CHAPTER 1

Why Computers Matter to You:

Becoming Computer Fluent

Becoming a Savvy Computer User and Consumer

Being Prepared for Your Career

Computers in Business: Working in a Data Mine?

Computers in Retail: Let Me Look That Up for You

Computers in Shipping: UPS Data on the Go

Computers in Ranching and Farming: High Tech Down on the Farm

Computers in the Arts: Shall We Dance?

Computers in the Medical Field: Fact or Science Fiction?

Computers in Law Enforcement:

Put Down That Mouse–You’re Under Arrest!

Computers in the Legal Fields: Welcome to the Virtual Courtroom

Computers in Education: And on the Left, You See the Mona Lisa

Computers and the Sciences: Programming the Perfect Storm

Computers in Sports: Bend Your Elbow Another Two Degrees?

Computer Gaming Careers: Now Bigger Than Hollywood!

Computers at Home: Just Program It and Forget It

Getting Ready for the Technology of Tomorrow

Nanoscience: The Next “Big” Thing

Biomedical Chip Implants: Combining Humans with Machines?

Artificial Intelligence: Will Computers Become Human?

Understanding the Challenges Facing a Digital Society

TRENDS IN IT: Ehics: Knowledge Is Power: Bridging the Digital Divide

Becoming Computer Fluent

Computers Are Data Processing Devices

Bits and Bytes: The Language of Computers

Computer Hardware

Computer Software

Computer Platforms: PCs and MACs

Specialty Computers

DIG DEEPER: What Can You Do with a Digital Home?

CHAPTER 2

Looking at Computers:

Understanding the Parts

Your Computer’s Hardware

Input Devices

Keyboards

Mice and Other Pointing Devices

Sound Input

Input Devices for Physically Challenged Individuals

Output Devices

Monitors

Printers

DIG DEEPER: How Inkjet and Laser Printers Work

Sound Output

The System Unit

On the Front Panel

On the Back

Inside the System Unit

Setting It All Up

TRENDS IN IT: Emerging Technologies: Tomorrow’s

Display–You Can Take It with You!

TECHNOLOGY IN FOCUS

Careers in IT

CHAPTER 3

Using the Internet:
Making the Most of the Web’s Resources

The Internet

Communicating Through the Internet: E-Mail and Other Technologies

Instant Messaging

Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP)

Weblogs (blogs) and Video Logs (vlogs)

Podcasts

Webcasts

Wikis

E-Mail

Chat Rooms
Newsgroups

Listservs

Web Entertainment: Multimedia and Beyond

TRENDS IN IT: Social Networking

Conducting Business over the Internet: E-Commerce

E-Commerce Safeguards

Managing Online Annoyances

Spam

Adware

Spyware

Malware

Phishing and Internet Hoaxes

     Navigating the Web: Web Browsers
    Getting Around the Web: URLs, Hyperlinks, and Other Tools
        URLs
        Hyperlinks and Beyond

Favorites and Bookmarks

Tabbed Browsing
TRENDS IN IT: Ethics: What Can You Borrow from the Internet?

Searching the Web: Search Engines and Subject Directories

        Search Engines
        DIG DEEPER: Refining Your Web Searches: Boolean Operators
        Subject Directories

Evaluating Web Sites

Internet Basics

The Internet’s Clients and Servers

Connecting to the Internet

Broadband Connections

Dial-Up Connections

Choosing the Right Internet Connection Option

Finding an Internet Service Provider

Choosing an ISP

The Origin of the Internet

The Web Versus the Internet

The Future of the Internet

CHAPTER 4

Application Software:
Programs That Let You Work and Play

The Nuts and Bolts of Software

More Productivity at Home

Word-Processing Software

Spreadsheet Software

Presentation Software

Database Software

Personal Information Manager (PIM) Software

Productivity Software Tools

Integrated Software Applications Versus Software Suites

DIG DEEPER: Speech-Recognition Software

Personal Financial Software

More Media at Home

Digital Image-Editing Software

Digital Audio Software

Digital Video-Editing Software

Media Management Software

More Fun at Home

Gaming Software

Educational Software

Reference Software

Drawing Software

Business Software

Home Business Software

Large-Business Software
TRENDS IN IT: Emerging Technologies: Is It Real or Is It Virtual?

Specialized Business Software

Getting Help with Software

Buying Software

Standard Software

Web-Based Application Software

Discounted Software

Freeware and Shareware

Software Versions and Systems Requirements

Installing/Uninstalling and Opening Software

TRENDS IN IT: Ethics: Can I Borrow Software That I Don’t Own?

TECHNOLOGY IN FOCUS

Digital Entertainment

CHAPTER 5

Using System Software: The Operating System, Utility
Programs, and File Management

System Software Basics

Operating System Categories

Real-Time Operating Systems

Single-User Operating Systems

Multiuser Operating Systems

Desktop Operating Systems

Microsoft Windows

Mac OS

Unix

Linux

TRENDS IN IT: Emerging Technologies: Open-Source Software:

Why Isn’t Everyone Using Linux?

What the Operating System Does

The User Interface
Processor Management

Memory and Storage Management

Hardware and Peripheral Device Management

Software Application Coordination

The Boot Process: Starting Your Computer

Step 1 : Activating BIOS

Step 2 : Performing the Power-On Self-Test

Step 3 : Loading the Operating System

Step 4 : Checking Further Configurations and Customizations

Handling Errors in the Boot Process

The Desktop and Windows Features

Organizing Your Computer: File Management

Organizing Your Files

Viewing and Sorting Files and Folders

Naming Files

Working with Files

Utility Programs

Display Utilities
The Add or Remove Programs Utility

File Compression Utilities

System Maintenance Utilities

DIG DEEPER: How Disk Defragmenter Utilities Work

System Restore and Backup Utilities

The Task Scheduler Utility

Accessibility Utilities

CHAPTER 6

Understanding and Assessing Hardware:

Evaluating Your System

Is It the Computer or Me?

What Is Your Ideal Computer?

Assessing Your Hardware: Evaluating Your System

Evaluating the CPU Subsystem

Analyzing Your CPU

Evaluating RAM: The Memory Subsystem

Virtual Memory

Adding RAM

Evaluating the Storage Subsystem

The Hard Disk Drive

DIG DEEPER: How a Hard Disk Drive Works

Portable Storage Options: The Floppy and Beyond

Upgrading Your Storage Subsystem

Evaluating the Video Subsystem

         Video Cards
        TRENDS IN IT: Ethics: CD and DVD Technology: A Free Lunch—Or at
        Least a Free Copy

Monitors

Evaluating the Audio Subsystem

Speakers

Sound Cards

Evaluating Port Connectivity

Adding Ports: Expansion Cards and Hubs

Evaluating System Reliability

TRENDS IN IT: Computers in Society: How to Donate Your Old
Computer Safely

Making the Final Decision

TECHNOLOGY IN FOCUS

Computing Alternatives

CHAPTER 7

Networking and Security: Connecting Computers
and Keeping Them Safe from Hackers and Viruses

Networking Fundamentals

Network Architectures

Describing Networks Based on Network Control

Describing Networks Based on Distance

Network Components

Transmission Media

Network Adapters

Network Navigation Devices

Networking Software

Types of Peer-to-Peer Networks

Wired Ethernet Networks

Ethernet Switches

Ethernet Routers
Wireless Ethernet Networks

Power-Line Networks

Phoneline Networks

Choosing a Peer-to-Peer Network

Configuring Software for Your Home Network

TRENDS IN IT: Emerging Technologies: Grid Computing: Aiding Scientific

Research with Your Computer

Keeping Your Home Computer Safe

Computer Threats: Hackers

What Hackers Steal

Trojan Horses

Denial of Service Attacks

How Hackers Gain Access

TRENDS IN IT: Computers in Society: Identity Theft: Is There More

Than One You Out There?

Computer Safeguards: Firewalls

Types of Firewalls

Is Your Computer Secure?

Securing Wireless Networks

DIG DEEPER: How Firewalls Work

Computer Threats: Computer Viruses

Types of Viruses

Virus Classifications

Computer Safeguards: Antivirus Software

Other Security Measures

TRENDS IN IT: Careers: Cybercops on the Beat: Computer Security Careers

CHAPTER 8

Mobile Computing: Keeping Your Data on Hand

Mobile Computing: Is It Right for You?

Mobile Device Limitations

Mobile Computing Devices

Cellular Phones

Cell Phone Hardware

How Cell Phones Work

Cell Phone Features: Text Messaging

Cell Phone Internet Connectivity

Portable Media Players

PMP Hardware

PMP Flash Memory and File Transfer

PMP Ethical Issues: Napster and Beyond

Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs)

TRENDS IN IT: Emerging Technologies: Why Carry Your Data When

You Can Wear It?

PDA Hardware

PDA Operating Systems

PDA Memory and Storage

PDA File Transfer and Synchronization

PDA Internet Connectivity

PDA Software and Accessories

PDA or Cell Phone?

Tablet PCs

DIG DEEPER: The Power of GPS

Tablet PC Hardware

Tablet Software

Tablet or PDA?

Notebooks

Notebook Hardware

TRENDS IN IT: Ubiquitous Networking: Wherever You Go, There You Are

Notebook Operating Systems and Ports

Notebook Batteries and Accessories

Notebook or Desktop?

TRENDS IN IT: Emerging Technologies: Nanotubes:

The Next Big Thing Is Pretty Darn Small!

TECHNOLOGY IN FOCUS

Protecting Your Computer and Backing Up Your Data

CHAPTER 9

Behind the Scenes: A Closer Look at System Hardware

Digital Data: Switches and Bits

Electrical Switches

The Binary Number System

DIG DEEPER: Advanced Binary and Hexadecimal Notations

The CPU: Processing Digital Information

The CPU Machine Cycle

Stage 1 : The Fetch Stage

Stage 2 : The Decode Stage

Stage 3 : The Execute Stage

Stage 4 : The Store Stage

TRENDS IN IT: Emerging Technologies: Printable Processors:

The Ultimate in Flexibility

RAM: The Next Level of Temporary Storage

Types of RAM

Buses: The CPU’s Data Highway

Making Computers Even Faster: Advanced CPU Designs

Pipelining

Specialized Multimedia Instructions

Multiple Processing Efforts

TRENDS IN IT: Emerging Technologies: Computer Technology

Changing the Face of Medicine

CHAPTER 10

Behind the Scenes: Software Programming

The Life Cycle of an Information System

System Development Life Cycle

TRENDS IN IT: Careers: Considering a Career in Systems Development?

The Life Cycle of a Program

Describing the Problem: The Problem Statement

Making a Plan: Algorithm Development

Developing an Algorithm: Decision Making and Design

Top-Down Design

Object-Oriented Analysis

Coding: Speaking the Language of the Computer

Categories of Programming Languages

Creating Code: Writing the Program

DIG DEEPER: The Building Blocks of Programming Languages: Syntax,
Keywords, Data Types, and Operators

Compilation
Coding Tools: Integrated Development Environments

Debugging: Getting Rid of Errors

Finishing the Project: Testing and Documentation

Programming Languages: Many Languages for Many Projects

Selecting the Right Language

Windows Applications

Web Applications: HTML/XHTML and Beyond

The Next Great Language

TRENDS IN IT: Computers in Society: Alice: Making Programming Fun
and Approachable

CHAPTER 11

Behind the Scenes:
Databases and Information Systems

Life Without Databases

Database Building Blocks

Advantages of Using Databases

Database Terminology

Primary Keys

Database Types

Relational Databases

Object-Oriented Databases

Multidimensional Databases

Database Management Systems: Basic Operations

Creating Databases and Entering Data

Input Forms
Data Validation

Viewing and Sorting Data

DIG DEEPER: Structured Query Language (SQL)

Extracting or Querying Data

TRENDS IN IT: Computers in Society: Can a Database Catch a Criminal?

Outputting Data

Relational Database Operations

Normalization of Data

TRENDS IN IT: Computers in Society: Need Cash? Use Databases

to Find Your Property

Data Storage

Data Warehouses

Populating Data Warehouses

         Data Staging
        Data Marts
    Managing Data: Information Systems

Office Support Systems

Transaction Processing Systems

Management Information Systems

Decision Support Systems
Internal and External Data Sources

Model Management Systems

Knowledge-Based Systems

Data Mining

TRENDS IN IT: Emerging Technologies: Web Portal Enables Krispy Kreme to

Manage Its Dough . . . Without Going Nuts!

CHAPTER 12

Behind the Scenes: Networking and Security

Networking Advantages

Client/Server Networks

Classifications of Client/Server Networks: LANs, WANs, and MANs

Constructing Client/Server Networks

Servers

Print Servers
Application Servers

Database Servers

E-Mail Servers

Communications Servers

Web Servers

Network Topologies

Bus Topology

Ring Topology

Star Topology

Comparing Topologies

Transmission Media

Wired Transmission Media

Wireless Media Options

Comparing Transmission Media

Network Operating Systems

TRENDS IN IT: Emerging Technologies: Virtual Network Computing Is

Here and It’s Free

Network Adapters

DIG DEEPER: The OSI Model: Defining Protocol Standards

TRENDS IN IT: Ethics: RFID—Friend or Foe?

Network Navigation Devices

MAC Addresses

Repeaters and Hubs

Switches and Bridges

Routers

Network Security

Authentication

Access Privileges

Physical Protection Measures

TRENDS IN IT: Emerging Technologies: Wi-Fi Phones Keep

Doctors and Nurses Connected

Firewalls

TRENDS IN IT: Computers in Society: What’s Shakin’? California Maintains a

Reliable Network to Respond to Earthquake Emergencies

CHAPTER 13

Behind the Scenes: The Internet: How It Works

The Management of the Internet

Internet Networking

Connecting Internet Service Providers

Network Access Points

Points of Presence

The Network Model of the Internet

Data Transmission and Protocols

Packet Switching

TCP/IP

IP Addresses and Domain Names

Domain Names

DIG DEEPER: Making the Connection: Connection-Oriented Versus

Connectionless Protocols

DNS Servers
Other Protocols: FTP and Telnet

HTTP, HTML, and Other Web Jargon

HTTP and SSL

HTML/XHTML

XML

The Common Gateway Interface

Client-Side Applications

Communications over the Internet

TRENDS IN IT: Careers: If You Build It, Will They Come? Web

Development and Design Careers

E-mail

TRENDS IN IT: Computers in Society: Have You Ever Used an Extranet
or a Virtual Private Network?

E-Mail Security: Encryption and Specialized Software

Instant Messaging

TRENDS IN IT: Emerging Technologies: The Evolving Internet

TECHNOLOGY IN FOCUS

The History of the PC

Glossary
Index

Credits

About the Author

Three professors from Montgomery County Community College traveled with the Prentice Hall Information Technology team for over two years to uncover what students and professors today wanted and needed in an Intro to Computer Concepts text. After meeting with more than 1,000 students and instructors and developed Technology in Action. Due to overwhelming success, they recently published Technology in Action 2/e!

Alan D. Evans, M.S., CPA
Alan is currently the director of computer science for Montgomery County Community College. Alan’s parents instilled in him a love of education at an early age. After a successful career in business, Alan finally realized his true calling was education. He has been a teacher and an administrator at the collegiate level for the past five years. Alan makes presentations at technical conferences and meets regularly with computer science faculty and administrators from other colleges to discuss curriculum development. Currently, he is researching computer literacy standards for college freshmen.

Kendall E. Martin, Ph.D.
Kendall has been teaching since 1988 at a number of institutions, including Villanova University, DeSales University, Arcadia University, Ursinus College, County College of Morris, and Montgomery County Community College, at both the undergraduate and master’s degree level. Kendall’s education includes a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Rochester and an M.S. and Ph.D. in Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania. She has industrial experience in research and development environments (AT&T Bell Laboratories) as well as experience from several start-up technology firms. At Ursinus College, Kendall developed a successful faculty training program for distance education instructors, and she makes conference presentations during the year.

Mary Anne Poatsy, MBA, CFP
Mary Anne is an adjunct faculty member at Montgomery County Community College, teaching various computer application and concepts courses in face-to-face and online environments. Mary Anne holds a B.A. in Psychology and Elementary Education from Mount Holyoke College and an MBA in Finance from Northwestern University’s Kellogg Graduate School of Management. Mary Anne has more than nine years of educational experience, ranging from elementary and secondary education to Montgomery County Community College, Muhlenberg College, and Bucks County Community College, as well as training in the professional environment. Prior to teaching, Mary Anne was a vice president at Shearson Lehman Hutton in the Muncipal Bond Investment Banking department.

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About the Author