Computers in Your
Life Today
Are You Ready to Become
Wired and Unwired?
Chapter 1
Student Learning Outcomes
1. Define a computer and describe the two major
components of hardware and software.
2. Describe the two categories within computer
software.
3. Describe the six categories within computer
hardware.
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Student Learning Outcomes
4. Describe various personal technology
alternatives to notebook and desktop
computers.
5. Discuss your ethical role while using
technology.
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Introduction
Technology is dynamic and always
changing.
The key to technology lies in your ability to
use it to be productive.
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Five Questions Related to
Productivity
• What can I now do with technology that will
make me more efficient and effective in work
and life?
• How am I better prepared now to make a
computer purchasing decision?
• How much more do I now understand about
aspects of technology respecting ethics,
security, and privacy?
• What can I now envision of the future uses of
technology?
• How can I continue to learn about technology
once my class ends?
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1.1 The Productivity of
Technology
• Graphical User
Interface (GUI)
– Buttons
– Icons
• The Windows desktop
is an example of a
GUI
SimNet
Concepts Support CD: “The World of Windows” and “Presentation
Applications”
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Windows Desktop:
Graphical User Interface
Icons
Start
Button
p. 1.05 Fig. 1-1
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1.2 Computing Basics
• Technology is a broad term that includes
all electronic devices - cell phones,
VCRs, ATMs, electronic ignition system
in a car, and computers
• A computer (or computer system) is a
set of tools that helps you perform
information-processing tasks
SimNet
System”
Concepts Support CD: “Introduction to a Personal Computer
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Computer Ad
p. 1.09 Fig. 1-4
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Computer Hardware &
Software
• What are the major components of my
computer?
– Software is the set of instructions that
your computer hardware executes to
process information for you
– Hardware consists of the physical
devices that make up your computer
system
SimNet
Concepts Support CD: “Introduction to Software”
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Two Major Categories of
Software
System Software the software that determines how your computer carries out
technology-specific and essential tasks such as writing to a disk, starting your Web
browser software so you can surf the Web, and sending a document to your
printer.
Application Software the software that allows you to perform specific informationprocessing tasks such as managing inventory, paying accounts payable, handling
payroll, writing a term paper, or creating slides for presentations.
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System Software
• Allows your computer to carry
out technology-specific tasks
• Enables your computer devices
to "speak"
• Examples
– Windows 98, Windows ME,
Windows 2000 Pro,
Windows NT Workstation,
Windows XP Pro & Home
– Mac OS
– Linux
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Application Software
• Performs specific tasks
such as…
– Writing a term paper
– Surfing the Web
– Keeping a home budget
• Examples
– Microsoft Office Suite
– Corel Office Suite
– Netscape Navigator
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Excel Spreadsheet:
Application Software
p. 1.10 Fig. 1-5
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Six Categories of Computer
Hardware
Input devices for
capturing
information
Output devices for
presenting
information
Storage devices for
storing information
CPU and RAM for
creating new
information
Telecommunications
devices for
communicating
information
Connecting devices
for moving
information to and
from your various
hardware
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Input Devices for Capturing
Information
• An input device captures information and
translates it into a form that can be
processed and used by other parts of your
computer
•
•
•
•
•
Scanner
Internet video camera
Keyboard
Mouse
Joystick
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Output Devices for
Presenting Information
• An output device takes information within
your computer and presents it to you in a
form that you can understand
•
•
•
Monitors
Speakers
Printers
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CPU and RAM for Creating
New Information
• Central Processing Unit (CPU or
processor) is the chip that carries
out instructions it receives from
your software
• Random Access Memory (RAM)
is temporary memory that holds
software instructions and
information for the CPU
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Storage Devices for Storing
Information
• A storage device
stores information
so you can recall
and use that
information at a
later time
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Telecommunications Devices for
Communicating Information
• Telecommunications devices help you
communicate information to people in
other locations
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Connecting Devices for Moving
Information
• Connecting devices enable information to
move around all your hardware
Connector
Serial
Ports
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Computers for Personal Use
• Personal Digital Assistants small handheld computers that help you perform
simple tasks i.e., note taking, maintaining
a calendar, address book, appointment
book, and perhaps surf the Web
• Notebook (laptop computer) small,
portable,fully functional battery-powered
computer designed for you to carry
around with you
• Desktop computers most popular choice
for personal computing needs
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Computers That Support
Organizations
• Minicomputers
• Mainframes
• Supercomputers
p. 1.14 Fig. 1-13
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1.3 Computing Productivity
•
•
•
•
Computing without a PC: PDAs, Tablet PC,
smart phones, and wrist watches
Computing with the World: Web, Internet
Computing without E-Mail: Chat room,
Instant messaging, Short Messaging Service
(SMS), Multimedia Messaging Service
(MMS)
Computing without Wires: WiFi and
Bluetooth
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Computing Without a PC
•
•
•
Tablet PC
Smart phone
Wrist watches
p. 1.16 Fig. 1-14
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Computing with the World
• Web site is a specific location on the Web that
you can visit electronically to gather information
and perhaps order products and request
services
• Web site address
– Unique name that identifies a Web site
– Site address (Example – finaid.com)
• Hyperlink clickable text or an image that allows
you to move from one Web site to another or
move to different places within the same Web
site
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Web site for FinAid.com
SimNet
Concepts Support CD:
“Introduction to The Internet
and the World Wide Web”
p. 1.17 Fig. 1-15
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Communicating with Others
E-mail
Chat Room
Communication on the Web
Instant Messaging
Short Messaging Service
(SMS)
Multimedia Messaging Service
(MMS)
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Communicating with E-Mail
• E-mail (electronic mail) is software used to
electronically communicate with other people
• Messages reside in your e-mail box
(asynchronous) until you open and read them
• E-mail has enabled people all over the world to
communicate
SimNet
Concepts Support CD: “Using the Internet to Communicate”
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Instantaneous
Communication
Chat room – is a virtual meeting place on the Web in
which you can communicate live with people who
happen to be on the Web and in the same chat room at
the same time. Example: MSN Chat
Instant messaging – is a private versin of a chat room
in which you communicate only with people you
choose. Example: AOL’s Instant Messenger
Short Messaging Service (SMS)– is a technology that
enables you to send a text message, usually from your
cell phone to the cell phone of another person.
Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) – is a technology
upgrade to SMS, giving you the ability to send messages
containing not only text but also sounds, images, and video,
usually from your cell phone to the cell phone of another
person.
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Computing Without Wires
• WiFi
– Standard for transmitting information in
the form of radio waves over distances
of up to 300 feet
– Formerly known as IEEE 802.11b
– Often used for notebooks and wireless
access to networks
• Bluetooth
– is a standard for transmitting information
in the form of short-range waves over
distances of up to 30 feet
– provides entirely wireless connections
for all kinds of communications devices
SimNet
Concepts Support CD: “Wireless Communications”
p. 1.20 Fig. 1-17
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Computing with Your Career
in Mind
• How can technology help me in my
career?
Making you valuable in many non-IT
fields
Helping you to advertise yourself to
potential employers
Offering you a wide variety of careers
in the IT field itself
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Computing Skills Required
for Any Career
Word Processing Software
E-mail Software
Spreadsheet
Presentation Software
DBMS Software
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Using Technology to Find a
Job
• Electronic job market makes use of the
Internet to recruit employees and is
growing by leaps and bounds
• E-portfolio a personal Web site that
contains your e-resume and a gallery of
important projects you’ve completed,
papers you’ve written, presentations
you’ve made, references, and other types
of valuable information
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Electronic Job Market Web Site:
Monster.com
p. 1.22 Fig. 1-19
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Posting Jobs and Recruiting Potential
Employees via the Internet
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Choosing a Technology
Career
Database
Analyst
/Programmer
Analyst
SimNet
Database
Administrator
(DBA)
Web-gineer
Programmer
Chief
Information
Officer
(CIO)
Network
Administrator
Chief
privacy
Officer
Concepts Support CD: “Careers”
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The Ethical Use of
Computers
• Ethics
– Set of principles and standards
– Used in deciding what to do in situations that
affect other people
– May be socially given standards
– May be principles that are very personal to
you
• Ethics differ from laws
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Unethical Behaviors
• Hackers people who use
their computers and the
Web to break into other
computers
• Computer virus a piece of
software designed
intentionally to cause
annoyance or damage
• Identity theft the
impersonation by a thief of
someone with good credit
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Using Computers for the
Right Reasons
• Always use your computer ethically
• Ethical behavior is essential in our society
Is it unethical to forward an e-mail message
without the author's permission?
SimNet
Concepts Support CD: “Privacy Issues” and “Security Issues”
©2003 The McGraw-Hill Companies
©2003 The McGraw-Hill Companies
1.4 Consumer Q&A
1. Should I Buy a Desktop or a Notebook
Computer?
2. Won’t My Computer Be Obsolete Just as
Soon as I Buy it?
3. Should I Consider Mail Order or
Purchasing Locally?
4. Can I Expand My Computer after I Buy It?
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1.5 Key Terms
• Application software
• Bluetooth
• Central processing
unit (CPU or
processor)
• Chat room
• Connecting devices
• Desktop computer
• Ethics
•
•
•
•
•
Input device
Instant messaging
Mainframe computer
Minicomputer
Multimedia Messaging
Service (MMS)
• Notebook computer
• Output device
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1.5 Key Terms
• Personal digital
assistant (PDA)
• Random access
memory (RAM)
• Short Messaging
Service (SMS)
• Smart phone
• Storage device
•
•
•
•
Supercomputer
System software
Tablet PC
Telecommunications
device
• WiFi
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Review of Concepts
1. Creating a Hierarchy of Computer Components
 Can you organize hardware and software?
2. Comparing Types of Computers and Modes of
Transportation
 What is analogous to roller blades?
3. Reading Forward
 This isn’t fiction, so reading the end won’t ruin the rest
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Review of Concepts
4. Comparing Computer Components and
the Human Anatomy
 Your blood vessels are similar to what
computer component?
5. Understanding Your Ethics
 If you find a quarter in a pay phone, is it yours
to keep?
©2003 The McGraw-Hill Companies
Hands On Projects
E-Commerce
1. Participating in a Chat Room
 Why should you use a nickname in a chat
room?
2. Finding an Internship
 Your career success may depend on it
3. Finding a Job
 Gain access to thousands of employers
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Hands On Projects
Ethics, Security & Privacy
1. Proposed Laws Concerning Cell Phone
Use
 Do you talk and drive?
2. Ethical E-Mail
 Receive offensive e-mail – get $2 million
3. Your Personal Ethics
 She’s met the man of her dreams, but she
may be seeing another man on the side
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Hands On Projects
on the Web
1. Finding Information on the Web with
Google
2. Consumer Rights on the Web
3. Listening to Radio Stations
4. Finding Friends and Family
5. Exploring Yahoo!
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Hands On Projects
Group Activities
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Evaluating Tablet PCs
Researching PDA/Cell Phones
Reviewing Computer Systems
Desktops and Notebooks
Starting Your Career Search
©2003 The McGraw-Hill Companies