ECT200-CH1.pdf

ECT 200 : Introduction to Computing Course Objective: This course is meant to be an introduction to a variety of topics in the fields of information technology, computer and electrical engineering. The course demonstrates the importance of computers in our day-to-day life and the kind of challenges...

ECT 200 : Introduction to Computing Course Objective: This course is meant to be an introduction to a variety of topics in the fields of information technology, computer and electrical engineering. The course demonstrates the importance of computers in our day-to-day life and the kind of challenges ahead. Topics 1. Introduction to Digital World 2. Internet and World Wide Web 3. Computer Software: Operating System Concepts 4. Computer Hardware: CPU and Storage 5. Introduction to Programming (Python) 6. Communication and Networks 7. Software development 8. Database and Information Systems 9. The Challenges of Digital Age  1 © 2015 by McGraw-Hill Education. This proprietary material solely for authorized instructor use. Not authorized for sale or distribution in any manner. This document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part. Chapter 1 Topics 4 UNIT 1A: The Mobile World, Information, & Your Life As the result of developments in information technology, smartphones and tablet computers are changing nearly everything we do. Information technology refers to any technology that helps produce, manipulate, store, communicate, and/or disseminate information. 5  1.1 Information Technology & Your Life The Future Now 6 Two Parts of IT: Computers & Communications Information technology affects almost all aspects of our lives, including education, health, finance, recreation and entertainment, government, jobs and careers, and your personal life. Part 1: Computer Technology A computer is a programmable, multiuse machine that accepts data—raw facts and figures—and processes, or manipulates, it into information we can use. Part 2: Communications Technology Communications technology, also called telecommunications technology, consists of of electromagnetic devices and systems for communicating over any distance. 7  Education: The Promise of More Interactive & Individualized Learning Education has become heavily involved in information technology. Information technology can be used for: Personalizing students’ education Automating tedious and rote tasks and managing classes Reducing instructors’ workload (course-management software) Graphical presentations (e.g., PowerPoint) What is misuse? Text messaging or emailing friends during class Surfing the Internet for entertainment Doing assignments for other classes Sharing answers 8  Education: The Promise of More Interactive & Individualized Learning Online Learning, or distance learning, is becoming common. Not all online schools/courses are accredited; students should check. Online courses are less expensive than traditional courses. Distance learning is available to students in rural areas. Tutoring, simulation, and avatars are also aspects of IT in education: 9 Health: High-Tech for Wellness Computers are playing important roles in our personal lives. Telemedicine: Medical care via telecommunications lets doctors treat patients from far away. 3D Computer models allow accurate tumor location inside a skull; X rays, MRIs, CT scans can be done remotely. Robots—automatic devices that perform functions ordinarily performed by human beings—permit precise microsurgery. Health websites provide medical information. Many health records are stored electronically. 10  Money & Business: Toward the Cashless Society? Information technology is reducing the use of traditional money. Virtual means something that is created, simulated, or carried on by means of a computer or a computer network. Virtual money includes cash-value cards, automatic transfers, and digital money “Electronic wallets” (e.g., PayPal) Electronic payroll deposit Online bill paying via debit and credit cards Micropayments for online products and to help charities 11  Money & Business: Toward the Cashless Society? Smartphones are used for “showrooming” and shopping. Technology can also be used to telecommute and to start businesses and earn money. 12  Government & Electronic Democracy: Participating in the Civic Realm Information technology is helping governments to deliver services and is affecting political activism. IT can help governments to improve services, including police services, which use databases, computer systems with a collection of interrelated files. Online voting is becoming common. Information is easier to disseminate. Watchdog websites are growing. Easier fund raising from small donors. 13  Jobs & Careers People now use computers to post résumés and find jobs. IT is used in starting new business ventures. IT is used to prepare résumés and find jobs on many websites. To help find jobs, participate in social media and write comments on blogs (weblogs), frequently updated sites on the web intended for public consumption that contain a writer’s observations, opinions, images, and links to other websites. (But be aware of privacy issues and DON’T POST inappropriate pictures or text!) (Internet postings live forever!) 14  Jobs & Careers Basic computer skills are needed for most jobs: Know how to use a keyboard. Use email. Be able to use a word processor (usually Microsoft Word). Know basic spreadsheet and database software skills. Understand the basics of file sizes, computer memory limitations, and network arrangements. Know what the basic computer system components are. Discussion Question: Can anyone think of a career that does not require computer skills at all? 15 1.2 Information Technology Is Pervasive Spreading widely throughout an area or a group of people Cellphones, Email, the Internet, & the E-World 16  The Phone Grows Up The telephone is not what it used to be. 1973: First cellphone call Mobile phone use estimated to rise to 7 billion users in 2030 Today’s smartphones can: Make voice calls Connect to Internet and web for all sorts of activities Send and receive text messages Take and send pictures and download music and video Obtain news and TV programs Scan special barcodes that take users to a website Provide maps Do research Pay for products and services 17  Email’s Mass Impact Email revolutionized communication, and has many benefits, but in many areas it is being supplanted by texting. Introduced in 1981 Reached 10 million users in about one year 1998 surpassed hand-delivered mail In 2013 about 144 billion messages per day In business, at least, email requires writing skills For personal activities, texting is replacing email Texting, or text messaging, is sending and receiving short written messages between mobile phones or other portable or fixed devices 18 The Internet, the World Wide Web, & the Cyberspace The net, the web, and cyberspace are not the same things. Cyberspace Term coined by William Gibson in Neuromancer (1984) to describe a futuristic computer network people “plugged” into directly with their brains Now the term cyberspace encompasses not only the online world and the Internet in particular but also the whole wired and wireless world of communications in general. https://youtu.be/ae3z7Oe3XF4 19 The Net & Web Defined The Internet (the “Net” or “net”) is a worldwide computer network that connects hundreds of thousands of smaller networks. These networks link educational, commercial, nonprofit, and military entities, as well as individuals. The World Wide Web (the “Web” or the “web” is an interconnected system of Internet computers (called servers ) that support specially formatted documents in multimedia form. (The word multimedia, from “multiple media,” refers to technology that presents information in more than one medium, such as text, still images, moving images, and sound.) 20 UNIT 1B: The Basics of Information Technology Information technology is the set of non-human resources dedicated to the storage, processing and communication of information, and the way in which these resources are organized into a system capable to perform a set of tasks. In 1995,Information technology was defined as computer software and hardware solutions that provide support of management, operations, and strategists in organizations 21 1.3 The Practical User How Becoming tech Smart Benefits You 22 Being informed about information technology has practical payoffs. Know how to make better buying decisions Know how to fix ordinary computer problems Know how to upgrade equipment and integrate it with new products Know how to use the Internet effectively Know how to guard against online dangers Know how computer knowledge can advance your career 23 1.4 The “All-Purpose Machine” The Varieties of Computers 24 All Computers, Great & Small: The Categories of Machines Computers come in different sizes; they also function as clients and/or servers. There are five basic computer sizes. 1. Supercomputers 2. Mainframes 3. Workstations 4. Microcomputers 5. Microcontrollers 1. Supercomputers Supercomputers are used in very special situations. Priced from $1 million to over $350 million. High-capacity machines with thousands of processors that can perform more than several quadrillion calculations per second. Faster and largest computer available. Used for government census, weather forecasting, designing aircraft, scientific projects, etc. The Titan (U.S.A.) computer is currently the largest supercomputer. The next supercomputer generation may use nanotechnology. 26 2. Mainframes Mainframe computers are used in many large businesses. Priced from $5,000 to $5 million Process billions of instructions per second Size is dependent on the use Water-cooled or air-cooled Used to be called midsize computers Used by banks, airlines, colleges, and the like for millions of transactions 27 3. Workstations Workstations are used for graphics, special effects, and certain professional applications. Expensive, powerful personal computers Used for scientific, mathematical, engineering, computer-aided design (CAD), computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) applications Used for designing cars, drugs, movie special effects Are usually connected to a network 28 4. Microcomputers Microcomputers are used by individuals as well as businesses, and they can be connected to networks of larger computers. There are many types of microcomputers. Personal computers that cost $500 to over $5,000 Used either stand-alone or in a network Types include: desktop, tower, notebooks (laptops), netbooks, tablets, mobile devices, personal digital assistants (PDAs), and e-readers 29  Types of Microcomputers (1) Desktop and tower PCs Desktop PC Tower PC Notebooks & netbooks Tablets  Types of Microcomputers (2) Mobile devices & PDAs E-readers Also called embedded computers, microcontrollers are tiny, specialized microprocessors inside appliances and automobiles They are in microwaves, programmable ovens, blood-pressure monitors, air bag sensors, vibration sensors, MP3 players, digital cameras, keyboards, car systems, etc.  Servers The word server describes the way a computer— whether mainframe, workstation, or PC—is used. A server, or network server , is a central computer that holds collections of data (databases) and programs for connecting or supplying services to PCs, workstations, and other devices, which are called clients. These clients are linked by a wired or wireless network. The entire network is called a client-server network. Purpose: Hold data and programs for clients to access and to supply services for clients. 32 1.5 Understanding Your Computer 33  How Computers Work: Three Key Concepts All computer users must understand three basic principles: (1) Data is turned into information; (2) hardware and software have their own specific functions; and (3) all computers involve input, processing, storage, and output, plus communications. 1. Purpose of a computer: Turning data into information Data: the raw facts and figures Information: data that has been summarized or otherwise transformed for use in decision making 2. Hardware vs. software Hardware = the machinery and equipment in a computer system Software (programs) = the electronic instructions that tell the computer how to perform a task (continued) 34 3. The basic operations of a computer: All computers use 4 basic operations + communications: Input: What goes into the computer system Processing: The manipulation a computer does to transform data into information Storage: Primary storage, or memory, is temporary storage for data waiting to be processed Secondary storage is permanent storage: media such as hard disk, DVDs, and CDs Output: What comes out—the results of processing, such as on the screen, printouts, sound Communications: Sending and receiving data 35 Panel 1.7 Page 29 36 Customizing a Desktop Computer What would you need? Keyboard & mouse (input hardware) Inside the system cabinet (processing & memory hardware) Case and power supply Processor chip – the central processing unit (CPU) Memory chips – random access memory (RAM) or primary storage Motherboard – the system board, the main circuit board, with expansion slots to plug in components 37 Putting the components together Panel 1.8 Page 31  Storage Hardware: Hard Drive, CD/DVD Drive Storage capacity is represented in bytes 1 byte = 1 character of data 1 kilobyte = 1,024 characters 1 megabyte = 1,048,576 characters 1 gigabyte = over 1 billion characters 1 terabyte = over 1 trillion characters 1 petabyte = about 1 quadrillion characters 39  Output hardware Video Sound cards Speakers Monitor Printer Communications hardware Modem 40 Basic PC System Panel 1.9 Page 33 41  Software Computers use two basic types of software: system software and application software. System Software—enables the computer to perform essential operating tasks and makes it possible for application software to run. Most important part: operating system (OS) Some operating system options Windows Unix Linux Mac OS 42  Software Application Software—enables you to perform specific tasks— solve problems, perform work, or entertain yourself. Compatibility: Application software is specific to the system software you use. Linux applications won’t work on Windows. Windows applications won’t necessarily work on Linux. 1.6 Where Is Information Technology Headed? 44 Computers are headed in three basic directions— miniaturization, faster speeds, and greater affordability —and communications are improving connectivity, interactivity, and support of multimedia. 45  When Computers & Communications Converge: Five Results Convergence—combination of several industries Computers Communications Consumer electronics Entertainment Mass media 1. Portability 2. Personalization 3. Collaboration 4. Cloud computing 5. Artificial intelligence 46  Cloud computing basically means that instead of storing your software and/or data on your own PC or your own company’s computers, you store it on servers on the Internet. Artificial intelligence (AI) refers to a group of related technologies used for developing machines to emulate human qualities, such as learning, reasoning, communicating, seeing, and hearing. Much of AI is based on the use of algorithms, formulas or sets of steps for solving particular problems. AI deals with Big Data, data that is so large and complex that it cannot be processed using conventional methods, Ethics Many important ethical issues are involved in the use of information technology. Ethics is the set of moral values or principles that govern the conduct of an individual or a group. 3 ethical considerations resulting from development of IT: Speed & scale affect security and personal privacy Unpredictability—IT can be less predictable and reliable than other technologies Complexity—computer systems can be unmanageable 48  References https://dspace.mit.edu/bitstream/handle/1721.1/49301/towardmo reprecis00bako.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y Thong, J. Y. L. and C. S. Yap (1995). "CEO characteristics, organizational characteristics and information technology adoption in small businesses." Omega 23(4): 429-442.