turn Them In
Attendance
Class Materials
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Merit Badge Handbook
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Requirements Workbook (handout)
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Optional, but ensure you have the current version (2010)
Put Your Name and Unit (Troop) Number On It
Lecture Materials (online)
Lab Guide Materials (Excel templates, online)
Blue
Cards
5D
5E
6
6
6
7
8A
8B
8C
9
Joe Boyscout
123 Main St
Saginaw, TX
Fill Out as
Indicated
HAND THEM IN
Troop
434
Shaggy Hills
Longhorn
1
2
3A
3B
4A
4B
4C
4D
5A
5B
5C
Requirements:
1
5D
2
5E
3A
6
3B
6
4A
6
4B
7
4C
8A
4D
8B
5A
8C
5B
9
5C
x
Computers
Joe Boyscout
Douglas Abernathy
112 Prairie Ridge Dr
Aledo, TX 76008
817-441-8706
Joe Boyscout
x
Computers
434
Computers
BVMBC 2013 Course Syllabus
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Week 1: January 12, 2013
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During the two weeks until the next session
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Class presentation on Requirements 1,2,3,4,5,8
Take notes on Requirements 1, 2, 3(a,b), 4(a,b,c,d),
5(a,b,c,d,e), 8 on your workbooks
Review and finish workbook answers to Requirements
1,2,3,4,5, and 8 (use the website for resources)
Do your own research for Requirement 9
Week 2: January 26, 2013
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Requirements 6 (do 3 of 8), 7 (do 1 of 5), 9
Week 1 Class Agenda
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Requirement 1
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Requirement 2
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Parts of a Computer, Data Storage, File Compression, Chipbased devices
Requirement 5
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Types & Uses of Computers
Requirement 4
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Computer History and Impact
Requirement 3
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Online Safety
Software Development, Programming Languages, Family Software,
Protecting Your Computer & its Information, How Internet Works
Requirement 8
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Copyright Laws and Your Responsibilities
Week 2 Class Agenda
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Requirement 6
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Using different types of computer programs: spreadsheet, word
processor, graphics, database
Choose any 3 from 8 options
Requirement 7
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Using different types of computer programs: database manager,
CAD, blog, web page, visit a business that uses computers
Choose any 1 from 5 options
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Important: Option e (visit a business) must be done outside of class
Requirement 9
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Discuss Career Opportunities in Computers
Requirement 1:
Online Safety
Discuss with your counselor the
tips for online safety
Tips for Online Safety
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Follow family rules
 How long
 What Sites
Know with Whom You are Communicating
Do not give out Personal Information
 Phone numbers, address
 Names
 School or Parent’s work locations
 Driver’s license numbers or Social Security Numbers
 Photos
Do not open emails or files from people you don’t know or trust
Report to your parents anything suspicious, unusual, or offensive
Tips for Online Safety
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Never agree to get together with someone you “meet” online,
unless your parents approve of the meeting and go with you.
Never share Internet passwords with anyone, even if they sound
official, other than your parents or other responsible adults in
your family.
Never shop online or enter a credit card number unless you have
your parent’s permission.
Do not Believe Everything you see or read online.
Do not do anything that harms others or is against the law.
Anything you send or post can become public forever.
 Never post information you don’t want others including strangers
to see.
Requirement 2:
Impact of the Invention
of the Computer &
The Computer’s History
Give a short history of the
computer. Explain how the
invention of the computer has
affected society, science, and
technology.
What is a Computer?
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Machines that perform math!
>>>>> Very fast!
Enables them to operate robots, build cars, command monitors,
display a moving image, generate a fast moving video game or
send emails.
The heart is the transistor, an electronic switch with two
positions: on and off
 One or Zero
 Yes or No
 True or False
Computers have no intelligence of their own. Software engineers
write sets of instructions for computers called programs which
accomplish complex tasks by performing simple yes/no logic
millions of times per second. A computer can only do what a
person programmed it to do.
History of Computers - Abacus
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The first true calculating machine (before 400
BC) was the abacus
Napier’s Bones (circa 1617)
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The Scottish inventor
of logarithms went on
to construct
calculating rods
(made from bone) that
perform multiplication
and division by simply
adding and
subtracting
Led to slide rules
(1621 – Fr. Oughtred)
Charles Babbage’s “Difference
Machine” and “Analytical Engine”
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1822 and 1833 designs
Prototype for modern
computers
Four parts: Input device,
memory (store), processor
(mill), and an output
device
The difference machine
was actually built recently
at MIT.. and worked!!
Boolean Logic
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George Boole, English Mathematician
Developed in 1840’s & 50’s
Allows “thoughts” to be expressed in math-like
terms.
Boolean logic (Boolean algebra) uses AND, OR, &
NOT operations
Years later computer designers arranged electric
switches to perform these operations in “logic
circuits”.
Enabled digital computers (ones & zeroes) to mimic
human thought processes.
Used everyday today by Internet Search Engine
users
Herman Hollerith’s
Punch Cards
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Developed to win a contest by the Census Bureau to
improve census data processing after the 1880
census had taken seven years to tabulate.
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They were used successfully in the 1890 U. S. Census
The concept was not THAT new – in France in 1801,
Joseph-Marie Jacquard invented an automatic loom
using punched cards for the control of the patterns in
the fabrics.
Herman Hollerith later formed the company that
became IBM (International Business Machines
Corporation).
Colossus Mark I (England),
Harvard Mark I, ENIAC, EDVAC
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World War II: computers were
developed to break German
and Japanese message
codes and create firing tables
Technologies: central
processors were made up of
vacuum tubes
Beginning with the Harvard
Mark I, they could be reprogrammed by re-wiring with
plugs like a switchboard, or
with paper punch tape
De-bugging computers is born
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9 September 1945 –
Ensign Grace Murray
Hopper (RADM, USN)
removed the first “bug”
from a electromagnetic
relay in the Harvard
Mark II where it had
been smashed, halting
the computer. She
taped the moth to a
page the log book.
Inside the Early Computers
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Relays and Solenoids
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Vacuum Tubes
Technological
Breakthroughs
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1947 - William Shockley,
John Bardeen, and Walter
Brattain invent the
"transfer resistance"
device, later to be known
as the “transistor,” to
replace vacuum tubes
1951 – Magnetic-core
memory also replaces
tubes, making real-time
memory use practical
Remington Rand UNIVAC – 1951 Delivered to the Census Bureau
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First mass-produced
computer (46 made)
The size of a one-car
garage (14’ x 8’ x 8.5’)
5,200 vacuum tubes
required a chilled water
air conditioning system
Government, GE,
insurance companies,
DuPont (scientific)
1956 Concordance of the
Bible (6 mos. vs. 30 yrs)
Integrated Circuit
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1958 – Jack Kilby created the
first “integrated circuit” at
Texas Instruments to prove
that resistors and capacitors
could exist on the same
piece of semiconductor
material. His circuit consisted
of a sliver of poisonous
germanium with five
components linked by wires.
Germanium was soon
replaced by silicon (1961).
Microprocessors
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1971 - Federico Faggin, Ted
Hoff, and others at Intel
designed the 4004
microprocessor while building
a custom chip for Busicom, a
Japanese calculator maker.
The 4004 had 2,250
transistors, handling data in
four-bit chunks, and could
perform 60,000 operations
per second.
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Invention of the
Microprocessor made
computers affordable for
individuals
Electronic Hobby Computers
evolve into Personal Computers!!
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1975 - Electronics hobbyists buy
the earliest personal computer
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MITS Altair 8800 (Intel 8080)
1976 - Consumer computers
arrive after several companies
begin large scale manufacturing
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1976 - Apple Computer Apple II
1977 - Radio Shack TRS-80
Commodore PET
Heath H8, H9
1981 – IBM PC
Effects of Computers on Society
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Entertainment
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Financial
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Thermostat, Coffee Makers, Home Network, Smoke & CO2 detectors,
Garage Doors, Security Alarms
Transportation
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Auto-mechanic to Engineers, to Business Management, Time Clocks
Work at Home
New Jobs & How we do our Jobs
Home
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Phones, Email, Instant Messaging
Work
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Credit Cards, Debit Cards, Phone cards (cash-less society)
Communication
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Movies, Games, Music, Photography
Trains, Planes, Automobiles, Ships, Buses
Access to Information
Education
Healthcare
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Diagnostic Tests, Monitoring, New Surgical Procedures, New Medicines
Effects of Computers on Science
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Engineering
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Computers are now used by all types of Engineering
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Design, Modeling, & Testing
New Computer-specific types of Engineering
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Electrical, Chemical, Mechanical
Software Engineering, Hardware Engineering
Research
Information sharing & access (Internet, email)
Healthcare (database, privacy)
Scientific computations
Statistical analysis (medicine, politics)
Effects of Computers on Technology
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Computers Everywhere
Convergence of technologies
Single-purpose to Multi-purpose devices
Miniaturization
Rapid Rate of Growth
New Devices & Uses (communication, HDTV,
new storage devices)
Shared Uses
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e.g., wiring: TV, Phone, Electricity, Internet
Requirement 3:
Types of Computers
Uses of Computers
3a. Describe four uses of computers
outside the home
3b. Describe three ways you and your
family could use a personal
computer other than for games
and entertainment.
Types of Computers
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Categories
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Special purpose (digital watch, emission control
computer, home security system)
General purpose (Mainframes, Minis, PCs)
Sizes
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Supercomputers (beginning with the CRAY I in
1976!! - massively parallel processing)
Mainframes (multi-user IBM, NCR, etc.)
Minicomputers (multi-user IBM, HP, Sun, file
servers)
Microcomputers (single-user personal computers)
Uses for Different Types of
General Purpose Computers
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Supercomputers…
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Mainframe computers
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Medium sized companies
Operate manufacturing plants, track orders and inventory, multi-user
applications, web, email, and database services.
Workstations
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Large to mediums companies – highly reliable, centrally located supporting
100’s to 1000’s of users. e.g. 100,000 trans/sec
Banking, library automation, flight scheduling, census
Minicomputers…
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Specialized tasks involving complex calculations
Weather forecasting, satellite tracking, simulation, research
Powerful desktops used by engineers, scientists, graphic artists,
moviemakers who need special software requiring hi-speed processors.
Microcomputers (Personal Computer)
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Spreadsheets, word processing, graphics, games, communications,
searching
Desktop, laptop, notebook, and hand-held
Requirement 4 (a,b):
Parts of a Computer
How Data is Stored
4a. Identify and explain the major
parts of a computer system.
4b. Explain how text, sound,
pictures, and video are stored
in a computer’s memory.
Parts of a Computer – CPU
Central Processing Unit
(CPU) is the “brain,” and
is some brand of
microprocessor chip
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Processes data, stores
information into memory,
performs operations on the
information, & creates output.
Intel 4004 – 2,250 transistors;
8088 – 40,000; 80386 –
275,000; 80486 – 1 million;
Pentium – 5.5 million;
Pentium II – 7.5 million;
Pentium III – 28 million;
Pentium 4 – 42 million.
Input Devices (digitizers)
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Keyboard (QUERTY, Dvorak, custom – an
alphanumeric symbol digitizer)
Mouse and other Pointing devices
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Trackball, joystick, pressure-sensitive tablet,
touch screen – a location digitizer
Sound digitizer (microphone, MIDI device)
Scanner (an image digitizer)
Sensor (temperature, light, moisture, smoke,
movement, or other environmental digitizer)
Output Devices
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Printers (the first output device) and Plotters
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Monitor
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Impact (daisywheel) and dot-matrix
Thermal (early BW and color)
Laser (highest quality, BW and color)
Plotters (pens on moving arms like seismographs)
Ink-jet (color plotters lead to printers, some also thermal)
Analog: CRT (cathode-ray tube) – the “monitor”
Digital: LCD (liquid-crystal display) screens
Sound Card (digital to analog converter) - speakers
Modem (modulator-demodulator; another digital to
analog signal converter)
Input/Output Devices
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Storage Units – hard disk drives, floppy
drives, tape drives, CD/DVD drives
Touch Screens & Tablets – pressure &/or
heat sensitive
Connecting Devices – modems (phone,
broadband, DSL), Ethernet adapter, WI-FI
(wireless fidelity), Router.
Parts of a Computer –
Storage Devices
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Storage Devices –
Stores Programs &
Data. Provides “virtual
memory” for CPU.
Tape Drives
Floppy Drives
Hard Drives
CD/DVD Drives
Storage Media
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Tape
Magnetic – disk,
tape
Optical – CD / DVD
Flash – memory
storage media
Optical – CD / DVD
Disk – floppy, hard
CD/DVD Drives
Magnetic Storage
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Sequential Access
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Magnetic Tape
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Reel-to-reel or cassette
Original microcomputer media,
now used for backups
Random Access
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Floppy Disk (8”, 5 ¼”, 3.25”, etc.)
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Hard Disk
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Magnetic powder coating on flexible disk in sleeve
Drive contains an actuator and read-write head on arm
Magnetically coated metallic platters on high-speed spindle
Drive actuator with many floating read-write heads on arms
For more information see
How Hard Drives Work and
PC Tech Guide (where this
diagram came from ----- >)
Optical
Storage
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CD-ROM (Compact-Disc Read-Only Memory)
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Write laser burns pits into the surface of the disk
Read laser bounces light off the pitted surface
WORM – Write Once Read Many, or CD-R
Newest formats: CD-RW, DVD, DVD-RW
Capacity (newer media have higher capacities)
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Compare the CD-ROM surface (left) to the DVD surface (right)
For more information see How CDs Work and PC Tech Guide
Medium
Typical Capacity
Equivalent Size
High-density disk
1.4 megabytes
720 typed pages
Hard Drive
80 megabytes
40,000 pages
CD-ROM
540 megabytes
270,000 pages
DVD
4.5 gigabytes
Motion picture
Blu-ray DVD
25/50 gigabytes
HD Motion picture
Memory
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Read-Only Memory (ROM)
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Random Access Memory
(RAM)
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ROM is permanent, often rewritable (CMOS)
RAM is transient unless
permanently powered (Palm)
Flash Memory
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Type of RAM (re-writable
memory) that retains
information even after the
device is turned off. Used in
digital cameras, handhelds,
cell phones, “Thumb” drives.
Processors & Co-processors
Central Processing Unit
(CPU) is the “brain,” and is
some brand of
microprocessor chip
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Processes data, stores
information into memory,
performs operations on the
information, & creates output.
Controllers & co-processors
Used to offload computing tasks
from the CPU
Graphics controller, math coprocessor, disk controller.
Networks
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Many computers make digital connections to a local
area network (LAN) or wide area network (WAN) via
telephone lines (twisted pair), coaxial cable, fiber
optic cables, radio, or wireless communications.
 Networks make it possible for large numbers of
computers to communicate with each other, and to
share resources such as files, applications, and
devices.
 Networks manage digital traffic by moving data as
packets, with elaborate protocols for ordering or
prioritizing them, checking errors, and filtering.
 Networks can be connected to WANs or to the
Internet via modem, ISDN, cable modem, satellite,
and other devices
Modems & Network Cards
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Enable Connections to a Network
Computers communicate if they are electronically
connected, have the appropriate software, and
common protocols (rules for negotiating their
communication).
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Computers are digital, as are networks
Phones and wireless communications move data as analog
sound waves or as a digital signal.
Modems
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Modems translate digital information to analog sound for
transmission along telephone lines, and back to digital at the other
end. They must synchronize speeds, block sizes, and correct
errors during communications.
 Early modems were 300 baud (bits per second, or about 36
characters per second).
 Analog telephone lines are generally limited to modem speeds of
33.6 KBPS (4000 bytes/sec) & at most 56K. ISDN connections
enable 64K to 128K ISDN and make use some of the digital aspects
of modern telephone lines.
 DSL uses high frequency compression for 1.5 Mbps down.
Frequency is different then voice - enabes voice & data over same
wire
 Cable Modems from 3-5 Mbps of shared bandwidth. FIOS up to 15
Mbps.
Network Cards
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Connects computer to a
Network
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Ethernet – most common
Separate Card or
Integrated into
Motherboard
Wireless Fidelity (WiFi)
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Connects computer to a
Network wirelessly over
a short distance.
Connects to a base
station or router
Different Protocols &
Speeds
Electronic Mail (Email)
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Email allows users to send and receive electronic messages
over any type of network or modem connection using a store
and forward methodology.
 Messages are uploaded to the local mail server, passed to the
recipient’s account on that server, or forwarded to an external mail
server over a number of “hops” via intermediate servers.
 Messages are downloaded by the recipient’s mail client from their
mail server when the messages arrive, or when the recipient
opens an active connection to that server from their client.
 Depending on the type of mail service, messages may remain on
the host mail server or be downloaded to the local computer.
Improved bandwidth for networks and the Internet has made
instant messaging and real-time chat a viable form of electronic
communication, and is making voice-over-IP practical as well.
For more detailed information see How Email Works
* POP, IMAP, and
some Web Email
servers store
email messages
and text-encoded
attachments as
text files or html
in most cases
Web Mail Server
(HotMail, Yahoo,
AOL, etc.)
IMAP Server
(UNT EagleMail)
SMTP
Connections
Email
* Email moves
between
servers over
SMTP
SMTP
Connections
IMAP Client
(Outlook Express)
Web
Browser
(IE or
Netscape)
Email
Client
(Outlook)
Proprietary
data-based
Mail Server
(Exchange,
GroupWise)
POP3 Client
(Netscape, OE)
* The user reads
their email by
using some sort
of client software
to connect to the
mail server
SMTP
Connections
SMTP
Connections
POP3 Server
(your ISP)
* Proprietary
servers usually
store email
messages and
attachments in a
real database of
some form
Parts of a Computer Motherboard
Ports
Expansion
Slots
CPU
Graphics
Controller
Slot
The CPU is normally
mounted in a plug-in
socket on the
motherboard
Circuit board tying
Math
everything in the
Co-processor
computer together
Memory (RAM)
via an electronic
Slots
“bus”
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Disk Attachment
Slots
Power Supply
Attachment
Parts of a Computer
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Controllers – (Co-processors) are used to offload
computing tasks from the CPU, such as math coprocessor, graphics controller, disk controller.
Random Access Memory (RAM) and Read-Only
Memory (ROM)
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Ports – Enable you to connect devices to the
computer.
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ROM is permanent, often re-writable (CMOS)
RAM is transient unless permanently powered (Palm)
Input – Keyboard, Mouse, Scanner, Sensors
Output – Printer, Display Monitor, Controller,
USB/Firewire – Supports input/output devices & other peripheral
devices for hi-speed transfer of information
Power Supply – Provides electricity to the motherboard, disk
drives, & other devices in the computer. Converts household
current to a voltage level that can be used by the computer.
(e.g. 120V to 12V or 20V)
File Types & File Contents
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Computers use binary numbers (1’s and 0’s) to store ALL data.
One digit is a bit; four are a nibble, eight are a byte.
File extensions typically identify type of data in file.
Text
Image
Sound
Video
.txt
ASCII text
.doc
Microsoft Word (word processing)
.jpg
Photographs. Adjustable compression ratio
.gif
.bmp
.mp3
.wav
.wma
.mov
.mpeg
Icons, buttons, drawings, figures
Bitmap
High compression of sound
Windows platform sound file
High compression quality sound
Movie file
Movie file
Data Representation in
Memory and Storage: Numbers
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Integers (whole numbers) can be stored directly in binary bytes.
 0 = 00000000
3 = 00000011
 1 = 00000001
4 = 00000100
 2 = 00000010
5 = 00000101
A byte can be translated into a decimal number by adding up the
decimal values indicated by “1’s” in the binary number
128 64 32 16 8 4 2 1 decimal values

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 binary places (8-bit)

0 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 binary equals 42 decimal (32+8+2)
Additional translation schemes have been developed to match
character sets to decimal and binary, such as ASCII & EBCDIC
Data Storage: Text


Text and numeric characters are stored as ASCII
(American Standard Code for Information Interchange )
values, consisting of 128 different decimal codes.
Extended ASCII goes to 256 codes. (0 to 255)
ASCII translates each letter and number into a binary
byte (8 bits) that the computer understands.
 "1" is ASCII decimal “49” and binary 00110001
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"A" is ASCII decimal “65” and binary 01000001
“&” is ASCII decimal “38” and binary 00100110
“z” is ASCII decimal “122” and binary 01111010
EBCDIC (Extended Binary Coded Decimal Interchange
Code), also an 8 bit representation. Mainframe usage.
UNICODE support and implementations are increasing
to provide “Universal” character set support.
ASCII Translation - Text
ASCII Decimal
2
18
26
20
3
18
22
21
20
ASCII Binary
1000010
1001111
1011001
1010011
1000011
1001111
1010101
1010100
1010011
Alphanumeric
B
O
Y
S
C
O
U
T
S
Data Storage: Pictures
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Computer pictures are stored as millions of colored dots
called “pixels” (picture elements) that have to be translated
to an analog signal for an analog CRT monitor to display them (LCD
panels are already digital so no translation is required).
The more pixels a picture has, the better it looks (it has a higher
resolution). Each pixel has an associated color and location on the
screen expressed in binary terms.
Black & White Monitors – One Pixel Represented by 1 bit., each black &
white pixel is either on or off.
Grayscale – One Pixel Represented by 1 byte (8 bits) for 256 shades of
gray between black & white.
Color – One color pixel is three dots, Red, Green, and Blue (RGB) that
combine to create a color. Color pixel combinations range from 256
possible colors (8 bit) to over 16.7 million colors (real color, 32 bit, or
true color).
When stored, each pixel’s information is saved to disk separately. In a
true color (32 bit) pixel, 4 bytes are used to store the color information
for each dot in the pixel. For a 1600x1200-pixel display this is 8-million
bytes of video memory, stored as one 8mb disk file.
A pixel
Color Displays
Red
Green
Purple
Blue
Yellow
Color Displays
Black
White
Intensity - Millions of colors
Red= 64
255
128
Green= 10
255
128
Blue= 168
255
128
Sample of a 8-Bit Color Palette
0000
0000
0001
0010
0011
0100
0101
0110
0111
1000
1001
1010
1011
1100
1101
1110
1100
0001
0010
0011
0100
0101
0110
0111
1000
1001
1010
1011
1100
1101
1110
1111
Data Storage: Sound





Normal sound is made up of waves or vibrations.
Each sound wave has a wavelength (how far between
the waves) and amplitude (how high the wave is).
A mixed, analog waveform signal comes in to the sound card from a
source (microphone) and is processed in real-time by an analog-todigital converter (ADC) circuit chip to create a binary (digital) output
of 1s and 0s. This is done at a specified interval or “sampling
frequency” (i.e., 1/10th of a second).
The digital output from the ADC is further processed and
compressed by the digital sound processor (DSP), and the output
from the DSP is sent to the computer's CPU via the sound card
connections and the data bus on the motherboard.
Digital sound data is processed by the CPU and sent to the harddisk controller to be recorded on the hard-disk drive as a wav file.
Playback is a reversal of this process, using a a digital-to-analog
converter (DAC) circuit chip to play back the binary sound file.
 For more detailed information see How Sound Cards Work
Storing Sound



Sound waves are sampled at a constant rate (sample rate)
Amplitude (height) of the wave is stored.
The higher the sample rate the better the sound
The higher the sample rate the more data is stored
Wavelength
amplitude

sample rate
Analog
to Digital
Sampling Rate
Samples per second
Sampling Accuracy
Number of possible Output
Levels
CD Audio
44.1 kHz
44,100
16-bit
65,536
DVD Audio
192 kHz
192,000
24-bit
16,777,216
Data Storage Video


Video is lots of pictures with accompanying
sound.
Video formats combine
Many Picture “files”
 With Audio file data
Into a Single file format

Requirement 4 (c,d):
File Compression
Chip-based devices
4c. Explain how file compression works
and how compression affects the
quality of the file.
4d. Describe two computer chip-based
devices, and describe how they are
"smarter" because of the chip and
its program.
File Compression

Data files can take up lots of storage on your hard
drive. The term “compression” means using special
methods to reduces these file sizes.





For most types of documents, it is critical to restore all of
the information when the file is de-compressed (returned to
its full size), such as when it is opened
Images, on the other hand, can be compressed to either
save every detail, or to lose some detail in return for a
smaller file size.
“Lossless” compression methods save all of the data
Lossy compression gives up some data in return for much
better file size reductions.
See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Data_compression
Text Compression

Text data compression takes advantage of
the fact that words and word fragments are
often repeated in documents.


The words or fragments are saved to a list (called
a dictionary) and replaced by reference numbers
that link back to the dictionary items
When the document is opened for editing or
viewing, the reference numbers point to the
original text, which is retrieved from the dictionary
Image Compression

Image files are capable of being compressed
because pixels near one another are often
the same color



Lossless: Run-length encoding (RLE), GIF
Lossy: JPEG, PNG
Sound files are compressed by discarding
parts of the digitized waveforms that humans
cannot easily hear (e.g., MP3, MP4 iTunes)
Chip-based Devices




Almost all electronic devices today have some
type of computer “chip” to help them
Modern cell phones have far more computing
capability than desktop PCs of 10 years ago
GPS receivers were originally the size of a large
toaster oven but now fit comfortably on a small
chip, found in most cell phones
Chips used to have only Read-Only Memory
(ROM) but many are now re-programmable and
can change how they operate as they run
Chip-based Devices:
Small Wonders
(Old)
(Old)
DVD Players
Cell Phones
(New)
(New)
iPads, Tablets
USB Drives
GPS
Digital Cameras
Requirement 5 (a,b,c):
Program Development,
Software, and
Programming Languages
5a. Explain what a program is and
how it is developed.
5b. Name 3 programming languages,
and describe their uses.
5c. Name 4 software packages you or
your family could use, and explain
how you would use them.
What is a Program?



A set of Organized Instructions that
Tell the Hardware what to Do
Examples








Math – add, subtract, multiply, divide
Compare
Logic IF, THEN, ELSE
AND, OR, NOT
Execute Another Instruction
Open/Close File, Read/Write Record
Display Output to Screen
Read Sensor
Computer Software

Three main categories of programs

Operating Systems

Control all of the computer’s basic operations



Application Programs

Perform specific jobs or tasks with the
computer


Input, output, file, memory, and task management
Text-based (z/OS, UNIX, CP/M, MS-DOS) and graphical (GUI)
(Xerox Star, Macintosh, X-Windows, Microsoft Windows)
Database manager, Transaction Managers, spreadsheet, word
processor, page layout, graphics, CAD, animation, sound,
communications
Programming Languages

A program used to develop and write other
programs and applications
How a Program is Developed
Write Program
In Hi-level
Language

Object
Code
Instructions
to CPU
CPU
Runtime
Interpreter
Machine code (low-level code, object code)
 Specific to the microprocessor (Z80, 6502, 8088)



Compile &
Assemble
An instruction set to move binary data through the CPU
Assembly language is a mnemonic symbol set for the CPU
High-level languages

Source code




COBOL, FORTRAN, BASIC, Pascal, Ada, C, VB
Object oriented (modular) languages – C++, Java
Translated by a compiler into object code before run-time
…or translated by an interpreter into object code at run-time (MUCH slower
– Basic, scripting languages like Perl, JavaScript, VBScript, HTML, XML)
Requirement 5 (a,b,c):
Program Development,
Software, and
Programming Languages
5a. Explain what a program is and
how it is developed.
5b. Give 3 examples of
programming languages, and
describe their uses.
5c. Name 4 software packages you or
your family could use, and explain
how you would use them.
Programming Languages





COBOL (COmmon Business Oriented Language) for business
data processing
FORTRAN (FORmula TRANslator) for scientific and engineering
problems
BASIC (Beginner’s All-Purpose Symbolic instruction Code) for
educational and personal computing. Visual Basic for
Applications (VBA) is used to build client-server applications and
integrate them with office applications.
C, C++ and Java for cross-platform portable, object oriented
(reusable modules) application and game development
PHP, Perl, JavaScript, VBScript, and MANY other scripting
languages, all interpreted, for system administration, web pages,
data work
Web Languages

Aid in building web sites & performing
operations over the internet.



HTML – hypertext markup language, basic
language for displaying text & pictures on web
sites & linking web pages together
PHP, ColdFusion – run on a web server to create
the web pages that are sent to the user’s browser
Java, JavaScript and VBScript – run within the
user’s web browser to make a web page
interactive (like Google Maps)
How Are Programs Written
Programs Combine Boolean Logic with Comparison,
Mathematical & Other Operations
IF “You complete all the requirements”
THEN “Mr. Abernathy will sign your Blue Card”
ELSE “You will get a Partial completion”
 Where “You complete all the requirements” =







If (Requirement 1 = Correct AND
Requirement 2 = Correct AND
Requirement 3 = Correct AND ……
…
Requirement 9 = Correct)
Requirement 6

Do 3 Options Correctly
Requirement 5 (a,b,c):
Program Development,
Software, and
Programming Languages
5a. Explain what a program is and how it is
developed.
5b. Give 3 examples of programming
languages, and describe their uses.
5c. Name 4 software packages you or
your family could use, and explain
how you would use them.
Database Managers

Examples:




Microsoft Access, Oracle, MySQL, SQL Server
Easy way to Store, Access, Query, & Update data
Data typically organized in a Table like format with
Columns and Rows.
Example: Troop Database of Tables with columns



Scouts: Name, Address, Patrol, Current Rank
Staff: Scout Name, Role, Start Date, End Date
Merit Badges: Scout Name, Merit Badge, Eagle, Date
Word Processing Programs

Examples:


Make writing & FORMATTING text easier





Microsoft Word, Corel Word Perfect & others
Arranging – line space, paragraph styles, headers,
Correcting – spell-checking, grammar, format
Text format – size, font, color, & style
Inclusion of graphics & tables
Mail merge from a database program for names &
addresses for a form letter.
Spreadsheet Programs

Examples:

Microsoft Excel, Lotus 123, & others

Performs arithmetic on numbers arranged in rows and
columns, and displayed in a table with cells, identified by
Numbered rows and Lettered columns

User specified formulas and/or program provided
functions.
Have interfaces to database programs
Enable “What-if” operations


Presentation Programs

Examples:






Microsoft Powerpoint, Freelance Graphics, Visio
Aid for public speaking
Feature screens/slides that list important points
Can include pictures, charts, graphs
Can include Sounds & Animations
Can be projected onto a screen, printed, or sent as
a file for others to view
More Application Programs






Desktop publishing – design a page with a variety of elements
including words, pictures, & drawings.
Graphics & design – create & edit pictures and drawings. Could
be 2 & 3 dimensional varieties. CAD (computer-aided design)
programs used by engineers.
Photo-editing – digital darkroom enabling you to enhance
pictures by cropping, sharpening, adjusting brightness &
contrast, deepening color. Also photo-album programs for
organizing photos.
Video editing – digital movie studio for enhancing video.
Web Page editors – help create Web Sites without having to
write HTML (common formatting language for the web). Create
web page using desktop publishing or document editing
packages and it converts it into html for you Enables adding
animation & scrolling text.
Communications – email, web-browsers, terminal emulators
Requirement 5d:
Protecting Your Computer
& Information Saved on It
5d. Discuss ways you can help
protect a computer from
viruses and how to protect the
information stored on a
computer.
Protecting Your Computer
from Viruses





Virus – program that could execute on your computer and cause
“malicious” damage.
 Erase Files, Obtain personal information, record keystrokes, copy
screens, make machine inoperable, massive email, spread the
same virus to others
Anti-virus Software
 Run Regular Full System Scans
 Keep Software Current
 Keep Virus Information Current
 Enable email & file scanning
Don’t open or execute anything from someone you don’t trust
Don’t open or execute anything that looks suspicious (even if it is
from someone you trust).
Only visit Web Sites you trust
Protecting the Information on
Your Computer


Use Antivirus Software
Backup important files regularly onto backup
drives/CDs.




Scan backup disks for viruses
Buy software from trusted sources. Unauthorized
copies could contain viruses and are illegal.
Use a Firewall – software, hardware, or both.
Controls what programs can communicate out of or
into your computer or network.
Protect your passwords. Consider using an
encrypted password manager application.
Requirement 5e:
The Internet &
The World Wide Web
5e. Describe how computers are
linked to generate and access
the Internet and the World
Wide Web.
The Internet
ISP:
Cable
Ethernet
WAN
WAN
WAN
ISP: DSL
The Internet: A Network of Networks
World Wide Web

Traces to ARPANET (1969) – small network launched by the
Advanced Research Projects Agency in the US Dept of Defense.





Tim Berners-Lee (1990), physicist working at CERN (European
Organization for Nuclear Research) developed way to access &
display the vast stores of information on the intenet.
Simple system of organization
Main Innovations:



Researchers developed a way to link that network to others around
the world.
The birth of the Internet
Universal resource locator – form of address
HTML – hypertext markup language
Every computer connected to the Internet can be identified by its
Internet protocol address (IP address, e.g. 168.18.99.248) or by
its domain name (e.g. scouting.org)

Domain names are registered – maintained by a nonprofit group
(International Organization for Assigned Names and Numbers)
Requirement 6:
Using Computer Software
Programs - Labs
6. Of 8 different options, do 3 of
your choice.
Do as homework, or Next
Session in Class (in 2 weeks)
Requirement 6 Options:
(see workbook for details)







Spreadsheet Program
Word Processor
Computer Graphics Program
Internet Search Engine
Presentation Software
Digital Photography
Database Manager (sorting, filtering)
I NEED TO SEE EVIDENCE THAT SHOWS THAT
YOU COMPLETED YOUR SELECTED OPTIONS
(e.g. File, hardcopy, visual inspection of work)
Requirement 7:
Programming Labs or
Visit to a Business
7. Of 4 different options, do 1 of
your choice.
Do as homework, or Next
Session in Class (in 2 weeks)
Requirement 7 Options:
(see workbook for details)




Visit business or an Industrial plant that uses
computers.
Use a CAD program (like Google Sketchup)
Write a simple application program
Design a Web page
I NEED TO SEE EVIDENCE THAT SHOWS THAT
YOU COMPLETED YOUR SELECTED OPTION
(e.g. File, hardcopy, visual inspection of work)
Requirement 8:
Copyright Laws
a. Explain why copyright laws exist.
b. Explain why is it not permissible to
accept a free copy of a
copyrighted computer game or
program from a friend.
c. Explain the restrictions and
limitations of downloading music
from the Internet.
Copyrights & Software Piracy

Software publishers have always taken pains to protect their
intellectual property.
 Most software is covered by copyright, meaning that it cannot be
copied without special permission from the author

Most commercial software packages have elaborate licensing
agreements, much more like leasing than buying
 Shareware, freeware, banner ware, ad ware, and open-source
software are all variations on the licensing of software
 Public-domain software is not copyrighted, and is free to be copied
and used
Copying software outside the limits of the licensing agreement is a
crime; the Software Publishers Association (now called SIIA) has
an extensive anti-piracy program and web site.


Often there will be a specific statement that you can make a backup
Copyright Laws


Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) defines
copyright laws for electronic media
Punishments can include:


First Offense:
 Fine: up to $500,000 or
 Imprisonment: up to 5 years,
 Or Both
Subsequent Offenses:
 Fine: Up to $1,000,000 or
 Imprisonment: up to 10 years,
 Or Both
Requirement 9:
Career Opportunities
Find out about three career
opportunities in the computer
industry. Pick one and find out
what education, training, and
experience this position requires.
Computers at Work

The computer industry is HUGE with many
opportunities in sales, development, manufacturing,
training, implementation, support, and consulting





Electrical engineers, electronics technicians, repairmen
Application designers, developers, support staff, instructors,
consultants, technical writers, and editors
Graphics designers, special effects, art and film technicians,
medical technicians, geosystems analysts, and any other
job where the individual primarily processes computerbased information
System administrators, network administrators, database
administrators, security analysts, communications
specialists, and outsourcing service providers
Jobs related to the use of robotics in manufacturing
Career Opportunities




Job
Education Required
Training Required
Experience Required
Summary










Online Safety
Computer’s History & its Impact on Society,
Science, & Technology
Types & Uses of Computers
Parts of a Computer
How Data is Stored in a Computer
Program Development & Programming Languages
Protecting Your Computer & its Information
Software Programs
Copyright Laws
Career Opportunities