Chapter 1 Why Study Computers and Digital Technology

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Wireless Networking n n Uses radio signals rather than cables to connect computers and digital devices to computer networks Wi-Fi (802. 11 a, b, g, n) q Wireless networking standard that connects computers q Notebook computers come equipped with Wi-Fi capability Succeeding with Technology 25

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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