1. Chapter 1: Why Study Computers and Digital Technology? Succeeding with Technology: Second Edition

2. Succeeding with Technology 2 Objectives Define how digital electronics devices and computers are related, and provide descriptions of the different types of computers Provide an explanation of the fundamentals of telecommunications, computer networking, the Internet, and wireless networking Describe the five functional areas in which computers assist people most

3. Succeeding with Technology 3 Objectives (continued) Discuss the four primary types of information systems and how they are used Discuss how computers are used in a variety of fields, and why studying computer systems can benefit you professionally

4. Succeeding with Technology 4 Objectives (continued) Discuss how computers are used to assist people in their life outside of work Define information security, and discuss ways in which digital technologies are impacting humanity

5. Succeeding with Technology 5 What is a Computer? Computer  Digital electronics device  Combines hardware and software to Accept data input, process and store the data, and produce useful output

6. Succeeding with Technology 6 Digital Technology Technology  Tools, materials, and processes that help solve human problems Digital electronics device  Any device that stores and processes bits electronically Bit  Data using technologies that can be set to one of two states Nibble  A related group of 4 bits

7. Succeeding with Technology 7 Digital Technology (continued) Byte  Group of eight bits Word  A number of Bytes (2 – 8 typically) used to store a piece of data File  Named collection of instructions Data  Items stored on a digital electronics device Information  Data organized and presented in a manner that has additional value beyond value of data itself

8. Succeeding with Technology 8 Also fractional values  Milli (10 -3 ), Micro(10 -6 ), Nano(10 -9 ), Pico(10 -12 ), …

9. Succeeding with Technology 9 Some are significantly compressed (the others can be)

10. Succeeding with Technology 10 Computer Functions Hardware  Tangible components of a computer system or digital device Software  Comprises the electronic instructions that govern the computer system’s functioning Special-purpose computers  Typically referred to by the type of computing they perform

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12. Succeeding with Technology 12 Types of Computers Personal computer, or PC  General-purpose computer designed to accommodate the many needs of an individual Computing platform  Computer’s type, processor, and operating system Servers  Powerful general-purpose computers  Provide information services to numerous users over a computer network

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16. Succeeding with Technology 16 Types of Computers (continued) Supercomputers  Most powerful computers manufactured  Harness the strength of hundreds or thousands of processors simultaneously Special-purpose computers  Manufactured to serve a specific purpose  Include kiosks and embedded computers

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19. Succeeding with Technology 19 Mobile Digital Devices Mobile computers  Include notebooks, tablets, and handheld PDAs Mobile communications  Cell phones and cell phone services are among the fastest growing of digital markets Mobile media  Recent years have witnessed an explosion of handheld media devices  Launch of the Apple iPod in 2003 brought portable digital music into the mainstream

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22. Succeeding with Technology 22 The Power of Connections Telecommunications  Communications that take place electronically over a distance Computer network  Telecommunications network that connects two or more computers Protocols  Rules that allow two or more computers to communicate over a network

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24. Succeeding with Technology 24 The Internet The world’s largest public computer network A network of networks that provides a vast array of services World Wide Web  Internet service (application) that provides convenient access to information through hyperlinks Hyperlink  Object in a Web document that can be clicked to access related information

25. Succeeding with Technology 25 Wireless Networking Uses radio signals rather than cables to connect computers and digital devices to computer networks Wi-Fi (802.11a,b,g,n)  Wireless networking standard that connects computers  Notebook computers come equipped with Wi-Fi capability

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27. Succeeding with Technology 27 What Can Computers Do? Computers  Have no problem carrying out long complicated calculations at lightning speed  Can sort through millions or billions of data records in a matter of seconds Areas in which computers can assist you  Computation, automation, communications  Digital media and entertainment, and information management

28. Succeeding with Technology 28 What Can Computers Do? (continued)

29. Succeeding with Technology 29 Computing Computational science  Applies the combined power of computer hardware and software to solving difficult problems IBM’s Blue Gene/L - world’s fastest supercomputer  Has a theoretical peak performance of 360 trillion operations per second Artificial intelligence (AI)  Area of computer science that deals with simulating human thought and behavior in computers  I would be pleased to simulate the thought process of a chicken - JND

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31. Succeeding with Technology 31 Automating Automation  Involves utilizing computers to control otherwise human actions and activities  Allows people to exceed their natural abilities  Empowers those with disabilities Robotics  Branch of AI that empowers computers to Control mechanical devices to perform tasks that require a high degree of precision Not just AI, also a software engineering application

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33. Succeeding with Technology 33 Enhancing Communication Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP)  Popular technology that allows phone conversations to travel over the Internet or other data networks Residential VoIP services (broadband phones)  Becoming popular with home users interested in low phone bills and many additional features Residential VoIP subscribers  Must have high-speed Internet connection in their home (Cable modem, DSL, Wireless)

34. Succeeding with Technology 34 Providing Entertainment Digital media  Music, video, graphic art, animation, and 3D graphics stored and processed in digital format Computer-generated special effects  Make it difficult to tell what is real and what is fabricated in today’s motion pictures Image-based rendering  Manipulating virtual movie stars

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36. Succeeding with Technology 36 Managing Information Information overload  The amount of information available overpowers one’s ability to manage and use it Computer-based information system (CBIS)  Makes use of computer hardware and software, databases, telecommunications, people, and procedures to manage and distribute digital information Database  Collection of data stored on a computer, organized to meet users’ needs

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38. Succeeding with Technology 38 Information Systems Computer system  Multiple computers working together over a network towards a common goal Information technology (IT)  Can be defined as issues related to the components of an information system Systems development  Creating new or modifying existing systems

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40. Succeeding with Technology 40 Types of Information Systems Transaction processing system  Used to support and record transactions Management information system (MIS)  Used to provide useful information to decision makers Decision support system (DSS)  Used to support problem specific decision making Expert system (ES)  Can make suggestions and reach conclusions in one particular area of expertise

41. Succeeding with Technology 41 Using Digital Technologies to Succeed in Your Career – Computer Based Professions Computer Engineers  Design and develop computer systems and peripherals Software engineers  Design and develop new programming applications Computer scientists  Use computers to help with the software design process Science and Mathematics  Scientists are using computers to analyze string theory equations

42. Succeeding with Technology 42 Business and Communications Most businesses  Succeed in using technology to increase revenues or reduce costs In factories  Computers are being used to design and manufacture products, using Computer-assisted design (CAD) and Computer-assisted manufacturing (CAM)

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44. Succeeding with Technology 44 Science and Mathematics Scientists are using computers to  Analyze string theory equations  Forecast weather  Hunt for hurricanes  Analyze the environmental impact of forest fires,  Make detailed maps using geographic information systems (GISs)

45. Succeeding with Technology 45 Engineering Engineers use computers  In design and operations  To monitor and control petroleum refinery operations  To make sure that sophisticated refinery towers and systems are efficiently and safely operating  To make complex thermodynamics, power consumption, and circuits and signal analysis

46. Succeeding with Technology 46 Sports and Nutrition Computers  Have been used in all aspects of sports, nutrition, and exercise  Used to design football equipment that reduces the chance of permanent paralysis or brain damage Software  Can be used to analyze diet and nutrition for athletes

47. Succeeding with Technology 47 Medicine and Health Care Electronic health records (EHRs)  Can improve health care  Can reduce health care costs by billions of dollars annually Medical informatics  An area of medicine involved with storing medical records in a digital format on a national database

48. Succeeding with Technology 48 Criminology, Law Enforcement, and Security Computers  Used extensively in criminology, law enforcement, and security  Provide crime fighters with invaluable information on criminals, stolen vehicles, and missing persons  Can be used to capture facial thermograms

49. Succeeding with Technology 49 Using Digital Technologies to Achieve Personal Goals – Personal Finance Personal finance software such as Quicken  Can assist individuals with living within a budget, saving for the future, and investing Personal Research  The Web is increasingly used as primary information source for personal questions and needs Personal Relations  People are turning to the Web to make new friends and look up old friends

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51. Succeeding with Technology 51 Information Security and the Social Impact of Digital Technologies – Information Security Information security  The protection of information systems and the information they manage against Unauthorized access, use, manipulation, or destruction Hacker  Individual who subverts computer security without authorization  Originally: Programmer using informal design techniques

52. Succeeding with Technology 52 The Impact of Digital Technologies on the World Pervasive computing  Implies that computing and information technologies are diffused throughout the environment Ubiquitous computing  Technology is becoming so much a part of the environment that people do not even notice it Digital divide  Social and economic gap between those who have access to computers and information technologies and those that do not

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54. Succeeding with Technology 54 Summary Digital electronics device  Stores and processes data as bits, 1s and 0s Telecommunications  Forms of communication that take place electronically over a distance Computers excel in five functional areas  Computation, automation, communications,  Digital media and entertainment, and information management

55. Succeeding with Technology 55 Summary (continued) Four primary types of information systems  Transaction processing systems (TPS)  Management information systems (MIS)  Decision support systems (DSS)  Expert systems (ES) Computers play an important role in all professions

56. Succeeding with Technology 56 Summary (continued) Computers and digital technologies  Are playing an increasing role in assisting people to achieve personal goals Information security  The protection of information systems and the information they manage