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Discuss the uses of the Internet and the World Wide Web
The worlds largest network is the Internet, which is a worldwide collection of networks that links together millions of businesses, government agencies, educational institutions, and individuals. Users connect to the Internet to send messages, access information, shop for goods and services, meet or converse with other users, and access sources of entertainment and leisure. Most users connect to the Internet through an Internet service provider (ISP) or an online service provider (OSP). The World Wide Web is a popular segment of the Internet that contains billions of documents called Web pages. These documents can contain text, graphics, sound, video, and built-in connections, or links, to other Web pages stored on computers throughout the world.
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6. Networks 7. The Internet 8. Computer categories 9. Types of computer users 10. Web publishing
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Here you will find additional information that will expand and enhance your knowledge beyond that contained in your textbook. Compare this information to what may be provided in a traditional classroom by your instructor or peers.
Computer Literacy
It is difficult to think of a field in which computers are not used. In addition to general-purpose computers, special-purpose computers are used in everything from automobiles to electric razors. Consider how computers have influenced our daily lives, both positively and negatively. (To err is human, but to really foul things up requires a computer. Anonymous, from a BBC Radio broadcast.) List ways in which computers are being used today. What is the most common use? What is the most unusual use? As a result of the expanding use of computers, in 1986 Florida became the first state to demand computer literacy of all students by grade 12.
Computer
Although computers are thought of as a relatively recent innovation, the term computer has a long history. Prior to 1940, computer was a job title that referred to anyone performing calculations. Consider how data is different from information. Data is processed into information. Clifford Stoll lecturer, computer security expert, and author of Silicon Snake Oil: Second Thoughts on the Information Superhighway notes a wide gap between data and information. Stoll insists that information has a pedigree, or lineage. Its source is known, whether by a respected professor or a seventh grader. The Internet has great gobs of data, Stoll maintains, and little, little information. The first three operations in the information processing cycle input, process, and output are performed to process data into information, while the fourth operation storage refers to a computers electronic reservoir capability. Think about how we perform each phase in the information processing cycle in the human computer (i.e., the human brain) while completing a common task, such as learning a telephone number.
Computer Components
Different types of input devices are designed to transmit different types of data or to transmit data in different ways. Think of other input devices (joysticks, scanners, digital cameras, and so on) and the different types of data they transmit or the different ways they transmit data. Because it is more lasting than output from a monitor or speaker, the printers output often is called hard copy. Think of other output devices with which you are familiar (data projectors, computer output microfilm, and so on).
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Some computer components are considered internal, while others are considered external. External components are called peripherals. Input, output, and communications devices often are peripheral devices. The difference between the temporary character of memory and permanent nature of storage will be made painfully clear the first time you experience a power failure while working on a computer. Think of other examples of storage devices (magnetic tape, PC Cards, and so on). The capability to communicate may be one of the most significant factors influencing how computers are used now and in the future.
Computer Power
In one billionth of a second, an electronic signal travels almost 12 inches. This means that todays supercomputer (the fastest, most powerful, and most expensive category of computers) can perform 1.8 trillion operations per second. If a person did one arithmetic operation a second without stopping, it would take more than 31,000 years to perform the number of operations a supercomputer can do in one second. Researchers predict that one day computer speed will be 18 measured in exaflops, or one quintillion (1 x 10 ) calculations per second. The reliability of computer components often is measured in MTBF (mean time between failure, in hours). A typical component might be rated 10,000 MTBF. Although the term computer error is widespread, most computer errors can be traced to human mistakes. Consider instances of computer error with which you are familiar. How might human blunders have resulted in the computer error? Why are people apt to blame computers? Supercomputers have more than 600 gigabytes of memory, meaning that they can store more than 600 billion letters, numbers, and special characters, and have 2 terabytes (2 trillion bytes) of disk space. Equally important is the speed at which data can be retrieved, processed, and stored again. Connected computers can share each operation in the information processing cycle. To recognize the value of communication, imagine trying to solve a problem individually, and then trying to solve the same problem with the assistance of several classmates.
Computer Software
The difference between computer hardware and computer software is important. A 3-inch floppy disk is hardware; however the programs stored on it are software. Programs or software, like data, are input into the computer.
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Because you interact with it directly, you may be more consciously aware of application software than system software. Remember that system software determines how you interact with application software. Popular operating systems include DOS (Disk Operating System), Windows 3.x (technically, not an operating system but an operating environment that makes DOS easier to use), Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Mac OS, OS/2, UNIX, Linux (rhymes with cynics), and NetWare. DOS was developed by Microsoft for IBM personal computers. DOS started Microsofts climb to the top of the software world -- at one time, versions of DOS were used worldwide by more than 100 million people. DOS has a command-line interface, meaning that people have to memorize and type instructions. Today, operating systems with a graphical user interface, such as Microsofts Windows, are far more popular. Most application software packages are designed to be used with specific operating systems. Much of the software with which you are familiar is packaged software. Because of their complexity, most software programs are written by teams of programmers working together. Just as people understand a variety of spoken languages (English, French, Chinese, and so on), computers recognize a number of programming languages.
Networks
A network with which you might be familiar is the school computer lab. Consider resources that can be shared on a network. For example, the school computer lab may share a single printer. Think of advantages of sharing resources. Why are most business computers part of a network?
The Internet
Estimates claim that more than 50 percent of U.S. homes are connected to the Internet, and more than 13 million do so through an online service provider. Although the growth rate of the Internet and online services has slowed from a peak of more than 140 percent in 1994-95, the growth rate still is around 20 percent annually. Surveys show the number of Web site visitors continues to expand rapidly, practically doubling every year. Interestingly, surveys show that teenage boys and girls are accessing the Internet for different reasons. While boys seem to focus on entertainment, girls use the Internet more for schoolwork and chat.
Computer Categories
In addition to differences in size, speed, processing capabilities, and price, other factors, such as the size of main memory and number of peripheral devices, also can be considered when categorizing computers. Rapid changes in technology make it difficult to define categories
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precisely. As a rule of thumb, todays PCs have about as much memory and processin g power as the mainframes of a decade ago. Think of personal computers with which you are familiar. How is the computer used? What factors influence the choice of a personal computer? In addition to such obvious considerations as processing speed and amount of memory, less apparent factors, such as available software or even the computers footprint (the amount of space it occupies on the work surface) also may be important. A desktop computer monitor often is placed on top of the system unit case. This sometimes can be an ergonomic problem, forcing users to look up. Server computers often are used in academic environments. What features of server computers would make them particularly attractive to schools? In todays mobile society, notebook computers ha ve become indispensable tools. Since 1993, sales of notebook and smaller computers have rivaled sales of larger systems, partly because of their enhanced capabilities and increased use by field sales forces. The capabilities of handheld computers also continue to expand. Visor, a new handheld computer from Handspring, is an electronic organizer but also offers video games, a cell phone, a modem, an MP3 player, and a two-way pager. Called the Swiss Army knife of handheld computers, Visor uses the Palm operating system, which is the same operating system used by the Palm Pilot, a popular handheld computer from 3Com, and is available for about $200. The growing movement toward decentralization in business, coupled with the increasing power of mid-range servers, has led to a recent trend away from mainframe computers and toward midrange servers. What advantages might mid-range servers have over mainframe computers for a business? Organizations that deal with huge, constantly changing collections of data accessed simultaneously by many users, such as banks, insurance companies, universities, and government agencies, often use mainframe computers. Despite this, mainframe sales are declining approximately 10 percent per year. One of the most important features of supercomputers is their capability to create complex, three-dimensional images almost instantaneously. Television networks often use supercomputers to generate complicated images and then give viewers the sense of going through the image. Due to their size and expense, only large businesses and government agencies use supercomputers. IBMs Option Blue supercomputer was used by the Department of Energy to simulate nuclear explosions, allowing the effects of aging and adverse conditions on nuclear weapons to be explored without underground detonations.
Individuals in higher income levels have greater access to the Internet than people in lower levels and the gap may be growing. African-Americans earning less than $40,000 are less than half as likely to own a computer as whites in the same income group. Women are under-represented in todays computer classes and technology jobs.
A number of efforts are being made to narrow the digital divide. Networks have changed the face of both small and large business. In the 1970s, executives usually worked with monthly reports; in the 1980s, they used weekly reports; today, daily or even hourly reports are available. How have computers affected the efficiency of businesses? What impact have computers had on the interpersonal side of business (i.e., employee and customer relationships)? How have computers changed peoples jobs? Have computers cost any people their jobs?
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You can access the Internet through an Internet service provider, an online service provider, or a wireless service provider. An Internet service provider (ISP) provides temporary Internet connections to individuals and companies. An online service provider (OSP) also supplies Internet access, in addition to a variety of special content and services. A wireless service provider (WSP) provides wireless Internet access to users with wireless modems or Webenabled handheld computers or devices. Employees and students often connect to the Internet through a business or school network that connects to a service provider. For home or small business users, dial-up access provides an easy and inexpensive way to connect to the Internet. With dial-up access, you use a computer, a modem, and a regular telephone line to dial into an ISP or OSP. Some home and small business users opt for newer, high-speed technologies. DSL (digital subscriber line) provides high-speed connections over a regular copper telephone line. A cable modem provides high-speed Internet connections through a cable television network.
Identify a URL
The most widely used service on the Internet is the World Wide Web. The World Wide Web (WWW or Web) consists of a worldwide collection of electronic documents called Web pages. A browser is a software program used to access and view Web pages. Each Web page has a unique address, called a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) that tells a browser where to locate the Web page. A URL consists of a protocol, domain name, and sometimes the path to a specific Web page or location on a Web page. Most URLs begin with http://, which stands for hypertext transfer protocol, the communications standard that enables pages to transfer on the Web.
life, money, sports, and the weather. A portal Web page offers a variety of Internet services from a single, convenient location. A personal Web page is maintained by a private individual who normally is not associated with any organization.
Recognize how Web pages use graphics, animation, audio, video, and virtual reality
Many exciting Web pages use multimedia. Multimedia refers to any application that integrates text with one of the following elements: graphics, sound, video, virtual reality, or other media elements. A graphic is a digital representation of information such as a drawing, chart, or photograph. Two common file formats for graphical images on the Web are JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) and GIF (Graphics Interchange Format), which use compression techniques to reduce the size of graphics files and thus speed downloading. Animation is the appearance of motion created by displaying a series of still images in rapid sequence. One popular type of animation, called an animated GIF, uses computer animation and graphics software to combine several images into a single GIF file. Audio is music, speech, or any other sound. A common format for audio files on the Web is MP3, a popular technology that compresses audio. More advanced Web audio applications use streaming audio, which transfers audio data in a continuous and even flow, allowing users to listen to the sound as it downloads. Video consists of full-motion images that are played back at various speeds. Video files often are quite large in size. The Moving Pictures Experts Group (MPEG) defines a popular video compression standard. Streaming video allows you to view longer or live video images as they are downloaded. Virtual reality (VR) is the use of computers to simulate a real or imagined environment that appears as a three-dimensional (3-D) space. A VR world is an entire 3-D site that contains infinite space and depth.
Define Webcasting
Pull technology is a method of obtaining information that relies on a client such as your computer to request a Web page from a server. On the other hand, Webcasting, also called push technology, is a method of obtaining information in which a server automatically downloads content to your computer at regular intervals or whenever updates are made to the site. Webcasting saves time by delivering information at regular intervals and allows users to view Web content when they are offline, that is, when they are not connected to the Internet.
Explain how e-mail, FTP, newsgroups and message boards, mailing lists, chat rooms, and instant messaging work
A variety of services are used widely on the Internet, including e-mail, FTP, newsgroups and message boards, mailing lists, chat rooms, and instant messaging. E-mail (electronic mail) is the transmission of messages and files via a computer network. You use an e-mail program to create, send, receive, forward, store, print, and delete messages. To receive messages, you need an e-mail address, which is a combination of a username and a domain name that identifies a user. FTP (File Transfer Protocol) is an Internet standard that allows you to upload and download files with other computers on the Internet. An FTP server is a computer that allows you to use FTP to upload files to, and download files from, an FTP site. With anonymous FTP, anyone can transfer some, if not all, available files. A newsgroup is an online area in which users conduct written discussions about a particular subject. The computer that stores and distributes newsgroup messages is called a news server. You use a program called a newsreader to access a newsgroup, read previously entered messages (called articles), and add (post) messages of your own. A thread consists of the original article and all subsequent related replies. In a moderated newsgroup, a moderator reviews articles and posts them, if appropriate. A message board is a popular Web-based type of discussion group that does not require a newsreader and typically is easier to use than a newsgroup. A mailing list is a group of e-mail names and addresses given a single name. To add your e-mail name and address to a mailing list you subscribe to it; to remove your name, you unsubscribe. A chat is real-time (meaning everyone involved in the chat is online at the same time) typed conversation that takes place on a computer. A location on an Internet server that permits users to chat is called a chat room. Some chat rooms support voice chats and video chats, where you can hear or see others and they can hear or see you as you chat. A chat client is a program on your computer that allows you to connect to a chat server and start a chat session. Instant
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messaging (IM) is a real-time Internet communications service that notifies you when one or more people are online and then allows you to exchange messages or join a private chat room.
Keep messages brief and use proper grammar and spelling. Be careful when using sarcasm and humor. Be polite and avoid offensive language. Avoid sending flames (abusive messages) and spam (unsolicited junk mail). Do not use all capital letters, which is the equivalent of SHOUTING! Use emoticons (such as :) for smile) to express emotion. Use abbreviations (such as BTW for by the way) for popular phrases. Clearly identify a spoiler, which is a message that reveals a solution to a game or an ending to a movie or program. Read the FAQ (frequently asked questions) document. Do not assume all material is accurate or up-to-date. Never read someones private e-mail.
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The Internet Accessing the Internet URLs Searching the Web Types of Web Pages How Web Pages Use Multimedia
Here you will find additional information that will expand and enhance your knowledge beyond that contained in your textbook. Compare this information to what may be provided in a traditional classroom by your instructor or peers.
The Internet
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The Internet has had a profound effect on the world of computers. Microsoft CEO Bill Gates claims, The Internet is pervasive in everything were doing. The Internet also has assumed an increasing prominence in the world at large. Today, the letters www seem an omnipresent part of advertisements on buses, billboards, and magazines. The Internet, as it is known today, was born in 1983 when ARPANET was split into two interconnected networks: ARPANET and MILNET. The size of the Internet doubled when NSFnet joined the Internet in 1986. The Internet has proven to be a reliable means of transmitting data. Occasionally, however, transmission problems do occur. For 30 minutes in the spring of 1995, all of the traffic destined for MIT was sent through a small wire in Florida, a situation described as equivalent to routing all of the flights bound for OHare to a driveway.
URLs
On a Web page, a link is a built-in connection to another related Web page or part of a Web page. A link can be a word, phrase, or image. URLs make it possible to navigate using links, because each link is connected to a URL. When you click a link, the Web site or document associated with the URL is displayed. Some people refer to this activity of jumping from one Web page to another as surfing the Web. URLs are registered for a standard fee (usually about $70). To acquire an appropriate URL, some companies are willing to spend a great deal more for a URL that already has been registered. Recently, eCompanies paid an entrepreneur $7.5 million for a Web address. This more than doubled the previous record Compaqs purchase of altavista.com for $3 million.
The limitations of search engines. A query about mustangs on the American plains might produce results involving Southern Methodist University's football team and the Ford car. The nature of queries. While a traditional researcher, such as a librarian, uses queries averaging 14 words, the typical Internet query is just over one word. The creators of Web pages. Developers of commercial Web pages sometimes distort results by repeating frequently requested keywords in the background, where spiders see them but people do not.
Despite these difficulties, search engines are among the most popular sites on the Web. When choosing a search engine, experts suggest that novice users, and users looking for obscure information, turn first to the larger search engines (AltaVista, Yahoo!, Lycos, and so on) because they are easiest to use and cast the largest net.
News Web pages are the most popular Web sites among Americans with access to the Internet. Although these Web sites often are associated with newspapers, magazines, television stations, or radio stations, some are published only online, without a related print or broadcast media. Portal Web pages often offer the following free services: search engine, news, sports and weather, free personal Web pages, reference tools, shopping malls, e-mail, instant messaging, newsgroups, and chat rooms. The dictionary defines a portal as a door or gateway. Portal Web pages are gateways to a host of services. Personal Web pages sometimes use Web cams to provide minute-by-minute views of life in a dorm room, an apartment, a new-born babys crib, or even the inside of a refrigerator. One devotee of these personal Web pages says visitors often develop a sort of relationship with the Web page developer. Perhaps this observation is true; some personal Web pages receive more than 1,000 hits a day.
Webcasting
Some people use Webcasting to download copyrighted material, such as music, from Web sites. Many young, unknown musicians see music Web sites as a way to gain exposure, but some already-popular musicians see sharing music on Web sites as little more than theft. The heavy metal rock band Metallica sued Napster (a music Web site) for copyright violations. A number of colleges have placed a ban on music Web sites. These schools maintain that students downloading and sharing music creates a tremendous amount of traffic, clogging the schools computer systems. As a result, the schools are using filtering software to deny access to music Web sites. Several student groups have formed to protest this response.
E-Commerce
Today, more than 50 percent of Web sites are commercial. Online product sales total more than $6 billion, which represents a twelve-fold increase in just five years. These numbers should be kept in perspective in 1999, e-commerce still represented only 0.5 percent of U.S. consumer spending. Business to consumer e-commerce often allows buyers to purchase directly from businesses, eliminating the middleman and thus providing goods and services at lower costs. Other advantages of e-commerce include:
twenty-four hour access global presence two-way communication decreased costs lower product display and storage costs reduced salesperson costs
Businesses advertise with their own Web site or on another companys Web site. The most successful Web advertisements are on popular sites, such as search engines. In terms of audience, advertising on the Web is expensive. The cost to reach 1,000 consumers is about $75 on the Web, $60 in a newspaper, $44 in a magazine, and $5 on television. Yet, Web advertisements do offer advantages:
Unlike traditional media advertising, which is passive (and often ignored by the audience), Web advertising is interactive. The audience expresses an interest in the product by clicking a hyperlink and choosing to view a Web ad. For many products, Web users are the ideal customers. Web users tend to be students or highly educated consumers in their late 30s, with average incomes of about $55,000.
What products could benefit most from advertising on the Web. Why?
Web Publishing
Deciding upon the purpose of the Web site and the audience for whom it is intended will make it easier to determine what should and should not be included on the Web site. Web publishing is an increasingly commonplace Internet activity. With the assistance of word processing packages, Web page authoring software, or Web sites that assist in the creation of Web pages, even elementary school children are developing personal Web pages.
Internet Services
It is estimated that the number of e-mail users has increased 300 percent during the past five years, and the number of e-mail messages sent per day has increased 400 percent. While its
growth has been phenomenal, not everyone is happy with e-mails ever-increasing use. In a business setting, some feel that e-mail can be counter-productive. They contend that employees spend too much time writing and reading e-mail on inconsequential topics subjects they never would commit to paper. In a social setting, some wonder if e-mail is fitting in every situation. Although e-mail is suitable for casual messages, most believe it is inappropriate for more serious or formal communication, such as a wedding invitation. How do you feel about these reservations regarding e-mail? Many files on anonymous FTP sites are public domain software, freeware, or shareware. Public domain software is not copyrighted and therefore can be distributed at no cost. Freeware also is available at no cost but, because it is copyrighted, it cannot be resold. Shareware can be downloaded and tried for free, but a license fee must be paid if the software is kept. Shareware users who pay the license fee may receive a manual, notification of new releases or tips, and access to technical support. The quality of freeware, public domain software, and shareware varies greatly. The real-time character of chat makes chat rooms different from newsgroups or mailing lists. The extent to which a chat room is monitored varies. In some chat rooms, particularly those aimed at adults, a monitors presence hardly is noticed. Chat rooms intended for minors, however, often are monitored closely. Chat rooms can be an invaluable experience for children, letting them share thoughts and ideas with people their own age from around the country, or even around the world. Yet, to ensure that content is appropriate, parents may want to oversee a childs first few chat room visits.
Overview
1. Define application software 2. Understand how system software interacts with application software 3. Identify the role of the user interface 4. Explain how to start a software application
5. Identify the widely used products and explain the key features of different software applications 6. Identify various products available as Web applications 7. Describe the learning aids available with many software applications
This chapter discusses the role of the system software with respect to application software. It then presents an overview of several productivity software applications, graphic design/multimedia software applications, home/personal/educational software applications, and communications software applications. The chapter then identifies various Web applications. Finally, learning aids and supports tools within application software products are presented.
Once started, the application displays in a window on the desktop. A window is a rectangular area of the screen that is used to show the program, data, and/or information. At the top of the window is a title bar that contains the windows name.
Identify the widely used products and explain the key features of
productivity/business software applications graphic design/multimedia software applications home/personal/educational software applications communications software applications
People use productivity software to become more effective and efficient while performing daily activities. Word processing software allows users to create and manipulate documents that contain text and graphics. With word processing software, you can insert clip art into a document; change margins; find and replace text; use a spelling checker to check spelling; place a header and footer at the top and the bottom of a page; and vary font (character design), font size (character scale), and font style (character appearance). With spreadsheet software, data is organized in rows and columns, which collectively are called a worksheet. The intersection of a row and column, called a cell, can contain a label (text), a value (number), or a formula or function that performs calculations on the data and displays the result. Database software allows you to create and manage a database. A database is a collection of data organized to allow access, retrieval, and use of that data. A query is used to retrieve data according to specified criteria, which are restrictions the data must meet. Presentation graphics software is used to create presentations that communicate ideas, messages, and other information to a group through a slide show. You can use a clip gallery to enhance your presentation with clip art images, pictures, video clips, and audio clips. A personal information manager (PIM) is software that includes an appointment calendar to schedule activities, an address book to maintain names and addresses, and a notepad to record ideas, reminders, and important information. A software suite is a collection of individual applications sold as a single package. Project management software allows you to plan, schedule, track, and analyze the progress of a project. Accounting software helps companies record and report their financial transactions. Power users often use software that allows them to work with graphics and multimedia. Computer-aided design (CAD) software assists in creating engineering, architectural, and scientific designs. Desktop publishing (DTP) software is used to design and produce sophisticated documents. DTP is developed specifically to support page layout, which is the process of arranging text and graphics in a document. Paint software is used to draw graphical
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images with various on-screen tools. Image editing software provides the capability to modify existing images. Video editing software and audio editing software can be used to modify video and audio segments. Multimedia authoring software is used to create electronic interactive presentations that can include text, images, video, audio, and animation. Web page authoring software is designed to create Web pages and to organize, manage, and maintain Web sites. Many software applications are designed specifically for use at home or for personal or educational use. Integrated software combines several productivity software applications that share a similar interface and common features into a single package. Personal finance software is an accounting program that helps pay bills, balance a checkbook, track income and expenses, follow investments, and evaluate financial plans. Legal software assists in the creation of legal documents and provides legal advice. Tax preparation software guides users through the process of filing federal taxes. Personal DTP software helps develop conventional documents by asking questions, presenting predefined layouts, and supplying standard text. Photo-editing software is used to edit digital photographs. A clip art/image gallery is a collection of clip art and photographs that can be used in all types of documents. Home design/landscaping software assists with planning or remodeling. Educational software teaches a particular skill and exists for about any subject. Reference software provides valuable and thorough information for all individuals. Entertainment software includes interactive games, videos, and other programs designed to support a hobby or provide amusement. One of the main reasons people use computers is to communicate and share information. E-mail software is used to create, send, receive, forward, store, print, and delete e-mail (electronic mail). A Web browser is a software application used to access and view Web pages. A chat client is software that allows you to connect to a chat room, which permits users to chat via the computer. A newsreader is a software program used to participate in a newsgroup, which is an online area on the Web where users conduct written discussion about a particular subject. An instant messenger is a software program installed to use instant messaging (IM), a real-time communications service that notifies you when one or more people are online and then allows you to exchange messages or files. Groupware is a software application that helps groups of people on a network work together and share information. A videoconference is a meeting between two or more geographically separated people who use a network or the Internet to transmit audio and video data.
sites offer WBT to the general public. An application service provider (ASP) is a third-party organization that manages and distributes software and services on the Web.
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Here you will find additional information that will expand and enhance your knowledge beyond that contained in your textbook. Compare this information to what may be provided in a traditional classroom by your instructor or peers.
Application Software
Popular types of application software can be categorized by their general use: productivity software, graphics design/multimedia software, home/personal/educational software, and communications software. An application can belong to more than one category. For example, an e-mail program can be considered both productivity software and communications software.
System Software
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Many application programs are designed to run with a specific operating system. When shopping for an application software package, buyers must make sure they have a compatible operating system. A software package designed to be used with the Macintosh operating system may not work with the Windows operating system. The operating system version also is important. An application designed for Windows XP may not work with Windows 3.1. Yet, because most operating systems are downward compatible, software written for earlier versions of an operating system (such as Windows 98) usually can be used with recent versions of the operating system (such as Windows XP).
Starting an Application
To click an object on the screen, you move the pointer to the object and then press and release a button on the mouse. Often, applications also can be started by double-clicking the icon that represents the application. When an application is started, the right-hand corner of the application window title bar usually displays three buttons:
Minimize When clicked, this button reduces a window to a button on the taskbar. Restore When clicked, this button returns a window to its initial size. When a window does not fill the desktop, the Restore button is replaced by a Maximize button that, when clicked, enlarges the window so it covers the entire desktop. Close When clicked, this button closes the window. The Close button removes the window from the desktop and its button from the taskbar.
A dialog box can contain option buttons, check boxes, text boxes, and command buttons. Option buttons stipulate desired alternatives; check boxes turn specific capabilities on or off; text boxes allow text to be entered; and command buttons immediately perform an action, such as implementing (OK) or ignoring (Cancel) the choices made in a dialog box. Shortcut menus can
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change depending on where the pointer rests when the mouse is right-clicked. Dimmed commands on a menu or shortcut menu are unavailable. Some applications use automatically display a smart tag when you perform a certain action. Clicking the smart tag displays a menu of commands related to the action.
Software
Word processing software is used for creating, editing, formatting, saving, and printing documents. In the modern office, word processing software has replaced the typewriter for almost all written work. The editing capabilities of word processing software have altered the creative process. The freedom to express yourself without reservation, knowing you easily can revise what you have written, can improve the quality of written work. It is good practice to save a document before printing it. When a document is saved, it exists as a file, or named collection of data, instructions, or information. A file name uniquely identifies each file. Restrictions on file names once were severe; file names could be no more than eight characters long, and many characters, including spaces, could not be used. In Windows XP, however, a file name can have up to 255 characters, including spaces. Some spreadsheet programs offer more than 200 internal functions. When creating a spreadsheet, formulas and functions usually must be preceded by a special character (such as =, +, or @) to distinguish them from labels or values. Formulas use cell references, or addresses, of cells that contain values. When formulas are copied from one cell to another, the cell references change to reflect the new location. This update is called relative referencing. Another powerful capability, called goal-seek, finds what value is needed to reach a specified goal. While spreadsheet packages can manage data tables of a few thousand records, database software can efficiently handle much larger data tables. In a database, common data types include text, numeric, currency, date, memo, hyperlink, and object. When identifying data types, numbers treated as text (such as zip codes, Social Security numbers, or telephone numbers) sometimes are referred to as alphanumeric data because they are not used in calculations. The results of a database query are placed in an ANSWER table. Although introduced years after word processing and spreadsheet software, presentation graphics software has had almost as great an impact on business, and on how people do business, as either of the older applications. Presentations often include an outline with the text from each slide, audience handouts that can be distributed to the audience, and a notes page with additional notes for the presenter. Some presentation graphics packages offer templates for various presentations (company meeting, financial report, marketing plan, progress report, employee orientation, training, and so on). PIMs essentially are free style database managers. They are very popular with people who spend much of their time in business travel. These people, often called road warriors, find PIMs
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a valuable part of the arsenal they bring to their daily battles. Like a daily planner, PIMs must be reviewed regularly to be effective. Unlike word processing software, DTP software increases hardware requirements. Because of its relatively low cost (an advanced DTP system can be purchased for less than $10,000) and the speed, control, security, and flexibility offered by desktop publishing, many companies are using DTP instead of outside printing firms for their publishing needs. Paint software and image editing software have had a tremendous impact on commercial art. Commercial artists praise the capabilities offered by these applications. At the same time, many feel these applications have led clients to demand more, both in terms of time and expectations. As a result, some commercial artists believe their income, actually has dropped because of graphic software. Most software for home, personal, and educational use is relatively inexpensive. It still pays to shop around. Prices for some software for home/personal use, such as integrated software, can vary greatly for the same brand depending on the vendor. Some personal finance packages can prepare reports on income and expenses, budget, net worth, taxes, and investments. Personal finance software wizards (automated assistants) can help to balance accounts, prepare budgets, plan mortgages, calculate savings, and arrange retirements. Legal software is designed to facilitate creation of standard documents; unusual circumstances might still demand the services of a lawyer. Tax preparation software also is best used by people in fairly common circumstances. For some students, educational software is a welcome alternative to traditional classes, allowing them to work privately at their own pace. Reference software articles often include links that, when clicked, display related articles. Because referenced material can change frequently, some reference software packages can be updated via the World Wide Web. Computer communications touch everyones life. Consider the ATM that knows a bank balance even though it is located 500 miles from the bank. Many e-mail programs allow users to send registered mail with a return receipt guaranteeing the recipient received the message. E - mail and personal information management (PIM) software sometimes also are considered part of groupware. Although e-mail has assumed an important role in business messages, traditional paper letters and memos still are used In fact, some maintain that the amount of paper correspondence has increased.
Web Applications
Web applications can be a better buy than packaged applications. For example, a $50 packaged antivirus program can be replaced by a Web application that costs less than $30 annually, is updated frequently, and uses less space on a hard disk. In addition, packaged software might include features you will never use, which increases the cost of the package. Often, you can use
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the standard version of a similar Web application for less money or even for free, and only pay more for the additional features you want. Web applications can save businesses money with reduced installation, upgrade, and maintenance costs. Some social analysts believe that the lower cost of Web applications also can help close the digital divide. For Web application vendors, benefits include easier updating and debugging (error correcting), removal of packaging and distribution costs, and elimination of software piracy (the illegal copying and selling of software). Despite their advantages, analysts point out that Web applications may not be right for everyone. For some consumers, paying a monthly fee ultimately costs more than the one-time purchase of packaged software. Also, many households do not have the fast Internet connection needed for certain Web applications to run smoothly. Finally, some people worry that files stored at a Web application site can be infected with viruses. Web application vendors believe these worries are groundless and that Web applications benefit both buyers and sellers.
Learning Aids
In many applications, an audible beep indicates an error, and the last entry should be reviewed. Function key F1 often is used to activate the Help feature. Some applications have a Help button that, when clicked, changes the mouse pointer to a Help arrow. This arrow can be used to obtain help on a command, button, or bar by pointing at the item and clicking. Many software developers have eliminated users manuals in favor of extensive online Help. Computer stores occasionally carry a few trade books, but entire aisles of computer-related books can be found in most large book stores. For some applications, other learning aids, such as tutorials or keyboard templates, are available. Tutorials are step-by-step instructions using real examples that show how to use an application. Tutorials can be printed, software-based, or Internet-based. Keyboard templates (plastic sheets that fit around a portion of the keyboard) illustrate the keyboard commands for various tasks. Wizards can be used to help create memorandums, meeting agendas, fax cover sheets, flyers, letters, resumes, charts, forms, reports, awards, pleadings, calendars, postcards, envelopes, mailing labels, newsletters, and Web pages. Some applications also offer document templates, which are special documents that provide basic tools for shaping a final document. The availability of learning aids and support tools is an important consideration in selecting an application package.
computer executes an instruction. The chapter included a comparison of various microprocessors on the market today.
Explain how the CPU uses the four steps of a machine cycle to process data
The central processing unit (CPU), also called a processor, significantly impacts overall computing power and manages most of a computers operations. The CPU contains the control unit and the arithmetic/logic unit. The control unit directs and coordinates most of the operations in the computer. For every instruction, the control unit repeats a set of four basic operations called the machine cycle: (1) fetching the instruction or data item from memory, (2) decoding the instruction into commands the computer understands, (3) executing the commands, and, if necessary, (4) storing, or writing the result to memory. The arithmetic/logic unit (ALU) performs the execution part of the machine cycle. Specifically, the ALU carries out three operations:
Arithmetic operations performing calculations, which include addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division Comparison operations comparing data items to determine if the first item is greater than, equal to, or less than the other item Logical operations working with conditions and logical operators such as AND, OR, and NOT Compare and contrast various personal computer processors on the market today
A personal computers CPU usually is contained on a single chip, which some call a microprocessor. Intel is a leading manufacturer of personal computer processors. Most high performance PCs use a processor from Intel called the Pentium processor. A second Intel brand, called the Celeron, is designed for less expensive PCs. Two more brands, called the Xeon and Itanium processors, are ideal for workstations and low-end servers. Intelcompatible processors have the same internal design as Intel processors and perform the same functions, but are made by other companies and often are less expensive. An alternative design to the Intel-style processor, the Motorola processor, is found in Apple Macintosh and Power Macintosh systems. A new type of processor designed for lower-costing personal computers and
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Internet appliances, called an integrated CPU, combines functions of a processor, memory, and a video card on a single chip. Todays processors are equipped with MMX technology, a builtin set of instructions that manipulates and processes multimedia data more efficiently. Intels SSE instructions and AMDs 3DNow! are two other technologies that improve a processors performance of multimedia, the Web, and 3-D graphics. To optimize and extend battery life for notebook computers, Intel mobile processors use SpeedStep technology and AMD processors use PowerNow! technology.
(NVM), meaning that its contents are not lost when the computers power is turned off. A variation of the ROM chip, called programmable read-only memory (PROM), is a blank chip on which you can place items permanently. Flash memory, also known as flash ROM or flash RAM, is nonvolatile memory that can be erased electronically and reprogrammed. Complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) memory, another type of memory chip, stores configuration information about the computer and uses battery power to retain information when the power to the computer is off.
Describe the types of expansion slots and cards in the system unit
An expansion slot is an opening, or socket, where you can insert a circuit board into the motherboard. These circuit boards called cards, expansion cards, boards, expansion boards, adapters, adapter cards, interface cards, add-ins, or add-ons -- add new devices or capabilities to the computer. Four types of expansion cards found in most computers are a video card, a sound card, a network interface card, and a modem card. A video card converts computer output into a video signal that is sent through a cable to the monitor, which displays an image. A sound card enhances the sound-generating capabilities of a personal computer by allowing sound to be input through a microphone and output through speakers. A network interface card (NIC) is a communications device that allows the computer to communicate via a network. A modem card is a communications device that enables computers to communicate via telephone lines or other means. Many of todays computers support Plug and Play, a capability with which the computer automatically can configure expansion boards and other devices as you install them. Notebook and other portable computers have a special type of expansion slot used for installing a PC Card, which is a thin credit card-sized device that adds memory, disk drives, sound, fax/modem, and communications capabilities to a mobile computer.
to the system unit using a parallel port. A universal serial bus (USB) port can connect up to 127 different peripheral devices with a single connector type, greatly simplifying the process of attaching devices to a personal computer.
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
The system unit The CPU Processor comparison Data representation Memory
6. Expansion slots and expansion cards 7. Ports 8. Buses 9. Notebook computers 10. Handheld computers
Here you will find additional information that will expand and enhance your knowledge beyond that contained in your textbook. Compare this information to what may be provided in a traditional classroom by your instructor or peers.
Dual inline package (DIP), which consists of two parallel rows of downwardpointing thin metal feet (pins) Pin grid array (PGA) package, which holds a larger number of pins because the pins are mounted on the surface of the package Flip chip-PGA (FC-PGA) package, which places chips on the opposite side (flip side) of the pins Single edge contact (SEC) cartridge, which connects to the motherboard on one of its edges
The CPU
The power of personal computer processor chips (the chips that contain the CPU) has grown at an astounding rate. As chips become older and more widely used, price cuts usually are introduced. Several factors affect CPU processing speed. CPUs in most of todays personal computers use pipelining, a technique that increases processing speed by beginning execution of a second machine cycle instruction before the first instruction is completed. CPUs also use high-speed storage locations, called registers, to hold data and instructions temporarily. The control unit relies on a small chip called the system clock to synchronize all computer operations. The speed at which a processor executes instructions is called clock speed, or clock rate, and is measured in megahertz (MHz). The system clock is a major factor affecting processor speed. A higher clock speed means the CPU can process more instructions per second.
Processor Comparison
Although once frequently used, the term microprocessor is much less common today. Sometimes you can upgrade your processor to increase the computers performance. There are three forms of upgrades:
With a chip for chip upgrade, the existing processor chip is replaced with a new one With a piggyback upgrade, the new processor is stacked on top of the old one With a daughterboard upgrade, the new processor is on a small circuit board (the daughterboard) that plugs into the motherboard
The past three years have seen a steady drop in the cost of computers. PC prices plunged as a result of lower prices for processors, memory chips, and hard drives. Consumers also are showing increased interest in new less powerful, but less expensive, personal computers that work perfectly well for the most popular uses word processing, Internet access, and spreadsheet applications. The surge in low-priced computer sales has had an impact on Intel, the worlds largest processor manufacturer. By focusing on making inexpensive processor chips, rivals AMD and Cyrix are making inroads into Intels dominance. Intels response, the Celeron, has proven popular, but the lower-priced chip offers a smaller profit margin.
Data Representation
Just as the decimal system (10 digits) is suited to human anatomy (10 fingers), the binary system (2 digits) is perfect to represent the on-off states (2 states) of a computer. Basic coding standards make it possible for components within computers to communicate, allow manufacturers to be confident that the components they produce will operate correctly in a computer, and enable consumers to purchase components that are compatible with their systems. In the ASCII-8 and EBCDIC codes, the first four characters represent the zone, and the last four characters represent the digits 1 through 8. ASCII, originally a seven-bit code, was expanded to eight bits in an effort 16 to provide for symbols used in other nations. Unicode, a 2-byte (16-bit) code, can represent 2 , or 65,536, characters. The system employs the codes used by ASCII and also includes other alphabets (such as Cyrillic and Hebrew), special characters (including religious symbols), and some of the word writing symbols used by various Asian countries .
Memory
Because computers use the binary number system, the actual values for the units in which 10 memory and storage are measured are based on powers of 2. For example, one kilobyte = 2 = 1,024. RAMs volatility, and its ability to be changed, are its most distinguishing characteristics. When
RAM is purchased it comes in banks of nine chips eight are needed to represent a byte and the ninth is needed for parity. RAM chips usually are packaged on small circuit boards called single inline memory modules (SIMMs) or dual inline memory modules (DIMMs) that are inserted into the motherboard. During the past 20 years, the price of RAM has dropped an average of 20 percent each year, but its capacity has more than doubled every two years. Similar to flash ROM, another variation of ROM, called EEPROM (electrically erasable programmable read-only memory), can be erased electrically and rewritten. Because of its nonvolatile nature, EEPROM is used in electronic cash registers to store item prices. The amount of time it takes the processor to read data from memory, called access time, directly affects how fast the computer can process data. Memory access time is measured in terms of nanoseconds, or billionths of a second.
Type I cards add memory capabilities to the computer Type II cards contain communications devices Type III cards house devices such as hard disks
Ports
Port connectors are devised to be foolproof each is designed so it can fit only one type of socket in only one correct position. Serial ports always are male on the system case. Cables connected to parallel ports often are employed over shorter distances. Special-purpose ports include:
1394 port a port that can connect multiple devices requiring faster data transmission speeds such as digital cameras and DVD drives MIDI (musical instrumental digital interface) port a special type of serial port designed to connect the system unit to a musical instrument SCSI (small computer system interface) port a high-speed parallel port used to attach peripheral devices such as disk drives and printers IrDA port a port that allows wireless devices to transmit signals to a computer via infrared light waves
Buses
A highway analogy can help clarify how bus width affects the speed of data transfer. Data moves like cars the more lanes (greater the bus width) the faster the traffic (data) flow. Ideally, buses used to transfer data should be large enough to use the processing power of registers. Sometimes, however, manufacturers reduce bus size to cut costs. Word size, which indicates the number of bits processed in each machine cycle, has been compared to the amount of coffee produced with each turn of a coffee grinders handle. Theoretically, if word size doubles then processor throughput also could double. The types of expansion buses on a motherboard determine the types of cards you can add to a computer. Types of expansion buses include:
An ISA (Industry Standard Architecture) bus, the most common and slowest expansion bus, connects to devices such as a mouse, modem card, sound card, and low-speed network card A local bus is a high-speed expansion bus used to connect higher speed devices such as hard disks An Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP) is a bus designed by Intel to improve the speed with which 3-D graphics and video transmit The universal serial bus (USB) and 1394 bus are buses that eliminate the need to install expansion cards into expansion slots A PC Card bus is the expansion bus for a PC Card
Notebook Computers
A typical notebook computer often has a keyboard/mouse, IrDA, serial, parallel, video, and USB ports. The keyboard/mouse port allows users who are uncomfortable with a notebook computers smaller keyboard and less-traditional pointing devices (often a touch pad or pointing stick) to connect a full-sized keyboard or a mouse to the computer.
Handheld Computers
One of the most popular handheld computers is the Palm Pilot from 3Com. First introduced in 1996, a recent version, Palm IIIc, offers a color screen and an expandable, full-sized keyboard. Another pioneering handheld computer is Visor from Handspring. Visor runs the Palm operating system and features an expansion slot that can accommodate add-ons such as digital cameras and music players. Visors greatest innovation, however, may be the slot in the back, which can accommodate modules with various functions including a pager, an MP3 music player, videogame cartridges, and a module that converts the Visor into a cell telephone.
Chapter 5: Input
In this chapter, you learn what is input and what are input devices. The keyboard is presented and different keyboard types are described. You are introduced to various pointing devices, such as the mouse, trackball, touchpad, pointing stick, joystick, touchscreen, and pen input. Scanners and reading devices, including optical scanners, optical readers, magnetic ink character recognition readers, and data collection devices are explained. You learn about digital cameras, audio input, speech recognition, video input, and videoconferencing. Finally, input devices for physically challenged users are explored.
manufacturers have designed ergonomic keyboards to reduce the chance of workplace injuries. The goal of ergonomics is to incorporate comfort, efficiency, and safety into the design of workplace items.
Video input, or video capture, is the process of entering a full-motion recording into a computer and storing the video on a storage medium. Many video devices use analog video signals. To input video from these devices, the device is plugged into a video capture card, an expansion card that converts the analog signal into a digital signal the computer can understand. A digital video (DV) camera is a new generation of video camera that records video as digital signals, instead of using analog signals, and therefore does not require a video capture card. Video files can demand huge amounts of storage space. Video compression reduces the size of video files by recognizing that only a small portion of an image changes from frame to frame. Instead of storing every frame in its entirety, a video compression program might store an initial frame and then store only the changes from one frame to the next. A video decoder is a card that decompresses video. A video digitizer can be used to capture an individual frame from a video and save the still picture in a file.
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.
Input The keyboard Keyboard Types Pointing devices Using a mouse Mouse types Voice recognition
8. Handheld computer input 9. Digital cameras 10. Video input 11. PC video cameras and web cams 12. Scanners and reading devices 13. Input devices for physically challenged users
Here you will find additional information that will expand and enhance your knowledge beyond that contained in your textbook. Compare this information to what may be provided in a traditional classroom by your instructor or peers.
Input
Of the four operations in the information processing cycle input, process, output, and storage input is the operation to which computer users are most closely linked and on which each subsequent action depends. Typed commands use keywords specific words, phrases, or codes that a program recognizes as instructions. Keywords are an essential element of command-driven programs, such as DOS. The problem with keywords is that:
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This makes command-driven programs difficult to use. Menu-driven programs and graphical user interfaces eliminate the problems of having to memorize and correctly type keywords.
The Keyboard
Data entered through the keyboard averages about one error for every 300 characters, while data entered more directly, such as with a scanning device, averages only one error for every 3 million characters. Nevertheless, the keyboard continues to be the most popular input device. Some special keys ALT, CTRL, and SHIFT almost always are used in combination with other keys. Desktop computer keyboards generally have two ways to enter numbers the numeric keypad and the row of number keys above the alphabetic keys. Think of situations in which both would be used. The numeric keypad also contains arrow keys, but these keys are active only when the keypad is turned off. Although the purpose of function keys varies, some developers have tried to standardize certain keys (such as using F1 to access online Help). In addition to the NUM LOCK key, other toggle keys are the CAPS LOCK key and the INSERT key. Unlike the CAPS LOCK key on a typewriter, the CAPS LOCK key on a computer keyboard cannot be used to print the special characters on the keys in the number row.
Keyboard Types
Keyboards are used primarily to enter alphanumeric data. Not surprisingly, keyboards for oriental languages are significantly more complex than the keyboard shown in Figure 5-3. The QWERTY keyboard was devised in 1867 by Christopher Sholes, inventor of the first practical commercial typewriter. Ironically, Sholes intent when designing the keyboard was to slow typists down; if typists worked too quickly, keys had a tendency to jam. Many feel the QWERTY keyboard is an anachronism, and its continued use is counterproductive. A more recent design, called the Dvorak keyboard (named for August Dvorak, American educator, 18951975) places the most frequently used keys in the middle of the typing area. Studies have shown that trained typists using the Dvorak keyboard are up to 20 times faster than trained QWERTY typists. Despite this, the Dvorak keyboard rarely is used. Repetitive stress injury (RSI) afflicts more than 1.8 million people in the United States. A debilitating repetitive stress injury that plagues some keyboard users is carpal tunnel syndrome. This painful wrist injury affects sufferers not only when working at the keyboard, but when performing other tasks as well. The wrist rest on the keyboard in Figure 5-3 is designed to reduce wrist strain.
Pointing Devices
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The original mouse was a one-button, cigarette-pack shaped device invented by Doug Engelbart in 1964. Today, many software manufacturers have made the mouse (or a related pointing device) an essential part of their applications. When the screen is cluttered or pointer targets are small, however, some experienced users still prefer keyboard commands if they are offered. Some people feel that a touchpad is the most difficult pointing device to use. To satisfy divergent preferences, several laptop computers include both a pointing stick and a touchpad. Although trackballs, touchpads, and pointing stick devices require less space than a mouse (making them popular for portable computers), most people find them harder to use. Because of this a smaller mouse, called Mouse2Go, has been developed for use on a small pad that clips to the side of a portable computer. Joystick concepts evolved from actual use in jet fighter airplanes, where joysticks allowed pilots to control an aircrafts movement quickly and precisely. Although touch screen users touch a symbol on the screen, it is the location where the touch occurred, not the symbol contacted, that is important. Because they are so user-friendly, even people unfamiliar with computers are comfortable with touch screens.
Using a Mouse
The major advantage of a mouse is that it is easy to use. The disadvantages are twofold: first, the mouse requires additional desk space, making it difficult to use in cramped locations; and second, mouse use demands that a hand be taken from the keyboard (unlike a pointing stick, which can be used without removing a hand from the keyboard). When a mouse has two buttons, one is the primary mouse button and the other is the secondary mouse button. To reverse the functions of these buttons or change other mouse options in Windows 98, point to Settings on the Start menu, click Control Panel on the Settings submenu, then double-click the Mouse icon in the Control Panel window. In the Mouse Properties dialog box that displays, the Basics tab allows you to change pointer speed, button selection, and double-click speed.
Mouse Types
Since its introduction in 1965, the mouse has gone through several transformations. Microsofts green eye mouse, an early mouse with two buttons, was released in 1983 and now is a collectors item. Other interesting mouse variations include Spectrums RingMouse (which uses infrared to point), Interlinks wireless mouse (often used for presentations), and Interlinks DuraPoint PC mouse (an incredibly durable mouse that gained the Pentagons interest). A new mouse from Immersion Corporation provides tactile sensations, with an internal motor that allows users to feel the desktop. The mouse which senses cursor position, identifies screen
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objects, and sends pulses to a motor beneath the surface of the mouse lets users feel icons, sense Web links, or bump through menu commands.
Voice Recognition
Some experts believe voice input eventually will be the most common way to operate a computer. Speech recognition is particularly welcome to people with certain disabilities. Although speech recognition continues to improve, developers admit that advertisements touting high accuracy rates generally assume a standard vocabulary. Specialized words, regional accents, and local dialects reduce accuracy. Even a 95 percent accuracy rate, meaning that on average 1 out of every 20 words is wrong, may not inspire confidence. (Imagine if, in conversation, every th 20 word spoken was misinterpreted.) Nevertheless, voice recognition systems are gaining in popularity.
Digital Cameras
Some manufacturers use dots per inch to represent a digital cameras resolution, or the sharpness and clarity of the image it produces. Dots per inch (DPI) is the number of pixels in an inch of screen display. A pixel is a single point in an electronic image. Digital cameras for the consumer range from 640 x 480 dpi to 1,792 to 1,200 dpi. The actual photographed resolution is called the optical resolution. Some manufacturers also state enhanced resolution, which uses a special formula to add pixels between those generated by the optical resolution. With the price of digital cameras decreasing, will the era of film-based cameras soon come to an end? Why or why not?
Video Input
Video input is used in a variety of ways, from developing training films to creating presentation enhancements. Video input also has been used in the workplace to record (sometimes secretly) office or assembly-line workers in an effort to find possible quality or efficiency problems. Do you think this secret recording is ethical? Why or why not?
Interface Computer Aid), was developed by Thomas Hutchinson of the University of Virginia, who as a boy was paralyzed temporarily by an accident. With a camera mounted on the computer and directed at a users eye, the Eyegaze system can determine to within a inch where on the screen a user is looking. By staring at the spot for about second, a user can activate a choice. Adaptive technology has given many people their best opportunity to communicate, work, and play. As a six-year-old victim of cerebral palsy said in her first message, Its about time.
Chapter 6: Output
In this chapter, you learn what is output and what are output devices. Display devices are introduced, including CRT monitors, flat-panel displays, video cards, and high-definition television. You explore monitor quality and monitor ergonomics. Various types of printers are presented, such as impact printers, nonimpact printers, portable printers, plotters and largeformat printers, and special-purpose printers. You find out about audio output and other output devices, including data projectors, facsimile machines, and multifunction devices. Finally, you become acquainted with terminals and output devices for physically challenged users.
Similar to an LCD display, a gas plasma monitor is a flat-panel display. A gas plasma monitor, however, substitutes a layer of gas for the liquid crystal material. When voltage is applied, the gas releases ultraviolet light that causes pixels on the screen to glow and form an image. An NTSC converter converts a computers digital signal into an analog signal that a standard television set can display. High-definition television (HDTV) is a type of television set that works with digital broadcasting signals and supports a wider screen and higher resolution than a standard television set.
exists physically and is a more permanent from of output. Printers can be grouped in two categories: impact and nonimpact. Impact printers form characters and graphics by striking a mechanism against an ink ribbon that physically contacts the paper. A dot-matrix printer is an impact printer that prints images when tiny wire pins on a print head mechanism strike an inked ribbon. A line printer is an impact printer that prints an entire line at one time. Two popular types of line printers are band printers and shuttle-matrix printers. Nonimpact printers form characters and graphics without actually striking the paper. An ink- jet printer is a nonimpact printer that sprays drops of ink onto a piece of paper. A laser printer is a nonimpact printer that creates images using a laser beam and powdered ink, called toner. A thermal printer is a nonimpact printer that generates images by pushing electrically heated pins against heat-sensitive paper. Although the print quality of standard thermal printers generally is low, two special types of thermal printers, thermal wax-transfer printers and dye-sublimation printers, have a much higher print quality. Some printers are used for special purposes. A photo printer is a color printer that can produce photo lab quality pictures as well as printing everyday documents. A label printer is a small printer that prints on an adhesive type material that can be placed on a variety of items. A portable printer is a small, lightweight printer that allows a mobile user to print from a notebook or handheld computer while traveling. Plotters are sophisticated printers used to produce high-quality drawings such as blueprints, maps, and circuit diagrams. A large-format printer, which operates like an ink-jet printer but on a larger scale, creates photo-realistic quality color prints.
Identify the purpose of data projectors, fax machines, and multifunction devices
A data projector takes the image on a computer screen and projects it onto a large screen so that an audience of people can see the image. Two smaller, lower priced data projectors are an LCD projector, which uses liquid crystal display technology, and a digital light processing (DLP) projector, which uses tiny mirrors. A facsimile (fax) machine transmits and receives documents over telephone lines. A fax modem is a communication device that allows you to send (and
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sometimes receive) electronic documents as faxes. A multifunction device (MFD) is a single piece of equipment that looks like a copy machine but provides the functionality of a printer, scanner, copy machine, and sometimes a fax machine.
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
6. 7. 8. 9.
Audio output Other output devices Terminals Output devices for physically challenged users
Here you will find additional information that will expand and enhance your knowledge beyond that contained in your textbook. Compare this information to what may be provided in a traditional classroom by your instructor or peers.
Output
For computer users, output may be the most significant stage of the information processing cycle. Output is the goal of input and processing. It provides the information users need to work and make decisions. Output used by a machine often is an intermediate result. Eventually it will be processed into a form that can be used by people. Sound Blaster is the de facto standard for computer audio. You may be familiar with audio output from certain cars and vending machines: Fasten seat belts or Please deposit twentyfive cents. Voice output telephone calls promoting banks, services, or political candidates are increasingly common. Yet, audio output is not always welcome. Voice output once was employed in grocery store checkouts. Because of negative public reaction, however, it has been discontinued.
Display Devices
Although soft implies a touchable quality, soft copy only has an electronic, intangible existence, unlike the physical presence of hard copy (printed material). So much information today is in color that sales of monochrome monitors have plummeted. A number of less expensive monitors that use gray scaling, however, are popular among business users. The CRT in a monitor uses from 15,000 to 20,000 volts to accelerate electrons from the gun to the screen. Servicing of monitors, therefore, only should be done by trained personnel. Color monitors sometimes are known as RGB monitors (for red, green, and blue). Red, green, and blue are lights primary colors. These three fundamental colors are not the same as the three primary pigments you may have mixed in art class (red, yellow, and blue). Believe it or not, when red light and green light mix the result is seen as yellow light. Application software sometimes requires a specific video standard for optimal performance. A factor to keep in mind when purchasing a monitor is that any video card capable of a higher resolution can run programs that require lower resolution levels a concept called backward compatibility. The CGA standard monitor, introduced in 1981, had a 640 x 200 resolution and displayed four colors. Todays SVGA monitor has a resolution more than 6 times better and can display 16.7 million colors. Although flat-panel displays use relatively little power and the clarity of the images they produce continues to improve, they are not as bright as CRT monitors. Because active matrix displays are much clearer than passive matrix displays, most of todays notebook computers have active matrix displays. LCD screens often are backlighted but
consume microwatts of power and give off virtually no heat. Gas plasma screens, while much brighter, consume hundreds or thousands of times more power than LCDs.
Monitor Quality
In some ways, pixel images on a monitor are similar to the works created by pointillist painters like Georges Seurat. The flickering that is seen on some monitors is a result of a too-slow refresh rate. Older monitors refresh images using a technique called interlacing, in which the an electron beam draws only half the horizontal lines with each pass. Most of todays monitors are noninterlaced. For the eyes, noninterlaced monitors tend to be less tiring than interlaced monitors. All video display devices look better in a dark environment.
Monitor Ergonomics
Studies show that working in an ergonomically designed environment lessens fatigue, reduces injury, and increases productivity.
Printers
Varying requirements have led to the development of printers with different capabilities. In addition to the questions posed in Figure 6-15, the following factors should be considered when purchasing any printer:
What is the total printer cost? (Supplies and maintenance should be weighed along with initial price.) How much is the printer used? (The duty cycle, or recommended maximum output per month, and the mean time between failure (MTBF), or estimated time before a component needs service, are key considerations.) What type of output will be produced? (A printers capabilities must match output requirements.) Who will use the output? (External correspondence requires better quality printing than internal-only reports.) Are multiple copies necessary? (Only impact printers can produce multiple copies on a single pass.) Is color required? (Color significantly adds to the cost of some printers.) Where will the printer be used? (Impact printers are noisy in closed locations, but are more resistant to extreme conditions.)
For a printer to function, the appropriate printer driver must be installed in the computer. Drivers are software that transform the computers output into signals a printer can understand and use.
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Most printer manufacturers include driver software. Because most printers are 1,000 times slower than computers, all printers have a buffer that temporarily stores a few pages, allowing the computer to dump output into the buffer and continue processing. Print quality depends on dots per inch and the amount of overlap. Letter quality (LQ) print corresponds to that produced by a typewriter. Many impact printers produce near letter quality (NLQ) print, which is slightly less clear than letter quality. Although most dot-matrix printers use continuous-form paper (in which individual sheets are connected together), some also can use single-sheet paper without removing any paper by parking continuous-form paper while a single sheet is printed. Nonimpact printers represent the fastest growing segment of the printer market. One attraction of nonimpact printers is their quiet operation. Imagine the noise level in an office with several impact printers operating simultaneously! Due to separate development, printer resolution is expressed in dots per inch while monitor resolution is stated in pixels per inch (which is dependent on dot pitch). The resolution of a high-end printer is about 10 times better than the resolution of an SVGA monitor. Although high resolution is good, more dpi requires additional memory. Unlike other types of nonimpact printers, the image produced by ink-jet printers can smear if moistened. Although laser printers are popular, they do not handle all printing jobs well. Special feeders are needed to print multiple envelopes, and multipart forms cannot be used at all.
Audio Output
Like other computer components, high-quality speakers are growing smaller. NXT has developed speakers for its flat-panel technology that deliver superior sound despite being only one sixty-fourth of an inch thick. The speaker technology has been licensed by NEC, Acer, and Mission and is included in their new PCs and notebooks.
Which device a stand-alone fax machine or a fax modem would be most useful for a home user. For a small office? For a large office? Why? Under what circumstances might you consider purchasing an MFD. Why?
Terminals
Terminals also sometimes are called display terminals or video display terminals (VDTs). Historically, terminals have been dumb and dependent on a mainframe, to which they were connected by a cable, called an umbilical cord, for any processing. The advent of inexpensive personal computers gave rise to terminals with independent processing capabilities. Personal computers that function as intelligent terminals are connected to switch boxes that allow them to operate as PCs or to access a mainframe. Although they are intelligent terminals, some workstations are designed without disk drives so restricted data cannot be downloaded or copied. Some terminals, such as credit card authorization devices in department stores, look very little like normal computers. POS (point-of-sale) terminal printers are special-purpose printers used at supermarket checkouts. These usually are low-grade dot-matrix printers that have seven or nine pins.
Keyboard options StickyKeys (allows the SHIFT, >alt, and CTRL keys, which usually are used with other keys, to be used by pressing one key at a time), FilterKeys (ignores brief or repeated keystrokes), and ToggleKeys (plays a tone when a toggle key is pressed) Sound options SoundSentry (generates visual warnings when a sound is made) and ShowSounds (displays captions for program speech and sound) Display options High Contrast (uses colors and fonts designed for easy reading) Mouse options MouseKeys (allows pointer to be controlled with the numeric keypad)
Chapter 7: Storage
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This chapter explains various storage media and storage devices. Students discover how memory is different from storage. Floppy disks are introduced, and characteristics of a floppy disk, floppy disk drives, care of floppy disks, and high-capacity floppy disks are presented. Hard disks are explained, and students find out about characteristics of a hard disk, how a hard disk works, removable hard disks, hard disk controllers, RAID, and maintaining data on a hard disk. Compact discs, including CD-ROMs and DVD-ROMs, are described. Finally, students learn about tapes, PC Cards, and other types of storage such as smart cards, microfilm and microfiche.
Eliminate the need to transport files when away from a desktop computer Instantaneously save large audio, video, and graphics files when surfing the Web Make audio files, video clips, or pictures available to family, friends, co-workers, and customers Immediately view time-critical data and images while away from a main office or location Store offsite backups of data
A compact disc (CD) is a flat, round, portable metal storage medium that usually is 4.75 inches in diameter and less than one-twentieth of an inch thick. Compact discs store items using microscopic pits (indentations) and land (flat areas) that are in the middle layer of the disc. A high-powered laser light creates the pits in a single track, divided into evenly spaced sectors, that spirals from the center to the edge of the disc. A low-powered laser reads items by reflecting light off the disc surface. The reflected light is converted into a series of bits that the computer can process.
Tape, one of the first storage media used with mainframe computers, is a magnetically-coated ribbon of plastic capable of storing large amounts of data and information at low cost. Because it requires sequential access, or consecutive reading and writing of data, tape is used for long-term storage and backup. (Floppy disks, hard disks, and compact discs all use direct access, which means you can locate a data item immediately, without having to move through all the items stored in front of it.)
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Memory vs. storage Storage media and devices Floppy disks High-capacity disks Hard disks Advantages of an Internet Hard Drive 7. Compact discs
8. Caring for compact discs 9. CD-ROMs, CD-RWs, and DVD-ROM 10. Tape 11. Enterprise storage systems 12. PC cards and miniature storage media 13. Microfilm and microfiche
Here you will find additional information that will expand and enhance your knowledge beyond that contained in your textbook. Compare this information to what may be provided in a traditional classroom by your instructor or peers.
1 Kilobyte (KB) 1 thousand bytes 1 Megabyte (MB) 1 million bytes 1 Gigabyte (GB) 1 billion bytes 1 Terabyte (TB) 1 trillion bytes 1 Petabyte (PB) 1 quadrillion bytes
1 KB stores approximately page of text. Depending on speed and size, rough costs for RAM are about $40 to $50 per megabyte, while hard disk storage costs are around $0.20 per megabyte.
Floppy Disks
Although the 5.25-inch floppy disk is physically larger, the storage capacity for a 5.25-inch floppy disk is less than for a comparable 3.5-inch floppy disk. Because of the 3.5-inch floppy disks greater durability and superior storage capacity, the 5.25-inch floppy disk at best can be considered a very endangered species. With its rigid plastic shell, it may be difficult to see the 3.5-inch disk as floppy. The name is justified, however, by the disks ancestry and the fact that, if the protective shell is removed, the disk on which the data is written is indeed floppy. Today, most new computers (although not the new Apple iMac) come with a 3.5-inch floppy disk drive; a few manufacturers still will, for a price, add a 5.25-inch floppy disk drive. The procedure for formatting a floppy disk depends on the operating system. Floppy disks are soft-sectored, meaning that the number of sectors is not predetermined. The cluster concept creates an odd situation: one file with 100,000 bytes requires less disk space (about 25 clusters at 8 sectors per cluster and 512 bytes per sector) than 1,000 small files of 100 bytes each (1,000 clusters). A floppy disk spins at about 300 revolutions per minute. When writing data, the floppy disk drives read/write head generates electronic impulses that change the magnetic polarity of areas along a track to represent the 1 or 0 bits being recorded. When reading data, the read/write head senses the magnetic areas that have been recorded.
High-Capacity Disks
The three types of high-capacity disks were developed by three different manufacturers: SuperDisk is from Imation, HiFD is from Sony Electronics, Inc, and the Zip drive is from Iomega. Although manufacturers always are concerned about software piracy (unlawfully duplicating or distributing proprietary software), many recommend that users create a backup of programs before installing them on a computer. Backup guards against system failures, such as a head crash, and human errors, such as inadvertently deleting key files. If you ever accidentally delete a file, seek help immediately from a computer support person who sometimes can recover the erased file.
Hard Disks
In the early 1980s, hard disk drives were called Winchester drives because they had two 30 megabyte disks, a characteristic reminiscent of the Winchester 30-30 rifle. In addition to making hard disks more efficient and allowing the installation of multiple operating systems, large hard disks may be partitioned to:
Limit software disasters (which usually are confined to one partition) Shorten path lengths and assist in file keeping
Save keystrokes (operating systems usually return to the directory they left) Enhance security (different partitions may warrant different safety levels) Permit variable frequencies of backup Allow unattended backups (smaller partitions may fit on a single tape)
Unlike floppy disk read/write heads, hard disk read/write heads do not touch the disk surface. Because of the close tolerance between the disk head and the rotating disk surface, hard disk drives are manufactured in an extremely clean setting, typically cleaner than a hospital operating room. Many hard disk drives are warranted for five years, but most warranties are prorated, meaning that if it fails in the first year it can be replaced at 20 percent of the original cost. All warranties are void, however, if the drive is opened, because contaminated air and dust render the drive unusable. On a personal computer, a hard disk controller (HDC) is the interface for the hard disk. Many external hard drives use a USB port as their interface. Two other types of HDCs are the EIDE (Enhanced Integrated Drive Electronics) controller, which can support up to four hard disks, and SCSI (small computer system interface) controllers, which can support multiple disk drives as well as other peripherals. A removable hard disk is a disk drive in which a plastic or metal case surrounds the hard disk so that you can remove it from the drive. Two reasonably priced, removable hard disks are the Jaz disk, which can store up to 2 GB, and the Peerless disk, which can store up to 20 GB. A RAID (redundant array of independent disks) system integrates two or more hard disks, duplicating data, instructions, and information to improve data reliability.
Compact Discs
Laser disks first were developed by RCA for showing home movies. The 14-inch optical disk was a derivative of these early 1980s video disks. Advantages that compact discs offer over hard disks include: greater data density, less expense (bit for bit), increased durability, and no head crashing.
Tape
Magnetic tape was developed in the mid-1950s to replace the earlier method of storing data on punched cards. To better understand the difference between sequential access and direct access (or random access), compare an audio cassette tape to a CD-ROM. An audio cassette tape is sequential; to listen to the fourth song it is necessary to listen to (or fast-forward through) the first three songs. A CD is direct; it is possible to go straight to the fourth song. For what applications would sequential storage be appropriate? For what applications would it be unsuitable? Tape cartridges can be purchased formatted or unformatted. One-quarter-inch wide cartridge tapes typically are 600 feet long. Unattended tape backup is a great time saver. Consider how many 1.44 MB floppy disks are needed and how much time is required (removing disks as they become full and inserting new disks) to back up 150 MB of data. With tape backup, you can press a key, go about other business, and return to remove the finished backup tape.
operations of a computer and its devices. The two types of system software are operating systems and utility programs. An operating system (OS) is a set of programs containing instructions that coordinate all the activities among computer hardware devices. A utility program performs a specific task, usually related to managing a computer, its devices, or its programs.
A multiprocessing operating system can support two or more CPUs running programs at the same time. Managing memory involves assigning items to an area of memory while they are being processed. The purpose of memory management is to optimize use of random access memory (RAM). With virtual memory (VM), the operating system optimizes memory by allocating a portion of a storage medium, usually the hard disk, to function as additional RAM. Scheduling jobs (operations the processor manages) involves determining the order in which jobs are processed. Spooling increases efficiency by placing print jobs in a buffer (an area of memory or storage where data resides while waiting to be transferred) until the printer is ready, freeing the processor for other tasks. Configuring devices establishes communication with each device in the computer. A device driver is a small program that tells the operating system how to communicate with a device. Accessing the Web may entail including a Web browser and e-mail program in the operating system. Monitoring performance helps to identify and solve system problems. A performance monitor is a program that assesses and reports information about various system resources and devices. Providing housekeeping services entails performing storage and file management functions. A file manager performs such functions as formatting and copying disks; listing the files on a storage medium; checking the amount of used and unused space on a storage medium; organizing, copying, deleting, moving, and sorting files; and creating shortcuts (icons on the desktop that run a program when clicked). Administering security involves establishing user accounts on a network. Each account typically requires a user name and a password to log on, or access, the network.
Know the difference between stand-alone operating systems and network operating systems
A stand-alone operating system is a complete operating system that works on a desktop or notebook computer. A network operating system (also called network OS or NOS) is an operating system that supports a network. A network is a collection of computers and devices connected together via communications media and devices such as cables, telephone lines, and modems. In some networks, the server is the computer that controls access to the hardware and software on a network and provides a centralized storage area. The other computers on the network, called clients, rely on the server(s) for resources.
Windows XP Home Edition, Windows XP Professional Edition, Mac OS, OS/2 Warp Client, UNIX, and Linux. UNIX and Linux also function as network operating systems. DOS (Disk Operating System) refers to several single user, command-line and menu-driven operating systems developed in the early 1980s for personal computers. Windows 3.x refers to early operating environments that, although not operating systems, provided a graphical user interface to work in combination with DOS and simplify its use. Windows 95 is a true multitasking operating system not an operating environment with an improved graphical interface. Windows NT Workstation is a client operating system that can connect to a Windows NT Server. Developed as an upgrade to Windows 95, the Windows 98 operating system is easier to use and more integrated with the Internet. Windows 98 includes Microsoft Internet Explorer, a popular Web browser, Windows Explorer, a file manager, and an Active Desktop that works similarly to Web links. Windows 2000 Professional is a complete, reliable multitasking client operating system for business desktop and business notebook computers. Windows Millennium Edition is an operating system that has features specifically for the home user. Windows XP is Microsofts fastest, most reliable Windows operating system, providing quicker startup, better performance, and a new, simplified visual look. Windows XP Home Edition is an upgrade to Windows Millennium Edition, while Windows XP Professional Edition is an upgrade to Windows 2000 Professional. The Mac OS, the latest version of the Macintosh operating system (the first commercially successful graphical user interface), is a multitasking operating system available only on Apple computers. OS/2 Warp Client is IBMs GUI multitasking client operating system that supports networking, Java, the Internet, and speech recognition.
UNIX is a multitasking, command-line operating system implemented on many different types of computers. Because it is both a stand-alone operating system and a network operating system, some call UNIX a multipurpose operating system. Linux is a popular, free, multitasking UNIX-type operating system. Solaris, a version of UNIX developed by Sun Microsystems, is a network operating system designed for e-commerce applications.
Discuss the purpose of the following utilities: file viewer, file compression, diagnostic, uninstaller, disk scanner, disk defragmenter, backup, and screen saver
Most operating systems include several utility programs that perform specific tasks related to managing a computer, its devices, or its programs. A file viewer is a utility that allows you to display and copy the contents of a file. A file compression utility shrinks the size of a file. A diagnostic utility compiles technical information about a computers hardware and certain system software programs and then prepares a report outlining any identified problems. An uninstaller is a utility that removes an application, as well as any associated entries in the system files. A disk scanner is a utility that (1) detects and corrects both physical and logical problems on a hard disk, and (2) searches for and removes unnecessary files. A disk defragmenter is a utility that reorganizes files and unused space on a computers hard disk so data can be accessed more quickly and programs can run faster. A backup utility copies, or backs up, selected files or an entire hard drive onto another disk or tape. A screen saver is a utility that causes the monitors screen to display a moving image on a blank screen if no keyboard activity occurs for a specified period.
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System software Starting a computer User interface Features of operating systems 5. Stand-alone and network operating system
6. Stand-alone operating systems 7. Network operating systems 8. Embedded operating systems 9. Utility programs
Here you will find additional information that will expand and enhance your knowledge beyond that contained in your textbook. Compare this information to what may be provided in a traditional classroom by your instructor or peers.
System Software
Software is a key component of any information system. Of the total number of corporate dollars spent on computing, the software share is increasing while the hardware share is decreasing. Typically, different sizes of computers use different operating systems, and even the same types of computers may not use the same operating system. The operating system that a computer uses sometimes is called the software platform, or platform. Application software packages often require a specific software platform. A cross-platform application, however, is one that runs on multiple operating systems.
Starting a Computer
When you turn on a computer after it has been powered off, you are performing a cold boot. When you restart a computer that already has been powered on, you are performing a warm boot. Your typically can perform a warm boot by pressing a combination of keys on the keyboard (in Windows, CTRL+ALT+DEL), selecting options from a menu, or pressing a Reset button on the computer. If you watch the screen closely as the POST is conducted, the value for the total amount of memory can be seen to change as it is measured in the memory test. If the POST results do not match the data on the CMOS chip, an appropriate message should appear. The boot program typically is the first side, first track, and first sector of the hard disk. When you install an operating system, one of the installation steps involves making an emergency disk from which you can start your computer if the hard disk is damaged.
User Interface
You can interact with an operating system directly (as you do when copying files, moving files,
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formatting disks, and so on) or indirectly (as you do when working with an application program).
An operating system is intended to be transparent; that is, it does not have to be understood, considered, or even known. The operating system with which an application program will work is specified on the application software package. The application programs you want to use should be considered before deciding on an operating system, and the operating system must be considered when choosing application software. A graphical user interface is designed to be easier to use (more user-friendly) than a commandline interface. As an example of this user-friendly nature, consider how a relatively simple task, such as deleting a file, is performed with a command-line interface and with a GUI. With a command-line interface, you might type del followed by the file name in quotation marks. Therefore, you must remember the command, type it correctly, and use the proper syntax. On the other hand, with a GUI you need only select (click) the file name in the file manager window and then click the Delete command on a menu or the Delete button on a toolbar. Although most people find a GUI the easiest interface to use, some long-time computer virtuosos still feel a commandline user interface is more efficient.
Therefore, if you accidentally format a disk, often you can unformat it with a utility program. System security usually is most important for large systems or networks. For single-user PCs, adequate system security can be a key in the users pocket.
system. When asked how likely they were to adopt Windows 95 within the next six months, respondents replied:
Why are people often reluctant to adopt a new operating system? The inclusion of Internet Explorer in the Windows 98 operating system led to an antitrust suit against Microsoft. Prosecutors insisted that the incorporation of a browser was an attempt by Microsoft to eliminate competition from rival Web browsers (such as Netscape Navigator). Microsoft maintained that the addition simply was an enhancement to the operating system. Although Microsoft advertised Windows 98 less heavily than Windows 95, many vendors took up the slack. One retailer offered Windows 98 with the opportunity to buy a new computer for $98. The promotion evidently worked. A buyer waited in line 11 hours for a chance to buy the new operating system and discount computer. When asked if he would have come out simply for Windows 98 (his current computer ran Windows 3.1), he replied, Not a chance. Windows 2000 was released in February, 2000 and was touted as a boon for all businesses, from small companies with no more than two desktop computers to large corporations with vast networks. Windows Millennium is a result of Microsofts recognition that the needs of business and home users are different. For years, the Macintosh operating system had features that made it far easier to use than other operating systems. For example, people could give files sensible names (like Letter to Grandma) instead of the cryptic, eight-character strings (like letgrand.txt) demanded by DOS and Windows 3.x. While Windows 95 incorporated many of these features, Macintosh devotees still feel their operating system is easier to use. Until recently, the Macintosh operating system was proprietary. In 1994 the operating system was licensed, but experts feel Apples promotion has been lukewarm. New standards let IBM computers run Apple software. More than 4,000 applications are designed to run under the Mac OS. Microsoft has developed the more popular Mac OS applications. IBM supplies OS/2 (Operating System/2) Warp with its high-end personal computers. OS/2 originally was developed jointly by IBM and Microsoft to replace MS-DOS. As an interim measure, Microsoft developed Windows, an operating environment to work with DOS. The eventual popularity of Windows, coupled with the initial poor sales of OS/2, resulted in Microsoft and IBM going their separate ways, with Microsoft concentrating on Windows and IBM continuing to develop OS/2. Features offered in OS/2 Warp include:
An enhanced graphical user interface Integrated business application software Speaker-independent speech recognition software Desktop objects that allow users to connect directly to the Internet
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Integrated Java programming language that allows Java applications to run without a Web browser Support for multiple CPUs using multiprocessing
Utility Programs
Utilities generally reside in storage until summoned by the user or operating system kernel. Microsoft was the target of several lawsuits for allegedly incorporating utility programs developed by others into their DOS operating system. Some versions of DOS were modified because of this litigation. In light of the ever-increasing number of utility programs included with operating systems, will a market remain for separate utility programs? In addition to the utilities mentioned in this chapter, other Windows 98 utilities include:
DirectX Enhances multimedia capabilities on the computer, providing better playback of different types of multimedia and managing 3-D graphics better than console computers. Drive Converter (FAT 32) Converts the hard drive to the FAT32 file system, an enhancement that stores data more efficiently, creating extra disk space and helping programs run faster.
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Registry Checker Finds and fixes registry problems each time the computer is started, automatically scanning the registry for inconsistent data structures. System File Checker Keeps track of critical files that make the computer run, restoring the files if they are moved or changed. Microsoft Magnifier Makes the screen more readable by displaying a magnified portion in a separate window and making it possible to alter the color scheme and contrast of the magnification window for easier visibility.
Desktop enhancers Change the desktop look and organization, allowing users to create and switch between multiple desktops. File conversion Converts from one file format to another so that a file can be used by another application. Internet organizers Helps in the management and use of favorite Web sites, searching the Web and reporting on site changes. Antivirus programs Prevent, detect, and remove computer viruses. Viruses and antivirus programs are explored in Chapter 12.
Some utility programs are used primarily by select groups. For example, text editors -- utility programs that make it easy to work with lists and records -- are popular with programmers and people who work with databases. PC Tools and Norton Utilities are popular utility software packages for personal computers.