IFSM 310 - 3D Printing Stage 1

Chapter 1

Introduction

1.1 Introduction to Computer In- formation Systems

An open educational resource to supplement course materials for an undergraduate college credit course in

Computer Information Systems

Computers in Your Life

Introductory computer information systems topics in- clude computer hardware, software, networking, the In- ternet, information systems, programming, databases, and social issues. This complete book may be down- loaded as a collection from Wikibooks:Collections/ Introduction to Computer Information Systems.

1.1.1 Introduction to Computers

1. Computers in Your Life

2. What is a Computer?

3. Computers to Fit Every Need

4. Computer Networks and the Internet

5. Computers and Society

6. Review

Mobile Devices

INPUT PROCESS OUTPUT

IPO Diagram

1.1.2 Hardware

1. The System Unit

2. Storage

3. Input and Output

1.1.3 Software

1. Systems Software

2. Applications Software

1.1.4 Networks and the Internet

1. What is a Network?

2. The Internet and the World Wide Web

3. Internet Security

1

2 CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION

Technology Is the Future!

1.1.5 Business on the Web

1. Using Multimedia on the Web

2. Advantages of E-Commerce

Systems Development Life Cycle

1.1.6 Systems

1. Systems Development

2. Programming Languages

3. Database Management Systems

1.1.7 Computers and Society

1. Security and Privacy

2. Intellectual Property and Ethics

1.1.8 See Also

• The Computer Revolution

1.1.9 External Links

• History Timelines: Computer History Timeline

1.2 Computers in Your Life

1.3 Why Learn About Computers?

Today’s world runs on computers. Nearly every aspect of modern life involves computers in some form or fashion. People who do not have experience with computers and software are at a severe disadvantage in both the work- place and daily life. As technology is advancing, the scale of computer use is increasing. Computer users include both corporate companies and individuals. Computers are efficient. They ease people’s onerous jobs by offering them handfuls of software and applications, designed to offer more convenience. To illustrate, rather than writ- ing manually by hands, an author can benefit from the use of word processing software such as Microsoft Word. With the facilities Microsoft Word provides such as word counter and vocabulary and grammar checker, the author can save his time thus able to finish within his deadline. Moreover, computers are able to perform difficult tasks with better calculations.

Technology Is the Future

Computers offer a quicker way to gain information which is by providing an internet access. Up to this moment, many internet browsers and applications have been in- vented, for instance, Mozilla Firefox, Google search en- gine and Microsoft Outlook to organize emails. These applications surely contribute a lot to a much easier way to gain information.

1.4. COMPUTERS AT HOME 3

Computer skills are required to be hired in companies these days. Imagine if two candidates are interviewed, one of which knows nothing about computers while the other does. The employer will definitely hire the lat- ter. Furthermore, with computer skills, one can build his own company and expand his business. He could perhaps work online and export his goods or service.

Learning computer skills is now essential

Not only have computers become more integrated in our lives. They are increasingly becoming more essential in any aspect of life. As computers become more essen- tial, the skill to operate them also become more essen- tial. They are no longer just an advantage but rather a requirement in today’s computer-oriented society. Those who have not had the opportunity to learn computer skills back in the day when computers were not as widespread have started or are forced to learn to use them as they have become necessary in order to be a productive and contributing person in not only the workplace but also in society. Proof of the ever increasing integration in our lives comes from the fact that almost anything can be done with the use of computers. You can now order food, even gro- ceries, through the computer, you can now watch almost anything on your computer, you can now work from home or you can play games to procrastinate at work through the help of computers, you can even conduct interviews through your computer, there are so many things that a computer is capable of that learning the skills to fully reach the potential of computers is a priority.[1]

1.4 Computers at Home

A computer is a good product to have at home. There are so many benefits to owning your own computer. It allows you to be able to write letters, articles, stories, reports and other things easier and faster. If you own a printer, you can easily write a letter to a friend or family member, print it out and send it to them. You can save your written documents on your home computer and have easy access

Home Computer Benefits

to them when you need them again. Having a computer at home allows you to have access to work from home jobs such as research, data entry, writ- ing and other work-from-home jobs. With a computer at home, you can easily communicate with friends and fam- ily through email, social networks and instant messaging. Using a computer to communicate is cheaper than calling friends and family long distance. You can also communi- cate with co-workers, your boss and anyone else you meet on the Internet through your own computer. People usually go to the library for their research. If you have your own computer at home, you don't have to travel to the library when you need to research something. Log on to the Internet and research whatever you need with your computer at home. When you need to know some- thing fast you can look it up on Google or your favorite search engine. Having a computer at home gives you ac- cess to learning all kinds of things through research. This will save you on gas charges instead of having to drive to the library. Having a computer at home means your own personal entertainment source. There are literally thousands of games on the Internet which you can play anytime you want to. You can also watch movies and your favorite TV shows on DVDs. You can also join social networks and interact with your friends on a daily basis. With a computer at home and the Internet, students can now get a college degree from home. There are a lot of different schools that allow students to take college classes online. Using a computer and the Internet can get you a degree at your own pace and faster than going to a college campus. While almost every household has at least one personal computer within it, desktop and laptop computers are no longer the only computers found in the home. Many homes have numerous computers embedded through- out. Thermostats, appliances, entertainment systems and home security systems are just a few examples of things in a home that can be controlled by an internal computer.

4 CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION

These smart homes are capable of so much. All of the devices work on a network and often communicate wire- lessly. Home security systems can be monitored from an offsite location. Lights can be turned on an off remotely. Simple tasks, like watering the lawn or running the dish- washer, can be programmed to occur at the homeowners’ convenience, or specifically timed to conserve energy. Some thermostats can even learn and adapt to homeowner preferences. Smart homes are becoming more and more common. Technology is advancing at a rapid rate and smart homes are expected to become the norm in the very near future. The smart devices and appliances can be controlled from personal computers, or other network devices like smart phones. Some people believe that these homes will even- tually be smart enough to recognize the inhabitants and adapt to the needs,[2] giving the phrase computers in the home a whole new meaning.

Smart Home Control Panel

1.5 Computers in Education

FPL’s Computer lab

At most colleges and universities, their students are fa- miliar with blackboard,[3] a course management system

Children working on computers in a classroom

that is used quite frequently in order to stay in touch with teachers, figure out homework assignments, and keep track of grades. While not all classes utilize this technol- ogy, it can be very helpful especially for online courses. With technology growing and advancing so far forward we now have the ability to learn and take classes from the comfort of our own home. While many students still go on campus, there is no short- age of computers. Most colleges have at least one mega lab with nearly a hundred computers. But if you wish to bring your own laptop there are plenty of wireless hot spots where you could get a connection to the internet from anywhere on campus. Understandably lugging text- books around campus may seem exhausting and tiring, you now have the option to get an electronic e-Book of most textbooks needed for class. Most people are knowledgeable on the fact that comput- ers are widely-used in colleges and at universities, but let’s take a step back and take a look at the ways in which com- puters are used in elementary schools. The biggest benefit of a computer being used in a classroom is that it can pro- vide many different study tools depending on the class. They can provide electronic flashcards, math games, and even things as simple as crossword puzzles. Although a computer cannot replace a teacher, it can help expand a students independent thinking skills by allowing activities to be taken as many times as needed. Most of the activi- ties found in classrooms are very interactive which helps keep the student interested. Also, we must not forget that because modern day children are drawn towards electron- ics, they are more compelled to engage in study activities on a computer rather than a sheet of paper. Working on a computer at an early age helps build funda- mental skills needed later on in life. At a young age a child can learn how to fully operate the basic external hardware of a computer like the screen, keyboard, or mouse. With enough exposure to computers and their components, a student can become more efficient for the following years of school and even their future career.[4]

1.7. PORTABLE COMPUTERS 5

1.6 Computers on the Job

If you have seen any older movie (or SpongeBob) you have probably seen people getting to work grabbing their time card and getting it stamped to show what time they have arrived at work. This is called an authentication sys- tem or timesheet.[5] While now the authentication system is more digital than before, the concept still applies. This isn't the only use of computers on the job or at work in general. For instance say there is a presentation you must give to the board of directors, you might want to make a PowerPoint[6] to give visuals to help drive home your point. Or perhaps you work retail and the pair of pants a customer wants is out of stock, you could easily order it online for them, and minimize the headache of shopping for those who hardly shop. Whatever the case, computers can help.

1.6.1 Spectrum of Computers

Every industry has computers. These machines have been incorporated into the fabric of every work- force.Computers have even created many fields which did not exist prior to their existence.[7] Computers mani- fest themselves in different ways to preform unique tasks. One size does not fit all in the realm of computers, rather each has a purpose or assigned task. The computers that fulfill similar tasks can be classed together. The cate- gories range from small scale to industrial. An embedded computer is something that allows somewhere like an of- fice to have appliances that range from routers to printers. Then there are mobile devices such as smart phones, ph- ablets, and smart watches that are, for example, able to keep a New York stock broker up-to-date on the latest stocks, or instantly keep in touch with investors. These devices have compressed, basic operating systems −al- though they are getting more advanced by the day. Per- sonal computers are one order of magnitude up from mo- bile devices. Personal computers have the full and uni- versal capabilities in order to have the capacity to access work from outside the workplace, as well as handle the software that might be used on the job. Midrange com- puters or midrange servers are yet another order of mag- nitude up on the spectrum. These machines are between 20 and 50 times larger than a traditional desktop com- puter, though their previous name was a “minicomputer” and has business and scientific applications. These com- puters are often referred to as servers due to the majority of them being used as such.[8] Next are Mainframe com- puters, which are primarily used by large corporations and governments to store and process massive amounts of information. This leads to the final class which is Super- computers. As the name would suggest, this type of com- puter is quite powerful. It calculates enormous amounts of information with countless variables to get informa- tion. These are responsible for tasks such as weather prediction, security, simulating the moment the universe

came into existence, as well as helping to create the next tier of computer - which is not yet fully operational - the quantum computer

• Embedded Computer

• Personal Computers

• Midrange Servers

• Mainframe Computers

• Supercomputers

1.6.2 Electronic Flight Bags

An Electronic Flight Bag app being used in a general aviation aircraft

Computers have been ubiquitous in most work places since the mid 1990’s. A notable exception, until recently, is the commercial airliner flight deck. In the last 5 years, electronic flight bags (EFB’s) have become more and more commonplace. Before the FAA approved EFB’s, pilots would have to carry paper charts, approach plates, and aircraft manuals and checklists for each flight. This paper system was cumbersome, heavy, and took up the space of an extra suitcase. Now, tablets are taking the place of this system. In 2012, United Airlines provided their pilots with mounting hardware, and iPads for use in the cockpit.[9] Southwest and American Airlines followed suit.[10] Now, most major airline use EFB’s for their op- erations. This allows for more complex flight planning, greater precision and efficiency, and better organization. Airlines also save weight, as pilots no longer have to bring 45 pounds of paper with them on their flights. The use of a tablet brings the weight down to 1.5 pounds. Not only does this make the pilots life easier, but it also helps the airline save on jet fuel.[11] Future aircraft designs have tablet mounting and charging stations built into the flight deck, to make the integration of the system even more seamless.

6 CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION

Phablet (Samsung Galaxy Note II - 2012)

1.7 Portable Computers

Phablets, a portmanteau of “Phone” and “Tablet”, were first pioneered in 2007 by HTC. The concept was an original hybridization, borrowing the large, touchscreen display from a tablet computer and the functionality and size from a mobile cellular phone. The idea was eventu- ally adopted by other large manufacturers including LG (GW990) and Nokia (N810), and underwent several dif- ferent phases. The early generations had, in addition to a touchscreen, physical keyboards whereas the later ones do not. The Verizon Streak, produced and carried by the network, was released in 2009. Unlike most others at the time, it was restricted to phone and internet use within the household only. The current style of phablets was not popularized until 2011, after the launch of the Samsung Galaxy Note, (Android) which featured a 5.3” inch dis- play and a removable stylus.[12]

Laptop

Portable computers are compact and fully functioning versions of a regular desktop computer that are designed to be mobile. While they rely on rechargeable batter- ies or an electrical outlet for power, they allow a person the freedom to move around while still being productive. Their mobility alongside their ability to operate similar

to a desktop make them powerful tools for businessmen, students, and common individuals alike. Whether giv- ing or preparing a project or presentation, taking notes or studying online, or simply connecting to the internet from a cafe, portable computers have become essential for individuals who wish to work, study, or play on the go. Portable computers come in three basic versions which include the laptop, tablet, and netbook.

Tablet

Laptops are thin computers that contain a keyboard and monitor folded on top of each other so that the top half is the visual display and the bottom half is the input. Lap- tops are commonly called “notebooks” do to this fold- ing feature and their thin appearance. Recently, touch screens have been introduced into some laptops allow- ing some operating systems like Windows 8 to open ap- plications with the touch of a finger. While laptops are comparable to desktops in their use, their smaller size re- sults in some small amounts of the computing power and functionality being lost. However, their compact size al- lows them to be stored when not in use and the familiar “nest” of wires associated with linking up a desktop is reduced to a single power cord. Laptops are also bet- ter at “creating” fully functional content when compared to a Tablet or Mobile Device (such as a cell phone). If you require the ability to write reports or long e-mails, to use a spreadsheet in order to crunch numbers, to create a “PowerPoint” presentation, to rearrange music libraries or photo albums, or to edit pictures then you will need a desktop, laptop or a netbook. Tablets and Mobile Devices are more designed to consume content than to create.[13]

Tablets are smaller than laptop PCs, very lightweight, and extremely easy to carry, but they lack the processing power of a laptop as well as a keyboard input. They rely, instead, on a stylus and touch screen. For those who are hardcore gamers, giving business presentations, or con- ducting heavy research a tablet doesn't offer the speed and

1.9. WHAT IS A COMPUTER? 7

efficiency that is needed to complete these tasks. How- ever, if a person is more of a casual internet surfer or “lightweight” game player then a tablet can handle what computing is needed to do this. They can browse the web relatively easy and stream movies or Youtube videos too. It should also be noted that tablets have become handy for other lightweight tasks involved with simple music/DJ production like FX and mixing as well as live sequencing. Some artists and designers are now using their tablets for preliminary sketches that they transfer into design soft- ware and programs on a full powered laptop later on as well.[14]

Netbooks are similar to laptops but differ in size as well as processing. While netbooks are smaller versions of lap- tops, they have been designed, to the best of their ability, to have the same functionality as laptops and PCs. A net- book’s computer display will rarely reach above 10” or 12”, and are more commonly smaller than this, whereas some laptops can contain up to 15.5” of display screen. Netbooks have been around since 2008, roughly, and have revolved around their ability to connect to mobile networks such as the wifi at your local cafe or restaurant. Because of this feature, it has changed the laptop industry and has been heralded as a revolutionary and pivotal focal point in the production of laptops and netbooks. Since then this capability has now become a standard among both. Even though they don't maintain some of the func- tionality and computing power as their desktop and lap- top counterparts, they are still capable of word process- ing, mathematical computation, and other productivity programs that businessmen and students use. On top of that, they are also extremely durable and affordable which make them perfect for educational tools. Students will find them easy to manage, organize, and carry around as well as a “distraction free” resource because of their mini- malistic capabilities. Couple these advantages with inter- net access to mobile hotspots such as school libraries and it can be easily seen why this device had dominated the market for so long. It has only been a recent trend for individuals to pick up the tablet despite it’s rudimentary processing power and it has been speculated that this is due to the tablet’s sleek design and effective marketing strategy toward the younger generation.[15]

• Netbook

• Laptop vs. Netbook

1.8 References

[1] http://www.pixuffle.net/ the-importance-of-computers-in-our-daily-lives/

[2] http://www.wired.com/insights/2014/10/ smart-homes-of-the-future/

[3] http://www.blackboard.com

[4] http://everydaylife.globalpost.com/ should-computers-used-early-elementary-schools-3986. html

[5] Wikipedia: Timesheet

[6] http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/powerpoint/

[7] http://ng.cengage.com/static/nb/ui/index.html?nbId= 7345&nbNodeId=1013914#!&parentId=1013918

[8] http://www.pcmag.com/encyclopedia/term/47026/ midrange-computer

[9] []

[10] []

[11] []

[12] http://www.verizonwireless.com/mobile-living/ tech-smarts/what-is-a-phablet-verizon-samsung/

[13] http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2364302,00.asp

[14] http://www.lenovo.com/us/en/faqs/laptop-vs-tablet/

[15] http://www.lenovo.com/us/en/faqs/what-is-a-netbook/ #eventbody1

1.9 What is a Computer?

1.9.1 Data vs. Information

Information Relationship Model

Data are calculated and processed on a daily basis through computers in business, at home, and in education. Data are essentially the raw facts that are usually typed into a computer. We call these “raw” facts due to them being unorganized. They can come in any form from audio and visual, to text and numerical. When the data is entered into the computer, that is considered input. The computer

8 CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION

Represented Data

calculates the data and spits out the information. Since this information is the output, it becomes the organized version of what used to be raw facts. This system is con- sidered information processing. Data can also come in other forms including figures, experiments, and surveys. Most everything that is entered into a computer becomes data, which is why this term is so vital to understanding computers and how they operate. [1] Information is pro- duced by the data; it is form of knowledge, and computers calculate detailed information. [2]

When most people think of information, the first source that comes to mind is Google. Google allows you to ac- cess a lot of information in a short amount of time. What most do not know is that is exactly what a computer does behind the scenes every time you are entering data into a computer, most of the time without even considering it to be “data.” Information is a way to get answers to ques- tions, because they are the output of the data you have put in to process. Many online sources provide endless amounts of information. Without information, people will not have reliable sources for school and their career. Work can be made much easier with information, includ- ing jobs which need to calculate employee’s total hours worked, or any “total data” that needs to be found or cal- culated. Data and information are very valuable, and is most certainly the backbone of a computer. These two components may help your computer to be user-friendly by working behind what you are typing to make data use- ful and organized. [3]

1.9.2 Computers Then and Now

It is difficult for a college student to imagine life without a computer. However, computers have only been around since the mid 1900’s. The computer industry went from making computers that took up an entire classroom to currently being able to fit into a student’s backpack. Also, computers used to be much more expensive and required a greater amount of energy than today’s computers. Fi- nally, in the 1980s, people began placing these foreign objects into their home. During this time, people had to really study and be patient with this handy device. [4] Peo-

Computer from the 1980s

ple have seen the drastic changes that have been made to computers in a span of only forty years. Computers to- day are much smaller, lighter, require less energy, and cheaper. However, in today’s generation, computers are second nature to most people, and one could not imagine life without them.

An open computer case displaying the hardware.

Computers in our generation seem to be integrated in our every day life to assist in multiple tasks related to our many needs. So much so, it is difficult to picture our world without them. However, with great success comes great patience. In the first computer model (1946- 1957) for example, the machine required certain inputs, referred to as punch cards, and physical work to repro- gram the computer. The computer itself was nowhere near as helpful, simple, nor convenient as it is today. The first generation computers were built with thousands of vacuum tubes, required physical effort to re-wire the computer, and could only solve one problem at a time. The second generation of computers (1958-1963) in- troduced transistors, which replaced the vacuum tubes. Transistors simply acted as a light switch, allowing the electronic circuits to either open or close. Both first generation computers, and second generation comput- ers continued to use punch cards for their input. Sec-

1.9. WHAT IS A COMPUTER? 9

ond generation computers also introduced hard drives (hardware), and programming languages (FORTAN & COBOL). Soon after, (1964-1970), the third generation used a system of integrated circuits, which incorporated many transistors and electronic circuits on a single sili- con chip. The third generation of computers started the innovative trend of smaller and more reliable comput- ers. Keyboards and monitors were now considered the computer’s input/output. Finally, the development of our current computers, used by practically everyone in soci- ety, began. The fourth generation of computers began in 1971, when it was possible to place far more transis- tors onto a single chip- the microprocessor. This discov- ery led within the decade to the creation of IBM’s per- sonal computers, as well as the popular Apple Macintosh. Consumers currently use inputs, outputs, and storage that consist of: keyboards, mice, monitors, printers, speakers, hard drives, flash memory media, and optical disks. Although the movement from vacuum tubes to micropro- cessors seemed to take a while, compared to the begin- ning of civilization thousands of years ago, this advance- ment happened very quickly. However, it also opens the human mind to realize that innovation takes trial, error, and patience. [5]

1.9.3 Hardware

The term hardware refers to the components used to build a computer. Breaking down the components into cate- gories, you will find five main groups:

1. Input

2. Output

3. Memory

4. CPU

5. Communications Hardware

Although these are the five main categories, there are three more components to consider that do not fit into those main four:

1. Case

2. Power Supply

3. Expansion Cards

Case

A computer case is used to put the essential components of a computer in. This provides an enclosed space and easier organization for the components to go.

Power Supply

A power supply unit (PSU) is used to power all com- ponents inside the case. It does this by converting AC power to DC power that is regulated by the PSU. What this means is that each component needs a certain amount of volts to work and the power supply will regulate the volts accordingly.

Expansion Cards

An expansion card is used to enhance certain attributes of the system. For example, a sound card can enhance sound by giving you surround sound capability. Another example is a video card, this will enhance the graphics of your system.

• Sound Card

• Video Card

Input/Output

This category refers to the components a computer uses that receive data and send information. Input devices do the receiving and the output devices do the sending. Some examples of input devices are a keyboard, mouse, and a gaming controller. Examples of output devices are a printer, monitor, and speakers.

• Keyboard

• Mouse

• Controller

• Printer

• Monitor

• Speakers

Memory

The memory within a computer can be broken down into two categories: short term memory and long term mem- ory. Short term memory is the random access mem- ory (RAM) while the long term is either your hard disk drive (HDD) or compact disk drive (CDD). RAM can be tapped into immediately by programs on a computer al- lowing it to compute faster, but if the user needs to save information for later use, using the HDD or CDD is re- quired.

• RAM

• HDD

• CDD

10 CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION

CPU

The central processing unit (CPU) is used to calculate the commands sent to it by the programs used on the system. It performs all the arithmetic and logical operations. This comes in the form of a small chip that is connected into the computer motherboard. The motherboard is where all other devices are connected so they can speak with each other.

• CPU Chip

• Motherboard

Communications Hardware

An example of a wireless router.

Communications hardware is important when it comes to letting computer users access information from the In- ternet, put information onto the Internet, or interact with other computer users on a network. This type of hard- ware includes modems, routers, and network adapters. Modems and routers are the devices that connect com- puter users to the Internet: Signals go from the Inter- net service provider to the modem, which then converts them into an appropriate form and sends them through the router to the computer (or, when the computer user is sending information to the Internet, signals are sent via the router to the modem, which converts them and sends them to the Internet service provider.)[6] Modems and routers can be either wired or, increasingly commonly, wireless, communicating with the computer via signals rather than a physical connection. Network adapters are what allow computers to communicate on a small, local network. Sometimes, however, a computer may have a network adapter that consists entirely of software, called a virtual adapter. If this is in use, such as on a virtual private network (VPN), then no hardware component is needed.[7]

Operating System

User

Application

Hardware

Diagram displaying how software communicates with the user.

1.9.4 Software

Computer software is used to communicate with the com- puter processor to direct certain operations to be per- formed. This is done through computer programming languages. Software can be broken into two parts: Sys- tem Software and Application Software.

System Software

System software refers to the software used to operate the computer components. This also provides a founda- tion for application software, giving it the ability to carry out the desired functions. System software commonly comes on a system CD, for example a Windows 7 CD. This CD provides the operating system, drivers, Windows system, and utility software. The operating system allows the parts of the computer to communicate. This is done by transferring data. This is also the specific component of system software that allows for the running of appli- cation software. Utility software maintain the computer systems. Device drivers set up the ability for the hard- ware connected to the computer to function. Windows systems is the part that gives you a graphical interface on your monitor and allows the user to configure all con- nected devices.

• BIOS Menu

1.10. COMPUTERS TO FIT EVERY NEED 11

Application Software

Application software are the programs and applications that are developed to carry out desired functions by the user. The way an application works is through program- ming software. Programming software is the middle man between the system and the actual application the user wants to run. Some examples of programming languages are Java, C++, and Visual Basic. Some examples of ap- plication software are web browsers and video games.

• Repeat loop for Mint

• Firefox logo

Two gentlemen discussing programming ideas.

1.9.5 Computer Users and Professionals

Computers are nothing without the people that use them, the common user and the professional. The common user is anyone that uses the computer for general purposes. This includes checking emails, playing computer games, typing up a paper, and the list goes on. What distinguishes a common user from a professional is that a professional works in the field of computer information technology. Examples of professions in this field are a computer pro- grammer, web designer, network administrator, and soft- ware engineer. These are but a few of the many jobs in- volved in the field of computer information technology. These are the people that design the hardware to build computers, they keep business networks secure, they pro- gram software to communicate effectively with the user and hardware, and develop the latest and greatest software for the common user to enjoy.

1.9.6 References

[1] http://otec.uoregon.edu/data-wisdom.htm

[2] http://www.huridocs.org/information-systems/

[3] Understanding Computer Today and Tomorrow 14th Edi- tion Comprehensive

[4] http://www.youngzine.org/article-u-write/ first-computers

[5] Understanding Computer Today and Tomorrow 14th Edi- tion Comprehensive

[6] http://www.pcmag.com/encyclopedia/term/63628/ modem-vs-router

[7] http://compnetworking.about.com/od/ hardwarenetworkgear/a/networkadapter.htm

1.10 Computers to Fit Every Need

1.11 Phablets

Phablets, a portmanteau of “Phone” and “Tablet”, were first pioneered in 2007 by HTC. The concept was an original hybridization, borrowing the large, touchscreen display from a tablet computer and the functionality and size from a mobile cellular phone. The idea was eventu- ally adopted by other large manufacturers including LG (GW990) and Nokia (N810), and underwent several dif- ferent phases. The early generations had, in addition to a touchscreen, physical keyboards whereas the later ones do not. The Verizon Streak, produced and carried by the network, was released in 2009. Unlike most others at the time, it was restricted to phone and internet use within the household only. The current style of phablets was not popularized until 2011, after the launch of the Samsung Galaxy Note, (Android) which featured a 5.3” inch dis- play and a removable stylus.[1]

Samsung Galaxy Note series (blank screens)

1.11.1 Embedded Computers

An embedded computer is a mini computer with a spe- cific function within a product that completes detailed tasks or jobs for that product. Often times, individuals

12 CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION

Thermostat Embedded Computer

Embedded Computers were used in the Apollo Guidance Com- puter

do not realize how many objects have embedded com- puters enclosed in them. Some examples of embedded computers used in households include, remote controls, heating pads, digital clocks, washing machines, and mi- crowaves. Others include Bluetooth capabilities in cars, camera traffic lights, and Red Box machines. Surpris- ingly, a pregnancy test is also considered a simple, yet complicated embedded computer.[2] Embedded comput- ers are developed to do one particular duty, and therefore a regular computer cannot act as an embedded computer. So how does an embedded computer work? To put it into simple terms, an embedded computer is a computing chip rooted directly onto its motherboard or logic board. Before embedded computers were invented, a comput- ing chip would be connected via wires to the mother- board, which would then be connected via more wires to the RAM and other peripherals. This not only made the interior of any computing device look like an abso-

lute mess, but it was incredibly inefficient and perfor- mance was never what it could have been given the ca- pacities of the components involved. With the advent of “embedded” or “integrated” components, the interior is free of all these transferring wires, and data only needs to bridge a small gap, rather than travel through tons of cables. The advantages of the embedded computers are that the bussing speed for data has greatly improved over externally transported components due to the minimal amount of physical distance data needs to travel.[3] To- day, there are specialized jobs just for programming em- bedded computers.[4] The first embedded system used was the Apollo Guidance Computer created by Charles Stark Draper. It was considered to be one of the highest risks in the Apollo project since it was newly developed, but since then it has been proven to be more efficient.[5] Embedding computer technology has continued to de- velop and the “gaps” that needed to be covered have be- come smaller and smaller. A great example of this is the cell phone, which has evolved from the first “portable” bag phones into today’s iPhone5s that can fit in the palm of one’s hand. These embedded computer systems are used in all areas of life, and can be found anywhere from cooking and consumer functions to medical and military tasks.[6]

1.11.2 Mobile Devices

Smartphone Mobile Device

A mobile device is a handheld tablet or other device that is made for portability, and is therefore both com- pact and lightweight. New data storage, processing and display technologies have allowed these small devices to do nearly anything that had previously been traditionally done with larger personal computers.[7] These mobile de- vices are capable of numerous tasks including making phone calls, sending text messages, viewing Web pages, playing games, downloading music, taking digital pho- tos, and watching TV shows and movies. With our ever- growing world of technology, mobile devices are at the tips of our fingers. Questions can be answered, maps can be observed, and weather can be checked. Of the many mobile devices used today, smartphones are the most common form of device. They have Internet ca-

1.11. PHABLETS 13

pabilities along with the extensive list above. Tablet de- vices do not have all the capabilities smartphones have, but they are used for Web browsing, gaming, taking digi- tal photos, and playing movies as well as TV shows. Mo- bile devices are now a big part of people’s everyday lives. Google stated, “The mobile phone might be the world’s most ubiquitous device…” (www.thinkwithgoogle.com/ insights/uploads/940910.pdf/download/) . This shows how technology will keep improving, to become the some of the most widely used devices around. One of the drawbacks to some of the newer mobile de- vices is their use of non removable batteries. These bat- teries are designed to make the device more light weight. Although they are made to last for the duration of the computers life, there are instances when they fail. If this happens, it can be pricy and difficult for them to be re- placed. Because of this, it is not uncommon for a user to simply throw the device away rather than spend the time or money to fix it. This has resulted in a big in- crease in what is known as e-trash, or electronic trash. Adding to this problem is the fact that these devices of- ten contain toxic and harmful chemicals and eventually end up in landfills that are not able to dispose of them properly. Much of these devices make their way to coun- tries with less standards and regulations for waste man- agement, giving way to environmentally unfriendly and dangerous practices. This leads to toxic and lethal chemi- cals entering the air and water. Certain organizations such as Clean Production Action and Greenpeace have devel- oped programs to attempt to persuade manufactures to stop using hazardous chemicals in their products. Unfor- tunately it may already be too late to reverse the damages done from e-waste. It is essential for the well being of this planet that mobile devices and other computer equipment are disposed of properly.[8]

1.11.3 Personal Computers

A personal computer is a computer that is mainly for indi- vidual use. Before personal computers, computers were designed for companies who would then attach terminals that would allow for more than one user to a single large computer and the resources were shared among all users. The first personal computers came out around the 1970s. The most popular of the time was the Apple II, which came out in 1977 from Apple Computer. In 1981, IBM came out with its first personal computer. IBM PC took over the market and it was what most people bought. Per- sonal computers use single-user systems and are based on microprocessors.[9] Many people do link their per- sonal computers together to create a network. Most per- sonal computers are made up of a central processing unit, control circuitry on an integrated circuit, and various in- put/output devices. It also contains two types of memory; main memory and auxiliary memory. The sales of per- sonal computers has grown tremendously over the years, according to Michael Dell in 2005 there were 240 mil-

Laptop- Personal Computer

lion personal computers sold worldwide.[10] The sale of personal computers will, likely, continue to increase.

1.11.4 Midrange Servers

Ultra Enterprise 4000, rear

School computer lab using a midrange server

Midrange servers were also known as midrange comput- ers or minicomputers in 1960s and were mostly sold to

14 CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION

small and medium-sized businesses. However, midrange servers started to become popular in the 1990s. Midrange servers are used to host data and programs for networks, such as in hospitals or school computer labs. Midrange servers stand in between entry-level servers and main- frame computers. The big difference between midrange servers and mainframe computers is that the midrange servers function as stand-alone personal computers where mainframes are a network hosts. Midrange servers tend to have more memory capacity, such as random ac- cess memory (RAM), processing power (have multi- ple processors), room for expansion (have comparably large hard drives), and are more expensive than desk- top computers.[11] Midrange servers are not limited for business use only. Another type of midrange servers is a special home server that can be build or purchase when personal computer is not enough. Special home server links all the content from all the computers onto one network.[12] Moreover, something that is happen- ing more frequently with midrange servers is called vir- tualization. It involves splitting hard drives and creat- ing two separate hard drives. It can also involve server virtualization which is splitting the physical server into smaller virtual servers. Each virtual server can run mul- tiple operating system requests at the same time. Virtu- alizing servers is the best solution for small and medium- scale applications.[13] Virtualization helps companies to use fewer servers and that leads them to reduced costs and less server management.[14]

1.11.5 Mainframe Computers

Early mainframe computer

Mainframe Computers are much larger computers that consolidate the needs of large organizations like univer- sities, hospitals, banks, government offices, etc. These much more powerful and expensive computers are usu- ally stored in data centers where they connect to all the other computers using a computer network. From this room a single mainframe can serve thousands of users on the same network. Early mainframe computers were

M ai

nf ra

m e

Mainframe Computer

first produced in the 1950s due to the increasing pro- cessing demands of growing businesses. From then on, these mainframes have increased in power and improved in size.[15] However, with more processing power, this re- quires more energy consumption, leading computer man- ufacturers to focus more on energy efficiency in these new computers. Manufacturers also began bundling free software with their mainframe computers as an incen- tive to help compete against other computer manufactur- ers. Eventually, a lot of these programs and several new ones were offered as separate products that they could sell rather than just giving them away for free.[16] Today, mainframe manufacturers use advances in technology to further improve the power and efficiency of their com- puters, one important being virtualization, creating sev- eral virtual servers rather than physical ones that take up space. Mainframe computers may be good for having one space to collect data for a company. They are also known as high end servers, or enterprise class servers. The main- frame computer at IBM has 100,000 virtual servers and is actually very economically efficient , and more and more of businesses are trying to make them the most energy efficient as possible [17] The mainframe computers need a large enough space to be located for one, since they are used for large business responsibilities, such as comput- ing data for a census, statistics, and economic processing. They are also used for payroll and billing but are con- stantly running day and night with different tasks to com- plete all the time. The type of tasks this computer does allow for them to operate for a long time with no inter- ruptions. Mainframe computers are also very expensive. Having to find a way to cool a mainframe computer is dif- ficult just because of their size alone. The other problem

1.12. COMPUTER NETWORKS AND THE INTERNET 15

with the computers is that they are also expensive to even run, again because of their size. The amount of electricity to cool and run the mainframe computers makes them not the most energy efficient machine to have in a business.

1.11.6 References [1] http://www.verizonwireless.com/mobile-living/

tech-smarts/what-is-a-phablet-verizon-samsung/

[2] http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2379383,00.asp

[3] Understanding Computer Today and Tomorrow 14th Edi- tion Comprehensive

[4] http://searchenterpriselinux.techtarget.com/definition/ embedded-system

[5] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Embedded_system

[6] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Embedded_system

[7] http://www.techopedia.com/definition/23586/ mobile-device

[8] Understanding Computer Today and Tomorrow 14th Edi- tion Comprehensive

[9] http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/P/personal_ computer.html

[10] http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/ personal-computer-PC

[11] http://www.wisegeek.com/ what-is-a-midrange-computer.htm

[12] http://www.techopedia.com/definition/14471/midrange

[13] http://www.techopedia.com/definition/719/ virtualization

[14] http://searchservervirtualization.techtarget.com/ definition/virtualization

[15] http://www.computerhistory.org/revolution/ mainframe-computers/7/172

[16] http://www.computerhistory.org/revolution/ mainframe-computers/7/172

[17] http://www.princeton.edu/~{}achaney/tmve/wiki100k/ docs/Mainframe_computer.html

1.12 Computer Networks and the Internet

1.12.1 The History of the Internet

The history of the internet begins in 1962 with J.C.R. Licklider’s memos about an Intergalactic Network idea, in which users around the world are connected and can access programs and data. With colleagues, he forms

a research program called Information Processing Tech- niques Office (IPTO). After an experiment with an air travel reservation system, the first communication satel- lite is launched that can allow machines to exchange data. Soon, IBM introduces System 360 computers into the market which becomes remarkably popular. American Airlines debuts IBM’s SABRE air travel reservation sys- tem to process on-line transactions, which links over 50 cities through telephone lines (1964).

Original Macintosh Computer

[1] By 1965 the first wide-area network connection is es- tablished by Larry Roberts and Thomas Marill. Over the next four years, the Network Working Group works diligently, creating a router, a modem, and even exper- imenting with monitors. On October 29, 1969 the first host-to-host connection was made! Then, over 3 years, memory, speed, processing, and communication capabil- ities are tested and refined and protocols are made. By 1973, 30 institutions are connected to the network called ARPANET.[2] In 1977 Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak an- nounce the Apple II computer, opening the consumer and small business market for computers. This led to the cre- ation of more modems for dial up services. A computer science research network called USENET sets up a server where newsgroups can post to, in 1979. A year later an email only service opens. Less than a decade later, 30,000 networks are on the internet due to the advances with computers, including the new Macintosh computer and the use of Ethernet. [3] Within 2 years the number of hosts jumps to over 160,000! By 1991 over 600,000 hosts are connected in over 100 countries! [4] In just 30 years the hypothetical concept J.C.R. Licklider once toyed with has become a part of everyday life! A lot of experimenting and funding went into the creation of this remarkable “cyberspace.”

1.12.2 From ISP to URL

Now that you know the history of how the internet came to be, it’s time to start exploring. You double-click your

16 CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION

Domain names are like fingerprints; no two are alike.

browser of choice, the screen opens up... and you start drawing blanks. 'Where do I go from here?' you might start asking yourself. Just take a deep breath; using the internet isn't as complicated as you might think. The most important thing to understand before you start browsing through the cornucopia of online resources is the URL, (Uniform Resource Locator.) The URL uniquely iden- tifies a specific Web page. The URL is composed of a communication protocol, (typically HTTP or HTTPS,) a domain, and a page. If you want to have your own web- site, you have to buy the domain name and then build upon your address. [5] The most interesting tidbit about domain names is that, just like fingerprints, no two can ever be the same. Unfortunately, this means you can't ever own the domain name www.apetit.com.

1.12.3 Internet Communication

In today’s technologically booming society, there are hun- dreds of ways we are connected to computers and the Internet every day. We use computer networks (col- lections of computers and other devices that are con- nected together to enable users to share multiple forms of information)[6] on a daily basis. While it is not al- ways free to do so, such as having to pay an Internet ser- vice provider (ISP), there are many places that offer free wifi to people in their area. Today, we mostly use net- works for social media, communication, and spreading of information. Think of the networks in your life. I'm guessing something like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or LinkedIn came to mind along with many others[7]. These are all networks that allow us to share informa-

Email icon

tion whether it be personal, images, news stories, surveys, information on new products, etc., these networks have become engrained into our daily lives and most people see them as helpful devices for distance communication and spreading of ideas. Another way we use the Internet for communication is through email. Most people today have an email address because they are required for reg- istration for many different things we use on a daily basis (such as the networks previously listed)[8]. Usernames for e-mails have to be unique to ensure that every person in the world that wants to be on the Internet can have e- mail. E-mails consist of a username (something to iden- tify it specifically), followed by the @ symbol, and finally a domain name like “yahoo”, “gmail”, and many others. Many usernames just incorporate a person’s name, but you can also use periods, underscores, numbers and other symbols to make it unique. In the past, blank spaces were not allowed in a username but some companies do allow

1.12. COMPUTER NETWORKS AND THE INTERNET 17

it now. One symbol that is still not allowed in a user- name is the @ symbol, because it could be confused with the same symbol that separates the username and domain name. An example of this is Drupal. It is each company’s responsibility to make sure that each username attached to their domain name is unique. Today’s evolving tech- nology is making it easier to access things like networks and email through all of the mobile devices available and the use of apps or condensed mobile versions of the full desktop websites. Besides the obvious social uses of e- mail communication, they are now being used to help col- lege campuses communicate with their students to help alert the students of an emergency like a tornado, dan- gerous lightning storm, flood warning, or if an intruder is on the campus. E-mail has become a great communi- cation highway for coworkers in businesses and just for casual friends. All in all, the Internet and computer have changed our world in forms of communication. [9] [10]

1.12.4 Searching the Internet

The internet’s top search engines.

Searching the internet for a specific page or phrase has be- come easier than ever through the help of online search engines. Certain webpages, most popularly Google, have specific programs and algorithms that sort through the vast expanse of information available on the web. These websites work by processing keywords that are typed into the search bar and displaying a large list of webpages matching the keywords. Even in the early days of the in- ternet there were programs such as “Gopher” that could help search the net, although the scale of these searches has risen exponentially since then. [11] Using special pro- grams called “spiders”, the search engine compiles a list of results by crawling through the internet starting with the most popular websites and servers for the keywords searched. Through these processes an index is created by the spiders that is constantly being updated regarding

the most popular and relevant results of all searches be- ing completed, which on Google is over 3.5 billion per day and 1.2 trillion per year [12]. The more that people use these search engines, the faster and more efficient they become. Other websites may search for more spe- cific information on webpages such as phone numbers, addresses, and maps. The websites where this informa- tion is kept are called reference pages.

1.12.5 TCP/IP

Schema internet

Application Layer

TCP/IP - Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Proto- col –the most prevalent protocol stack used to connect hosts o the network and networks to each other. The suite of communication protocols has been developed due the request of the Department of Defense as a protocol of an interconnection the experimental “ARPANET” and di- verse computing networks. A great contribution to the development of TCP / IP stack has made by the Uni- versity of Berkeley, implementing protocols stack in its version of OS UNIX which has led to widespread IP pro-

18 CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION

tocol. Moreover, the Internet, the biggest global infor- mation network, runs on TCP/IP suite and Internet En- gineering Task Force (IETF) is a major contributor to the improvement of the standards of the stack, published in the form of specification RFC. Since the TCP / IP stack was designed before the OSI – Open System In- terconnection, his 4 layered structure also corresponds to 7 layered OSI model is rather arbitrary. The lowest (level 4) corresponds to the physical and data link layer model OSI. This level in the TCP / IP protocols is not regulated, but it supports all popular standards of physical and data link layer both LAN (Ethernet, Token Ring, FDDI, Fast Ethernet, 100VG-AnyLAN0 and WAN - communication protocols, (“Point to Point” SLIP, PPP X.25, Frame Re- lay). The next level (level 3) - is the level of interconnec- tion, which is engaged in the transmission of packets us- ing a variety of transport technologies of local networks, regional networks, special communication lines, and so on. As the main network layer protocol (in terms of the model OSI) IP, which was originally designed to trans- mit packets through the many numbers of networks, com- bined both local and global protocols. Therefore, the IP protocol works well in networks with complex topologies using rationally presence of subsystems and economically consuming bandwidth low-speed communication lines. The IP protocol is a datagram protocol, which means it does not guarantee delivery of packets to the destination node, but trying to do it. Besides the IP protocol, inter- net layer is represented by some other protocols such as RIP (Routing Internet Protocol), OSPF (Open Shortest Path First) and ICMP (Internet Control Message Proto- col). The last protocol is designed to share information about errors between routers and network node. Level 2 is called the primary. This level is a field of a func- tioning TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) and UDP (User Datagram Protocol). TCP provides the guaranteed delivering of the information and usually is being used by applications if data integrity and accuracy are critical. The UDP is being used for a non-guaranteed transmit- ting. The upper level 1 is the application level. Over the years, TCP / IP stack has accumulated a large number of protocols and application-level services. These include such widely used protocols as protocol to copy files FTP, TFTP, telnet, SMTP, HTTP, DNS and etc. [13]

1.12.6 References [1] http://www.computerhistory.org/internet_history/

[2] http://www.computerhistory.org/internet_history/ internet_history_70s.html

[3] http://www.computerhistory.org/internet_history/ internet_history_80s.html

[4] http://www.computerhistory.org/internet_history/ internet_history_90s.html

[5] https://www.nationalserviceresources.org/ understanding%20-urls-and-domain%20-names

[6] http://www.techopedia.com/definition/25597/ computer-network

[7] http://socialmediatoday.com/soravjain/195917/ 40-most-popular-social-networking-sites-world

[8] http://www.email-brokers.com/en/ emailing-business-strategy

[9] https://www.drupal.org/node/56487

[10] http://dmv.ny.gov/transaction-message/ information-about-email-addresses

[11] http://computer.howstuffworks.com/internet/basics/ search-engine1.htm

[12] http://www.internetlivestats.com/ google-search-statistics/

[13] http://www.w3schools.com/website/web_tcpip.asp

1.13 Computers and Society

1.13.1 Benefits of a Computer-Oriented Society

Benefits

Our generation strives to be the quick paced society which we are known to be. To do so, our generation uses com- puters to their full potential in order to do more tasks and to do them at a faster pace. Computers benefit the busi- ness and personal world by being able to do the follow- ing more efficiently: buying and selling products, com- munication throughout the world, enhancing our knowl- edge, job influences, entertainment, research and pay bills. We’re now capable of creating new, more and bet- ter quality tasks with the enhancement of our technol- ogy. It also benefits the society with the enhancement of knowledge of medicine which creates more effective treatments, being able to create a better and longer life (which is another way to be more efficient). From my personal benefits of having a computer, I am able to have this blended course in able to invest my time differently so I will be able to do more tasks at the time a normal class would meet. The conveyance of computers is that

1.13. COMPUTERS AND SOCIETY 19

you are able to access the computer 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year. This gives our soci- ety the time to expand their knowledge and create new opportunities for themselves whenever it’s needed. [1]

The Hit Sci-Fi film of 2009, Avatar, used photorealistic computer-generated characters, created using new motion- capture animation

Being a very crucial part of the human race, comput- ers have ultimately altered the way today’s society works, communicates, entertains, and educates. There is hardly any field of career left where technology isn’t essential; every small action performed in a job ultimately goes through some kind of a computer. In the end, being able to communicate and engage in this fast-paced manner en- hances productivity level by a great amount. One area this advancement of computers has immensely impacted is the business field. All businesses use computers to keep track of accounts, money, or make transactions. No longer will it take days, or even weeks, to communicate with someone that might not be located in one’s vicin- ity, as a computer allows one to easily send and receive emails with just a click of a button. Another field that has come a long way ever since the production of com- puters is the entertainment area. Without the exceptional special effects put into an action movie with the help of our advanced technology, the audience would most likely not enjoy the show, resulting in the potential collapse of the entertainment business. For example, imagine watch- ing the epic science fiction film, Avatar, but without any special effects put into it…it certainly would not be as en- tertaining as the power of computers transformed it to be. Hence, computers are able to keep both such consumers and sellers satisfied, while still continuing to integrate into the everyday lives of average individuals. [2]

1.13.2 Disadvantages of a Computer- Oriented Society

With any benefits, there comes a disadvantage. As for computers, there have been problems with an excessive use, security and privacy issues and the problem with a dominant culture. With any product, any excessive use is bad; in this case the excessive use of the computer may

Disadvantages

result to a lack of human communication for face to face conversation and more communication through the com- puter. This affects our society’s confidence for when they are in in-personal conversation. To further add, people have the accessibility to abuse their time whereas people tend to be more attentive to their internet accesses and making the computer a time-consuming product. Many of the security and privacy concerns stem from the fact that a lot of our personal business takes place online. One example of a security risk today is malware. Malware can be accidentally installed onto your computer by clicking on a link on a Web page or e-mail message that contains a malware program, such as a computer virus. Once a malware program is successfully installed, it will typically erase data or bog down the computer, but it can also a steal sensitive data from the computer such as passwords or credit card numbers. To fight against malware, a wide variety of security softwares can be installed which will notify and block any attempts of malware trying to gain access to a computer. Another very common security risk is identity theft. Identity theft is when someone else gains access to your personal information and uses your identity to purchase goods or services. A popular way for identity thieves to steal personal information is phishing, a fraud- ulent e-mail or website that appears like a legitimate busi- ness in order to obtain Social Security numbers or other information needed for identity theft. The last idea on how it influences our society is that there this dominant culture crisis that the cultures, globally, compete one an- other on the latest technology enhancement which creates a stronger ethnocentrism to the countries. As computers become more accessible and creates new ways to be more effective, it comes with more accessibility to these disad- vantage and/or create new ones.[3]

20 CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION

Email

1.13.3 Differences in Online Communica- tions

It is obvious that, as the computer has evolved, our com- munication processes through it have as well. Emails and social networks have quickly become the telephone of the past; these tools are not only used in the personal world, but in the business world as well. However, though com- puters make it easy and drastically more convenient to communicate with people, it is important to follow a few simple guidelines and watch the tone while talking. These guidelines have come to be known as netiquette. Neti- quette simply establishes what is and what is not accept- able when involved in online communications. One needs to remember that though it may not be face-to-face, they are still interacting with a human being. Act kind, courte- ously, professionally, and respectfully. Be sure to adjust your spelling, grammar, and tone of voice depending on the situation you are in; it may be okay to be casual when in a personal conversation, but emoticons and abbrevia- tions don’t look to impressive within the business world. By following the rules of this accepted Internet law, it is easy to make oneself look rational, well educated, and insightful.[4]

1.13.4 The Anonymity Factor

It is an inevitable fact that, with increasing online com- munications, there is almost always going to be a sense of anonymity. Like almost anything in the world, this can be used for both good and bad purposes. Online, one can be who they want to be. They can have a secret identity, they can make unknown usernames, and they can say the things they want without feeling the judgment of others upon them. This can be used for good if it is for true, honest, and legitimate opinions. Examples of this are re- views, discussions, blogs, and important emails. The free- dom of being a faceless commentator makes the individ- ual feel comfortable expressing how they truly feel. How- ever, it is important not to abuse this anonymity. People often use it to insult, harm, or coerce others into fraud. It

blogging

Anonymous

is central that one learns how to properly and respectfully use this gift of obscurity without abusing it.[5]

Diving deeper into the aspect of anonymity on the Inter- net, we see the need for anonymity and accountability. Users need to be anonymous in regards to personal infor- mation, such as, credit card information but need to be ac- countable for what they say online. Accountability means that anyone that partakes in misconduct online will be identified and be responsible for the consequences. David Davenport, an assistant professor in the Computer Engi- neering department at Bilkent University, explains that allowing anonymous communication online ensures that users of the Internet become unaccountable for what they say. He believes that free speech is not hindered if users are identifiable online. One reason for anonymity is the need for information privacy, which refers to the rights of individuals and companies to control how informa- tion about them is collected and used. If everyone online could see the credit card number or the physical address of individual Internet users then no one would be safe. Professor Davenport explains the need for anonymity in protecting personal information and for accountability in identify users that partake in criminal acts online. Per- haps, in the future, as technology improves and is in-

1.14. REFERENCES 21

creasingly able to identity persons of malicious intent then anonymity will not be such a concern.[6]

1.13.5 Integrity Factor

Question everything.

Due to the relative ease of accessing virtually any sort of information on the internet, every user will encounter the scenario of verifying the credibility of that piece of information. It is estimated that there are over 200 bil- lion web pages, yet search engines cover less than a quar- ter of that figure. This leads to the fact that the internet is bound to provide both accurate and inaccurate infor- mation, which therefore places the responsibility of val- idating what was found on the user. For example, be- cause Wikipedia provides such an extensive database of human knowledge freely and the ability for any person to edit many of the articles, it became apparent early on that there was a sort of “vandalism” taking place. Users would purposefully make false claims relating to that article for entertainment, and this constant abuse of the system in- evitably led to a somewhat damaged reputation for the re- liability of the site. However, over the years, Wikipedia has improved itself with updated methods of deterring vandalism to provide for more accurate information. Wikipedia is only one site of billions, though. To ob- tain reliable information means for a user of the inter- net to question literally every site. According to Virginia Tech, this “questioning” is composed of five fundamen- tal aspects: authority, coverage, objectivity, accuracy, and currency. Authority relates directly to the source of the information on that page. A user must take into consid- eration who is creating the information and the associ-

ations of the author(s) to other persons or groups (e.g. URL, reputation, expertise). Next, coverage questions the depth of the relevant information. This requires the user to examine the page and determine whether the in- formation is actually useful or not. Objectivity is another crucial component because it examines inherent bias that authors use to further their goals. The information must be factual instead of distorted to persuade the user into taking a side. Accuracy is arguably the most important because it tests the validity of the information. For ex- ample, if the page contains a claim that completely con- tradicts the scientific community, it might be good reason to determine that everything else be read with a skeptical mindset. Lastly, currency examines how up-to-date the page is compared to the present time. If there are multi- ple updates frequently with links that are still alive (that is, they do not redirect the user to a dead page) then the user can feel confident that the author is providing infor- mation that is relevant to today.[7]

1.14 References [1] http://riogietoledo.blogspot.com/2012/03/

nowadaysour-society-depends-on.html

[2] http://www.insidetechnology360.com/index.php/ how-computers-benefit-society-6-30949/

[3] http://www.studymode.com/subjects/ benefits-of-computer-oriented-society-page2.html

[4] http://www.albion.com/netiquette/corerules.html

[5] http://people.dsv.su.se/~{}jpalme/society/anonymity. html

[6] http://www.csl.mtu.edu/cs6461/www/Reading/ Davenport02.pdf

[7] http://www.lib.vt.edu/instruct/evaluate/

1.15 Review

1.15.1 Key Terms

Application software Application software is all of the programs on a computer that to e specific task. i.e. playing video games, or typing a paper.[1]

Boot Booting up a computer is the process where you first turn it on after a time where the computer is off. The computer does a system check to ensure everything is operational between the OS, Bios, and hardware.[2]

Computer A computer is any electronic device that is programmable, accepts input, processes that data, and produces an output.[3]

22 CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION

Domain name A domain name is a text based name that is unique to each computer on the internet.[4]

Email Email or electronic mail is a digital message sent from one user to another through a network or the internet.[5]

Embedded computer An embedded computer is a small computing device that does a specific function for that device.[6]

Hardware Hardware is the physical, tangible parts of a computer.[7]

Input Input is where you would enter data to the com- puter, usually be means of peripherals. Such as key- board and mouse.[8]

Internet Simply put the internet is a network of net- works, connecting millions of computers together.[9]

Internet service provider The internet being a network of networks, you must be able to connect to said net- work and the only way is through an internet service provider(ISP). Generally the ISP is a large company that you would pay monthly for this service.[10]

Operating system An operating system (OS) is the ma- jor system software that controls all other system ap- plications, and manages the computer hardware. All PC’s need an OS.[11]

Output Output occurs after the computer processes the data you inputted and displays said data.[12]

1.15.2 Review Questions

1. Keyboards and mice are two forms of _______ de- vices? 2. Microsoft word and windows media player are exam- ples of ________ 3. Comcast and AT&T are _________ 4. The initial start up for a computer is the ____ se- quence. 5. Before it is information it is ____. 6. The ___ helps to identify websites by a specific name. 7. The chip inside the computer which is essentially the “brain” of the whole system is called the ______ 8. The physical parts of a computer are _______ 9. A network of networks is called the ______ 10. When sending a digital message from one computer to another you are using your _______

1.15.3 References [1] Wikipedia: Application software

[2] Wikipedia: Boot up

[3] Wikipedia: Computer

[4] Wikipedia: Domain name

[5] Wikipedia: Electronic mail

[6] Wikipedia: Embedded system

[7] Wikipedia: Computer hardware

[8] Wikipedia: Input device

[9] Wikipedia: Internet

[10] Wikipedia: Internet service provider

[11] Wikipedia: Operating system

[12] Wikipedia: Input/output

1.15.4 Answers

1. Input devices 2. Application software 3. ISP(Internet service providers 4. Boot 5. Data 6. Web address or domain name 7. CPU 8. Hardware 9. Internet 10. E-mail