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Technology In ActionTechnology In Action

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Technology In ActionTechnology In Action

Why Computers Matter to You: Why Computers Matter to You:

Becoming Computer FluentBecoming Computer Fluent

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ObjectivesObjectives

• Computer fluencyComputer fluency

• Computers and careersComputers and careers

• Computer functionsComputer functions

• Data vs. information Data vs. information

• Computer hardware and softwareComputer hardware and software

• Societal challenges and computersSocietal challenges and computers

• Future technologiesFuture technologies

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What is Computer Fluency?What is Computer Fluency?• To be computer To be computer

fluent you must:fluent you must:

– Understand a Understand a computer’s computer’s capabilities and capabilities and limitationslimitations

– Know how to use a Know how to use a computercomputer

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Computers in your Career?Computers in your Career?

• Computer careers in:Computer careers in:

– BusinessBusiness

– The ArtsThe Arts

– The Medical FieldThe Medical Field

– EducationEducation

– The SciencesThe Sciences

– HomesHomes

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Computers in BusinessComputers in Business• Point of Sale TerminalsPoint of Sale Terminals

• Tracking merchandiseTracking merchandise

• Data miningData mining

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Computers in the ArtsComputers in the Arts

• Virtual artVirtual art• Virtual danceVirtual dance

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Computers in the Medical Field Computers in the Medical Field

• Virtual reality in medical applicationsVirtual reality in medical applications• Patient simulatorPatient simulator • Da Vinci Surgical SystemDa Vinci Surgical System

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Computers in EducationComputers in Education

• Computers in the Computers in the classroomclassroom

• Distance EducationDistance Education

• Computerized Computerized researchresearch

• The InternetThe Internet

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Computers and the SciencesComputers and the Sciences

• SupercomputersSupercomputers• ArcheologyArcheology• MeteorologyMeteorology

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Computer Gaming CareersComputer Gaming Careers

• ProgrammingProgramming• 3D animation3D animation

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Computers at HomeComputers at Home

• RoboticsRobotics

• Smart appliancesSmart appliances

Robomower

Internet-connected refrigerator

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Artificial IntelligenceArtificial Intelligence

• RobotsRobots

• Neurons vs MicrochipsNeurons vs Microchips

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Challenges Facing a Digital SocietyChallenges Facing a Digital Society

• Privacy risksPrivacy risks• Personal data Personal data

collectioncollection• Monitoring e-mailMonitoring e-mail• Software piracySoftware piracy

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Becoming Computer FluentBecoming Computer Fluent

• Data processingData processing

• Bits and bytesBits and bytes

• Computer hardwareComputer hardware

• Computer softwareComputer software

• Computer platformsComputer platforms

• Specialty computersSpecialty computers

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Data vs. InformationData vs. Information

• Data vs. Information:Data vs. Information:– Data is a representation of a fact or ideaData is a representation of a fact or idea

• NumberNumber• WordWord• PicturePicture• Sound Sound

– Information is data that has been organized or Information is data that has been organized or presented in a meaningful fashion.presented in a meaningful fashion.

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Computers are Data Computers are Data Processing DevicesProcessing Devices

• Four major functions:Four major functions:– Input dataInput data– Process dataProcess data– Output informationOutput information– Store data and informationStore data and information

DATA IN

INFORMATION OUT

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Bits and Bytes: Bits and Bytes: The Language of ComputersThe Language of Computers

• BitBit– Binary digitBinary digit– 0 or 10 or 1

• ByteByte– Eight bitsEight bits

• ASCII ASCII – Each byte represents a Each byte represents a

letter, number or special letter, number or special charactercharacter

OFF

0ON

1Microchip Microchip SwitchSwitch

10 0 001 1

= 40

0 0 0 0 01 1

= A0

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How Much is a Byte?How Much is a Byte?NAME ABBREVIATION NUMBER OF BYTES RELATIVE SIZE

Byte B 1 byte Can hold one character of data.

Kilobyte KB 1,024 bytes Can hold 1,024 characters or about half of a typewritten page double-spaced.

Megabyte MB 1,048,576 bytes A floppy disk holds approximately 1.4 MB of data, or approximately 768 pages of typed text.

Gigabyte GB 1,073,741,824 bytes Approximately 786,432 pages of text. Since 500 sheets of paper is approximately 2 inches, this represents a stack of paper 262 feet high.

Terabyte TB 1,099,511,627,776 bytes This represents a stack of typewritten pages almost 51 miles high.

Petabyte PB 1,125,899,906,842,624 bytes

The stack of pages is now 52,000 miles high, or about one-fourth the distance from the Earth to the moon.

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Computer HardwareComputer Hardware

• Input devicesInput devices

• System unitSystem unit

• Output devicesOutput devices

• Storage devicesStorage devices

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Th

e rain in

Sp

ain

Input DevicesInput Devices• Enter data to be processedEnter data to be processed

– KeyboardKeyboard– ScannersScanners– MouseMouse– TrackballTrackball– Touch screenTouch screen– MicrophoneMicrophone– Game ControllerGame Controller– Digital camera Digital camera

A BCD

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System UnitSystem Unit• Cabinet that houses all componentsCabinet that houses all components• MotherboardMotherboard• CPUCPU• Memory modulesMemory modules

System UnitCPU

Motherboard

Memory Module

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Output DevicesOutput Devices• Enable us to see or hear the processed Enable us to see or hear the processed

informationinformation– MonitorMonitor– SpeakersSpeakers– PrintersPrinters

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Storage DevicesStorage Devices

• Enable us to store data or information to Enable us to store data or information to be accessed again be accessed again

Hard Disk Drive CD / DVD DriveFloppy Disk

Flash Drive

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Computer SoftwareComputer Software

• SoftwareSoftware - programs - programs that enable the hardware that enable the hardware to perform different tasksto perform different tasks

• Application softwareApplication software– Tools for getting things Tools for getting things

donedone

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Computer SoftwareComputer Software

• System softwareSystem software– Essential for platform operation and supportEssential for platform operation and support

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Computer Platforms: Computer Platforms: PCs and MacsPCs and Macs

PCPC• CPU – Intel, AMDCPU – Intel, AMD• Operating system – Operating system –

Microsoft WindowsMicrosoft Windows

MacMac• CPU – MotorolaCPU – Motorola• Operating system – Operating system –

Apple Mac OSApple Mac OS

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Specialty ComputersSpecialty Computers

• PDAPDA• ServerServer• MainframeMainframe• SupercomputerSupercomputer• Microcontrollers Microcontrollers

Server

Mainframe

Supercomputer

PDA

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Summary QuestionsSummary Questions

• What does it mean to be “computer fluent”? What does it mean to be “computer fluent”?

• How can becoming computer fluent help How can becoming computer fluent help you in a career? you in a career?

• What kinds of challenges do computers What kinds of challenges do computers bring to society?bring to society?

• What are a computer’s four main What are a computer’s four main functions?functions?

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• What is the difference between data and What is the difference between data and information? information?

• What are a bit and a byte? What are a bit and a byte? • What hardware does a computer use to perform What hardware does a computer use to perform

its functions? its functions? • What are the two main types of software? What are the two main types of software? • What different kinds of computers are there?What different kinds of computers are there?

Summary QuestionsSummary QuestionsSummary QuestionsSummary Questions