Chapter 1: Why Study Computers and Digital Technology?

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Also fractional values Milli (10-3), Micro(10-6), Nano(10-9), Pico(10-12), …

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Some are significantly compressed (the others can be)

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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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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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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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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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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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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

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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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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

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What Can Computers Do? (continued)

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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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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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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)

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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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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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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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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

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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

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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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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)

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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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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

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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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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

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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

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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