What are the four basic functions of a computer?
The four basic functions of the computer are the recieve input, produce output, process information and store information.
What does CPU stand for?
CPU stands for Central Processing Unit.
Explain what a bit is.
A bit is binary digit. It is the smallest unit of information a computer can process. It can have two values, 0 and 1. Different combinations of these two numbers store information.
Name two codes used to convert words, etc. into bits.
ASCII and Unicode are both used to convert words into bits. ASCII uses 256 patterns that make codes for the 26 letters, 10 digits, and a few special characters. However, it cannot accomodate other languages, so Unicode was developed. Unicode uses around 65,000 unique characters that support all different languages.
Why is informations stored in some kind of binary format in computers?
Computers cannot understand words, pictures or anything of that sort. They only understand information in small units. For that reason, information is stored in the bits, the numbers 1 and 0. These two numbers are combined together to form many different combinations with different information on them.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Monday, December 7, 2009
Parts of a Computer
Parts of a Computer:
Motherboard: every part either sits on it or is connected to it
CPU: Centrul Processing Unit brain of computer, runs software and processes data
RAM: Random Access Memory, holds data and software currently running
Video Card: creates images that appear on monitor
Power Supply: supplies power that computer needs
Hard disk: holds all information, even when power off. When computer is turned off, all data is loaded onto computer for you to access.
Optical Drive: uses laser to read and write CDs and DVDs
Motherboard: every part either sits on it or is connected to it
CPU: Centrul Processing Unit brain of computer, runs software and processes data
RAM: Random Access Memory, holds data and software currently running
Video Card: creates images that appear on monitor
Power Supply: supplies power that computer needs
Hard disk: holds all information, even when power off. When computer is turned off, all data is loaded onto computer for you to access.
Optical Drive: uses laser to read and write CDs and DVDs
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Project Proposal
Project Title:
Nawal's Fashion Gallery
Client:
Nawal
Criterion G:
Nawal designs clothes. However, nobody is able to see these designs. I would like to do a project that would be her designs more accessible to other people.
Criterion H:
Two ways that I can do this are by making a website or a video presentation with her designs. I can use a web design program to design a website that displays Nawal's designs with a description. For the video presentation, I can display the sketches that Nawal drew as well as an outfit or two that she has made, and let her show them off. This could also possibly be viewed by colleges when she comes to apply to a fashion one.
Nawal's Fashion Gallery
Client:
Nawal
Criterion G:
Nawal designs clothes. However, nobody is able to see these designs. I would like to do a project that would be her designs more accessible to other people.
Criterion H:
Two ways that I can do this are by making a website or a video presentation with her designs. I can use a web design program to design a website that displays Nawal's designs with a description. For the video presentation, I can display the sketches that Nawal drew as well as an outfit or two that she has made, and let her show them off. This could also possibly be viewed by colleges when she comes to apply to a fashion one.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
TechReflect: Telecommuting
Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of telecommuting.
Telecommuting has several advantages and disadvantages. Some of the advantages of telecommuting include increased work productivity, environment protection and more flexibility. Telecommuting is basically working from home and connecting to company computers by modem. Telecommunication reduces traffic on the road and makes for less car accidents. Pollution decreases and energy is saved. Telecommunication also allows for a more flexible schedule. The worker can work at a time that suits him and that he is most productive at, instead of adhering to a strict schedule. This is also beneficial to parents with young children. Telecommuting also has disadvantages. The worker may get distracted at home with children, chores and errands and may not get the work done. On the flip side, they may spend all their time working and not spend time with their families and complete chores and errands. Also, if several workers are telecommuting, ties to the company and to co-workers may be weakened. When working at home, they are off their boss's radar and the boss may not remember him/her come promotion time. Meetings will be harder to hold. Not everybody is comfortable working at home.
Telecommuting has several advantages and disadvantages. Some of the advantages of telecommuting include increased work productivity, environment protection and more flexibility. Telecommuting is basically working from home and connecting to company computers by modem. Telecommunication reduces traffic on the road and makes for less car accidents. Pollution decreases and energy is saved. Telecommunication also allows for a more flexible schedule. The worker can work at a time that suits him and that he is most productive at, instead of adhering to a strict schedule. This is also beneficial to parents with young children. Telecommuting also has disadvantages. The worker may get distracted at home with children, chores and errands and may not get the work done. On the flip side, they may spend all their time working and not spend time with their families and complete chores and errands. Also, if several workers are telecommuting, ties to the company and to co-workers may be weakened. When working at home, they are off their boss's radar and the boss may not remember him/her come promotion time. Meetings will be harder to hold. Not everybody is comfortable working at home.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
HW: Review Questions
Review Questions: Pg. 420 4-10, 12-17
4. Telecommuting allows the worker to work from home on their own schedule. The times are more flexible. Also, because they are in a comfortable working environment, their productivity increases. Telecommution also benefits the environment. With more people working at home, there are less people driving to work and harming the environment. Accidents and traffic are reduced.
5. Managers use surveillance technology to keep tabs on their employees. They also use wireless handheld devices that are portable, so they can be in the office at all times.
6. De-skilling is when a job is transformed so that it requires less skill due to technology. For example, computerized screens in fast-food shops have buttons labeled "fries" rather than numbers to press. Up-skilling is when, because of automation, a job becomes more complicated. When an office adopts databases, spreadsheets, and email systems, secretaries have to know how to use them.
7. In electronic sweatshops, minorities and often women, perform mindless, repetitive tasks on computers, in large windowless rooms. Their breaks are monitored, and many health problems come from these jobs. Workers are paid little money and are oppressed in these jobs.
8. Even though more and more jobs are becoming automated, we still need someone to run the machines. Students need to be educated so they are able to perform in the jobs that they will eventually work in.
9. The goeals of education in the industrial age was to teach students the basic facts and survival skills they owuld need in for jobs in industry and agriculture. Students were expected to sit quietly and absorb facts. Today, the goals are still the same: to prepare students for their future careers. However, there is more emphasis on individual learning and more creativity, as opposed to the uniformity of before.
10. to live and work in teh information age, a student should be familiar with technology, be able to read and write, know basic mathematics as well as understand and apply concepts, know how to interact with others, be able to learn quickly, and have a strong cultural component.
12. Students and teachers use powerpoint presentations, educational software, educational games, simulations, and programming tools. They can also make video presentations.
13. Students can communicate with students in other states and countries, giving them new perspectives into what they are learning. Experts and other teachers can make "guest appearances" over videoconference. If a student is in a small area, they can join online groups for people with similar interests.
14. To ensure success, technology should be incorporated into the students lives, not simply one lab trip a week.
15. People use home computers for all kinds of things. They can work from them, manage the budget, use email and chat for keeping in contact with others, find recipes and stories, play games, do research, shop and so much more.
16. Smart cards contain microprocessors and memory. They store information such as ID information, transactions. They can be used for meal tickets, keys to access data, and replacements for food stamps and driver's licenses.
17. Many games are simulations. However, with advances in technology, home entertainment could become more interactive, with viewer controlled movies and TV.
4. Telecommuting allows the worker to work from home on their own schedule. The times are more flexible. Also, because they are in a comfortable working environment, their productivity increases. Telecommution also benefits the environment. With more people working at home, there are less people driving to work and harming the environment. Accidents and traffic are reduced.
5. Managers use surveillance technology to keep tabs on their employees. They also use wireless handheld devices that are portable, so they can be in the office at all times.
6. De-skilling is when a job is transformed so that it requires less skill due to technology. For example, computerized screens in fast-food shops have buttons labeled "fries" rather than numbers to press. Up-skilling is when, because of automation, a job becomes more complicated. When an office adopts databases, spreadsheets, and email systems, secretaries have to know how to use them.
7. In electronic sweatshops, minorities and often women, perform mindless, repetitive tasks on computers, in large windowless rooms. Their breaks are monitored, and many health problems come from these jobs. Workers are paid little money and are oppressed in these jobs.
8. Even though more and more jobs are becoming automated, we still need someone to run the machines. Students need to be educated so they are able to perform in the jobs that they will eventually work in.
9. The goeals of education in the industrial age was to teach students the basic facts and survival skills they owuld need in for jobs in industry and agriculture. Students were expected to sit quietly and absorb facts. Today, the goals are still the same: to prepare students for their future careers. However, there is more emphasis on individual learning and more creativity, as opposed to the uniformity of before.
10. to live and work in teh information age, a student should be familiar with technology, be able to read and write, know basic mathematics as well as understand and apply concepts, know how to interact with others, be able to learn quickly, and have a strong cultural component.
12. Students and teachers use powerpoint presentations, educational software, educational games, simulations, and programming tools. They can also make video presentations.
13. Students can communicate with students in other states and countries, giving them new perspectives into what they are learning. Experts and other teachers can make "guest appearances" over videoconference. If a student is in a small area, they can join online groups for people with similar interests.
14. To ensure success, technology should be incorporated into the students lives, not simply one lab trip a week.
15. People use home computers for all kinds of things. They can work from them, manage the budget, use email and chat for keeping in contact with others, find recipes and stories, play games, do research, shop and so much more.
16. Smart cards contain microprocessors and memory. They store information such as ID information, transactions. They can be used for meal tickets, keys to access data, and replacements for food stamps and driver's licenses.
17. Many games are simulations. However, with advances in technology, home entertainment could become more interactive, with viewer controlled movies and TV.
Discussion Questions
Discussion Questions, p. 420 #4, 6, 11-13
4. For the worker, being replaced by technology would not be good as they would lose their jobs, or have their duties de-skilled. However, things in society run smoothly because of these people.
6. While I agree that students can become too dependent on computers and calculators, there is no doubt that they are extremely useful. The key is to use them in moderation. You do not need to use a calculator to add or subtract basic amounts. To some degree, we should be able to add, subtract, multiply, and divide mentally. For long complicated numbers and equations, then we should use calculators. As for computers, it is easier and faster to type and edit a paper than rewrite it several times over and over. However, people can become dependent on spell check, and instead of learning how to spell the words, they use spell check to correct everything. This leads to weak spelling ability, and when one has to write something, they will spell many words wrong because they do not have spell check in front of them.
11. In terms of technology, my use of it in school for school has only recently begun to increase. As a grade school student, the computer was only used to type up big reports and projects, or to research something that could not be found in a library. All my papers were hand-written, all research was done at the library. I did not use email. However, since the beginning of high school, most of my research is done on the internet, and most of my papers are typed. A lot of communication is done through email. I have begun to use computers for so many more things than I used to. Despite all this, I do not think that I have been really missing anything from my education. I think that because I did not use computers from a young age, I developed other important skills, like how to research in a library.
12. Yes, I think computers can strengthen families and communities, but they can also weaken them. If a family is in separate places, then the computer makes it easier for them to chat with each other and keep in contact, instead of just seeing them once every year or two or so. However, the computer can also cause division in the family. Children fight over whose turn it is to use the computer, or they may spend most of their time on the computer instead of interacting with their family around them.
13. The computers themselves cannot make people more or less creative. It is the people themselves who have to make this change. I do think, though, that due to the advances in technology, it will be easier to be more creative. Even those who are not creative may wish to try out their creativity on the new technology. The technology may make it easier for uncreative people to bring out the creativity within themselves.
4. For the worker, being replaced by technology would not be good as they would lose their jobs, or have their duties de-skilled. However, things in society run smoothly because of these people.
6. While I agree that students can become too dependent on computers and calculators, there is no doubt that they are extremely useful. The key is to use them in moderation. You do not need to use a calculator to add or subtract basic amounts. To some degree, we should be able to add, subtract, multiply, and divide mentally. For long complicated numbers and equations, then we should use calculators. As for computers, it is easier and faster to type and edit a paper than rewrite it several times over and over. However, people can become dependent on spell check, and instead of learning how to spell the words, they use spell check to correct everything. This leads to weak spelling ability, and when one has to write something, they will spell many words wrong because they do not have spell check in front of them.
11. In terms of technology, my use of it in school for school has only recently begun to increase. As a grade school student, the computer was only used to type up big reports and projects, or to research something that could not be found in a library. All my papers were hand-written, all research was done at the library. I did not use email. However, since the beginning of high school, most of my research is done on the internet, and most of my papers are typed. A lot of communication is done through email. I have begun to use computers for so many more things than I used to. Despite all this, I do not think that I have been really missing anything from my education. I think that because I did not use computers from a young age, I developed other important skills, like how to research in a library.
12. Yes, I think computers can strengthen families and communities, but they can also weaken them. If a family is in separate places, then the computer makes it easier for them to chat with each other and keep in contact, instead of just seeing them once every year or two or so. However, the computer can also cause division in the family. Children fight over whose turn it is to use the computer, or they may spend most of their time on the computer instead of interacting with their family around them.
13. The computers themselves cannot make people more or less creative. It is the people themselves who have to make this change. I do think, though, that due to the advances in technology, it will be easier to be more creative. Even those who are not creative may wish to try out their creativity on the new technology. The technology may make it easier for uncreative people to bring out the creativity within themselves.
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