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Management Information Systems for The Information Age

Haag, S., & Cummings, M. (2013). Management information systems for the information age.

New York: McGraw-Hill.

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MANAGEMENT INFORMATION - - - - -

I SYSTEMS FOR THE INFORMATION AGE

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> > Ninth Edition

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EXTENDED LEARNING MODULE A .

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Define information technology (IT) and its two basic categories: hardware

and software .

Describe the categories of computers based on size.

Compare the roles of persona l productivity, vertical market, and horizonta l market

software.

Describe the roles of operating system and utility software as components

of system software.

Define the purpose of each of the six major categories of hardware .

A Quick Tour of Technology Information technology (IT) is any computer-based tool that people use to work

..-ith information and support the information and information-processing needs of an fQ(Ulization. IT includes the Internet, spreadsheet software, a satellite, a gamepad for laying video games ... the list of the technology you can find in your immediate life is

i.mos t endless (see Figure A. l ). There are two basic categories of information technol- :Ny: hardware and software. Hardware consists of the physical devices that make up

computer, for instance, keyboard, mouse, modem, flash memory drive (also called a

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-· Figure A.1 Informat ion Technology (IT) Includes Many Too ls

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324 Extended Learning Module A

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thumb drive) , printer. Software is the set of instructions your hardware executes to carry out a specific task for you such as creating a graph (spreadsheet software, for example) and surfing the Web (Internet Explorer, for example). All combined, hardware and soft - ware in aggregate are what people refer to as a computer, and even that term is becoming more blurred each day with digital media players , cell phones , and the like.

All hardware falls into one or another of six categories. Here's a quick summary.

I.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Input: Input devices are tools you use to enter information and commands.

Output: Output devices are tools you use to see, hear, or otherwise recognize the results of your information-processing requests.

Storage: Storage devices are tools you use to store information for use at a later time.

Processing: The central processing uni t (CPU) is the actual hardware that interprets and executes the software instructions and coordinates the operation of all other hardware. RAM, or random access memory, is a temporary holding area for the information you're working with , as well as the system and application software instructions that the CPU currently needs .

Telecommunications: A telecommunications device is a tool you use to send information to and receive it from another person or computer in a network. Telecommunications , as a field , and its associated devices is so broad that we've devoted an entire module to the topic. Please read Extended Learni'lig Module E to learn about cable and DSL modems , home networks, fiber optics, and ~uch more.

6. Connecting: Connecting devices include such things as USB ports into which you would connect a printer and connector cords to connect your printer to the port.

The two main types of software are application and system software. Application software is the software that enables you to solve specific problems or perform specific tasks. Microsoft PowerPoint, for example, can help you create slides for a presentatio n, so it's application software. Dream Weaver is an example of application software because it helps you create and publish a Web page or Web site. A business would use payroll software, collaborative software such as videoconferencing, and inventory management software.

System software handles tasks specific to technology management and coordinates the interaction of all technology devices. System software includes both operating system software and utility software. Operating system software is system software that con- trols your application software and manages how your hardware devices work together. Popular personal operating system software includes Microsoft Windows , Mac OS (fo r Apple computers) , and Linux (an open-source operating system). There are also operat- ing systems for networks (Microsoft Windows Server is an example), operating systems for phones (the Android Operating System is an example) , and operating systems fo r just about every other type of technology configuration, even for refrigerators.

Utility software is software that provides additional functionality to your operat- ing system software. Utility software includes anti-virus software, screen savers, spam blocker software, uninstaller software (for properly removing unwanted software) , and a host of other types. Some types of utility software are nice to have , like screen savers. while others are essential. For example, an ti-virus software protects you from computer viruses that can he deadly fo r your computer. You definitely need anti-virus software.

This ends our quick tour of technology. In the remainder of this module we'll explore categories of computers by size, software in more d etail, and hardware in more detail.

Categories of Computers by Size 325

Categories of Computers by Size - ----- _J

Computers come in different shapes , sizes, and colors. Some, like smart phones, are :;mall enough that you can carry them around with you, while others are larger than fam- ily refrigerators. Size is usually related to power and speed, and thus price.

SMARTPHONES

_.\. smartphone is a cell phone with additional features such as a camera; Internet con- nectivity; note taking capabilities; CPS capabilities; and digital music and video players. A smartphone is really a mobile phone integrated into a handheld computer (see Figure A.2 ). It usually has a touchscreen interface and may have a physical keyboard. The price of smartphones varies greatly and usually the best deals are available in conjunction with p hone service contracts. A current issue with smartphones and tablet PCs (see next sec- cion) is that of speed. 3G stands for third generation standard for mobile devices and its download speed usually varies from just under I Mbps (megabits, or millions of bits, p er second) to just over 2 Mbps. Speed is determined by the underlying technology and the level of traffic on the network. 4G is fourth generation standard and can be up to 10 times faster than 3C. It's fast enough to watch movies, although you might want to do your viewing on a tablet rather than on a smartphone since the screen would be bigger. 4C will help you to reach your data usage limit much faster too.

TABLET PCS, SLATES, AND E-READERS

A tablet pc is a slim-line handheld computer that is about the size of a notebook or smaller with a touchscreen and that has the functional capabilities of notebook or desktop computer. Some tablet PCs allow you to use a writing pen or stylus to write notes on the screen. Most use a touch screen to perform functions such as clicking on a lir~k while visiting a Web site. Tablet PCs may have handwriting recognition, custom- ized dictionaries, CPS, and video conferencing capabilities. Tablet PCs, which can weigh ·less than a pound, cost upwards of$200.

A slate tablet PC has traditionally been a lighter, slimmed-down tablet without a dedi- cated physical keyboard. But recently slates have come onto the market that incorporate a keyboard and are essentially computers that are midway between tablet PCs and note- book computers .. The terms tablet PC and slate are becoming interchangeable.

An e-book reader ( e-book device ore-reader) is a portable computer designed specif- ically for reading digitized books and periodicals. It is similar to a tablet PC in that it has touchscreen capabilities but is designed to be more readable in bright light and have a longer battery life. E-book readers range in price from about $100 to $400. Examples are Amazon's Kindle and Barnes & Noble's Nook. E-readers often have multimedia capa- bilities for playing music and videos and accessing the Internet.

NOTEBOOK COMPUTERS

A notebook or laptop computer is a small, portable, fully functional, battery-powered computer. Notebook computers come equipped with all of the features oflarger desktop computers and are a very good solution if you need a fully functional computer that you can take from one place to another. Notebook computers come in a variety of sizes, weights and price brackets. Some notebook computers have screens of about 10 inches and others have 20-inch or larger screens. Prices range from about $300 for small note- books to more than $2,000 for larger, more rugged, and more powerful versions.

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Figure A.2 Types of Computers: Smartphones, Tablet PCs, and Notebooks

Figure A.3 All-in -One Desktop Com p ute r

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DESKTOP COMPUTERS

A desktop computer is the most popular choice for personal computing needs. You can choose a desktop computer with a horizontal system box (the box is where the CPU, RAM,

and storage devices are held) or one with a vertical system box (called a tower) that you usually place on the floor near your work area. Desktop computers range in price from a little less than $500 to several thousand dollars. Dollar for dollar with comparable characteristics, a desktop com- puter is faster and more powerful than a notebook computer. Some desk- tops are built as all-in-one computers where the system unit is attached to, or is part of, the monitor (see Figure A.3).

Which one you need-smartphone, tablet PC, notebook, or desktop computer-is a function of your unique individual needs. Smartphones offer great portability and allow you to keep a calendar, send and receive e-mail, take short notes, and even access the Web. But they're not designed to help you write a term paper, build a Web site, or create a complex graph with statistical software. For these and more complex tasks, you would need a notebook, tablet PC, or a desktop computer.

So, the next question is, should you buy a notebook or a tablet PC? Most likely, you need a computer that supports full word processing, spreadsheet, presentation, Web site development, and some other capa- bilities. You need to decide where you'll need your computer. If you need to use your computer both at home and at school (or perhaps at

work), then you should buy one of these because they are , in fact, portable. So, if you'd like to be able to surf the Web and get e-mail in your hotel room while on a business or vacation trip, a notebook computer or a tablet PC may be what you need. To learn more about some of today's best consumer electronics, connect to the Web site that supports this text at www.mhhe.com/haag .

Categories of Computers by Size 327

INICOMPUTERS, MA INFRAME COMPUTERS, ND SUPERCOMPUTERS

- martphones, notebooks, and desktop computers are designed to meet your personal ormation-processing needs. In business, however, many people often need to access d use the same computer simultaneously. In this case, businesses need computing

·echnologies that multiple people (perhaps hundreds or even thousands) can access and -e at the same time. Computers of this type include minicomputers, mainframe com- :Hers, and supercomputers (see Figure A.4).

A minicomputer (sometimes called a mid-range computer) is designed to meet the :omputing needs of several people simultaneously in a small to medium-size business envi-

nment. Minicomputers are more powerful than desktop computers hut also cost more, !':lllging in price from $5 ,000 to several hundred thousand dollars. Businesses often use :::ainicomputers as servers, either for hosting a Web site or as an internal computer on which •hared information and software is placed. For this reason, minicomputers are well suited · r business environments in which people need to share common information, processing power, and/or certain peripheral devices such as high-quality, fast laser printers.

A mainframe computer (sometimes just called a mainframe) is a computer designed ~ meet the computing needs of hundreds of people in a large business environment. So ::nainframe computers are a step up in size, power, capability, and cost from minicomput- er . Mainframes can easily cost in excess of $1 million. With processing speeds greater :han I trillion instructions per second (compared to a typical desktop that can process pp roximately 3 billion instructions per second), mainframes can easily handle the pro-

cessing requests of hundreds (or thousands) of people simultaneously.

Figure A.4 Minicomputers, Mainframes, and Supercomputers

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A supercomputer is the fastest, most powerful, and most expensive type of compu~~ Organizations such as NASA and the National Weather Service that are heavily invoh, ... in research and "number crunching" employ supercomputers because of the speed w: which they can process information. Super computers have hundreds of thousan of Processors that work in parallel. Very large, customer-oriented businesses such General Motors and AT&T also employ supercomputers just to handle customer info:- mation and transaction processing. Their business needs require the high level of s . port and the powerful processing power provided by supercomputers.

How much do you really need to know about the technical specifics (CPU speed, sto. a.f:- disk capacity, and so on), prices, and capabilities of minicomputers, mainframe computers and supercomputers? Probably not much, unless you plan to major in information techn ogy. \i\lhat you should concentrate on is the technical specifics, prices, and capabilities PDAs, tablet PCs, notebooks, and desktop computers. These tools will be your companio.-c for your entire business career. Learn about them and know them well-on an ongoing b

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Software: Your Intellectual Interface The most important tool in your technology tool set is software. Software contains tht instructions that your hardware executes to perform an information-processing task foc you. So, software is really your inteUectual interface, designed to automate processing tasks Without software, your computer is little more than a very expensive doorstop . As we'w stated, there are two categories of software: application software and system software.

APPLICATION SOFTWARE

Application software is the software you use to meet your specific information-processint, needs , including payroll, customer relationship management, project management, train- ing, word processing, and many, many others. Application software can be categorized a5 either personal productivity software or vertical and horizontal market software.

PERSONAL PRODUCTIVITY SOFTWARE Personal productivity software helps you perform personal tasks-such as writing a memo , creating a graph, and creating a slide presentation- that you can usually do even if you don't own a computer. You're proh- ably already familiar with some personal productivity software tools including Micros of. Word , Microsoft Excel, Mozilla Firefox, and Quicken (personal finance software).

Three modules in this text help you learn how to use some of these tools-Extended Learning Module D (for Microsoft Excel, spreadsheet software), Extended Learning Module J (for Microsoft Access, database management system software), and Extended L earning Module L (for Microsoft FrontPage, Web authoring software). Figure A.5 describes the 10 major categories of personal productivity software and some of the more popular packages within each category.

VERTICAL AND HORIZONTAL MARKET SOFTWARE While performing organiza- tional processes in your career, you'll also frequently use two other categories of applica- tion software: vertical market software and horizontal market software .

Vertical market software is application software that is unique to a particular indu1)- try. For example, the health care industry has a variety of application software unique to that market segment, including radiology software, patient-scheduling software, nursing allocation software, and pharmaceutical software. Vertical market software is written sp e- cifically for an industry. Health care industry patient-scheduling software wouldn't work well for scheduling hair styling and manicure appointments in a beauty salon.

Category

Word processing-Helps you create papers, letters, memos, and other basic documents

Spreadsheet-Helps you work primarily with numbers, including performing calculations and creating graphs

Presentation-Helps you create and edit information that will appear in electronic slides

Desktop publishing-Extends word processing software by including design and formatting techniques to enhance the layout and appearance of a document

Personal information management (PIM)- Helps you create and maintain (1) to-do lists, (2) appointments and calendars, and (3) points of contact

Personal finance-Helps you maintain your checkbook, prepare a budget, track investments, monitor your credit card balances, and pay bills electronically

Web authoring-Helps you design and develop Web sites and pages that you publish on the Web

Graphics-Helps you create and edit photos and art

Communications-Helps you communicate with other people

Database management system (DBMS)- Helps you specify the logical organization for a database and access and use the information within a database

*Publisher name gi ven first .

Software: Your Intellectual Inte rface 329

Examples*

• Microsoft Word

• Corel WordPerfect

• Microsoft Excel

• Corel Quattro Pro

• Microsoft PowerPoint

• Corel Presentations

• Microsoft Publisher

• Quark QuarkXPress

• Microsoft Outlook

• Corel Central

• Quicken

• Microsoft Money

• Expression Web Designer

• Macromedia Dreamweaver

• Microsoft PhotoDraw

• Adobe PhotoShop

• Microsoft Outlook

• Microsoft Internet Explorer

• Microsoft Access

Figure A.5 Categories of Personal Productivity Software

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Horizontal market software, on the other hand, is application software that is gen- eral enough to be suitable for use in a variety of industries. Examples of horizontal mar- ket software include

• Inventory management

• Payroll

• Accounts receivable

• Billing

• Invoice processing

• Human resource management

The preceding functions (and many others) are very similar, if not identical, acro ss many different industries, enabling software publishers to develop one particular piece of software (e.g., accounts receivable) that can be used by many different industries.

Personal productivity software is actually a type of horizontal market software in that it is general enough to be suitable for use in a variety of industries. No matter what indus- try you work in, you need basic word processing software for creating memos, business plans, and other basic documents.

There are, however, some key differences between personal productivity software and horizontal (and vertical) market software. First is the issue of price. You can buy a full suite of personal productivity software for less than $400. In contrast, some individual horizontal and vertical market software packages may cost $500,000 or more. Setond is the issue of customizability. When you purchase personal productivity software, you cannot change the way it works. That is, you're buying the right to use it but not to change how it operates. With horizontal and vertical market software you may be able to purchase the right to change the way the software works. So, if you find a payroll soft- ware package that fits most of your organizational needs, you can buy the software and the right to change the operation of the software so that it meets your needs precisely. This is a very common business practice when purchasing and using horizontal and vertical market software.

In Chapter 6 (Systems Development), we discuss how organizations go about the process of developing software for their particular needs, including how organizations can and do purchase vertical and horizontal market software and then customize that software .

Software: Your Intellect ual Interface 331

SYSTEM SOFTWARE

-ystem software supports your application software. System software controls how your -arious technology tools work together as you use your application software to perform ~ecific information-processing tasks. System software includes two basic categories: p erating system software and utility software.

OP ERATING SYSTEM SOFTWARE Operating system software is system software :hat controls your application software and manages how your hardware devices work ~ether. For example, using Excel to create a graph, if you choose to print the graph, -our operating system software takes over, ensures that you have a printer attached and ::ha t the printer has paper (and tells you ifit doesn' t) , and sends your graph to the printer

ong with instructions on how to print it. Your operating system software supports a variety of useful features , one of which is

::nultitasking. Multitasking allows you to work with more than one piece of software at a ;ime. Suppose you wanted to create a graph in Excel and insert it into a word processing do cument. With multitasking, you can have both pieces of application software open at die same time , and even see both on the screen. So, when you complete the creation of "'""Our graph, you can easily copy and paste it into your word processing document with- out having to exit the spreadsheet software and then start your word processing software.

There are different types of operating system software for personal environments and for organizational environments that support many users simultaneously. The lat- rer, called network operating systems or NOSs, we explore in Extended L earning Module E: N etwork Basics. Popular personal operating systems include Microsoft Windows 7, and its successor Windows 8, Mac OS, and Linux. Mac OS is Apple' s operating system. Linux is an open-source operating system that provides a rich operating environment fo r high-end workstations and network servers .

Open-source software is software for which the source code (how the software was ac tually written) is publicly available and free of charge. Unlike commercial software, op en-source software is created and maintained by a distributed network of engineers, software developers, and users , each making contributions to the open-source software.

The advantages of open-source software are numerous. Because the source code is available, users of the software may modify the software to suit their needs and take comfort in the fact that changes they wish to make to the software are fully under their control. You can compare this with commercial, or closed-source, software, for which the customer r'nust go to the vendor and pay for changes to be made and wait until the vendor has made those changes.

There are many examples of open-source software, including

• The Apache Web server

• Linux operating system

• MySQL, an open-source DBMS with commercial support

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If you're considering purchasing a notebook computer that you'll use extensivel:- at school connected to a network there, we recommend that you contact your scho ol" :; technology support department to determine which operating system is best for you.

UTILITY SOFTWARE Utility software adds functionality to your operating system software. Sometimes it is crucial. A simple example is screen saver software (which is probably also a part of your operating system). The most important utility software i anti-virus software. Anti-virus software is utility software that detects and remove or quarantines computer viruses. Viruses are everywhere today, with 200 to 300 new ones surfacing each month. Some viruses are benign: They do something annoying like causing your screen to go blank but do not corrupt your information. Other viruses are deadly, perhaps reformatting your hard disk or altering the contents of your files. You definitely need anti-virus software to protect your computer. We talk much more abo uc this vitally important topic and guarding against possible attacks that can be launched against your computer from cyberspace in Chapter 8 and Extended. Learning Module H.

Other types of utility software include

• Crash-proof software- Utility software that helps you save information if your system crashes and you're forced to turn it off and then back on again.

• Uninstaller software-Utility software that you can use to remove software from your hard disk that you no longer want.

• Disk optimization software- Utility software that organizes your information on your hard disk in the most efficient way.

• Spam blocker software-Utility software that filters unwanted e-mail from your inbox. Spam is roughly equivalent to unsolicited telephone marketing calls. The term spam is said to derive from a famous Monty Python sketch ("Well, we have Spam, tomato and Spam, egg and Spam, egg, bacon and Spam ... ") that was current when spam first began arriving on the Internet.

• Anti-spyware software-Utility software that detects and removes spyware and other unwanted software that can track every electronic move you make.

You definitely need utility software. Don't think of utility software as "optional" soft- ware just because it " adds " functionality to your computer. The above examples are just a few of the many types of utility software you'll find in a utility software suite. If you think about the above examples of utility software and what it does for you, especially anti-virus software, you can see how various and helpful it is.

Hardware: Your Physical Interface 333

Hardware: Your Physical Interface To properly understand the significant role of your hardware (the physical components of your computer), it helps to know something about how your computer works. You work with information in the form of characters (A-Z, a-z, and special ones such as an asterisk, a question mark, etc.) and numbers (0-9). Computers, on the other hand, work only with 1 s and Os in terms of what we call bits and bytes. Computers, that is, use elec- rricity to function, and electrical pulses have two states: on and off, which are assigned che values of 0 and 1, respectively.

What are bits and bytes? A binary digit (bit) is the smallest unit of information chat your computer can process. A bit can either be a 1 (on) or a 0 (off). The techni- cal challenge is to be able to represent all our natural language characters, special sym- bols , and numbers in binary form. ASCII is one agreed-upon standard to do this. ASCII (A merican Standard Code for Information Interchange) is the coding system that most personal computers use to represent, process, and store information. In ASCII, a group of eight bits represents one natural language character and is called a byte.

For example, if you were to type the word cool on the keyboard, your keyboard (a hardware device) would change it into four bytes-one byte for each character- that would look like the following to be used by your computer (see Figure A.6):

01100011 01001111 01001111 01001100

c 0 0

This grouping of ls and Os would be used for "cool" as it moves around or is stored on your computer- as it travels from one device to another, is stored on a storage device, and is processed by your CPU.

There are three important conclusions that you should draw from this discussion sb far. First, your hardware works with information in a different form (although with the same meaning) than you do. You work with characters , special symbols, and the numbers 0-9. Your computer, on the other hand, represents all these in a binary form, a unique collection of ls and Os. Second, the term byte is the bridge between people and a computer. A computer can store one character, special symbol, or number in a byte.

Third, the primary role of your input and output devices is to convert information from one form 'to another. Input devices convert information from human-readable form into bits and bytes, while output devices convert the ls and Os to something people can recognize. All other hardware works with bits and bytes.

cool

cool

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Figure A.6 Information as It Moves from You through Your Computer

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Figure A.7 Categories of Input Devices

Pointing 1 I I Devices

Mouse

Trackba ri

I

Touch pad

COMMON INPUT DEVICES

An input device is a tool you use to enter information and commands. You can use a Ke"- board to type in information, for example, and use a mouse to point and click on butto and icons. As you saw in the previous section, input devices are responsible for convertir:. _ information in human-readable form to the binary code that computers use. Below are principal types of input devices being used today (see Figures A. 7 and A.8).

Game

• Keyboards are the most often used input devices for desktop and notebo ok computers. Keyboards and styluses allow you to input both information and commands and both are used in business and personal settings.

• Pointing devices are devices that are used to navigate and select objects on a display screen.

• Mouse-a pointing device that you use to click on icons or buttons.

• Trackball-is similar to a mechanical mouse, but it has the ball on the top.

• Touchpad-is the little dark rectangle that you use to move the cursor with your finger, often found on notebook computers.

• Game controllers are used for gaming to better control screen action.

• Gaming wheel- is a steering wheel and foot pedals for virtual driving.

INPUT DEVICES

Keyboards/ Controllers I I Styluses J 1 ~~""'" ) ~ Cornern• I I Microphones

1 Digital I- '-JU.111111~ I Image Still ....

Scanner Camera

~- I ~ Bar Code )

l Digital

Jovstick Scanner

Video Camera

l-:.~ .. ---.

1 Optical Mark Webcam Reader ..._ __ - Optical

Character Reader ---

Biometric Scanner

Hardware: Your Physical Interface 335

• Joystick-is a vertical handle with programmable buttons that control action.

• Gamepad-is a multifunctional input device with a directional pad and programmable buttons that you work with your thumbs.

• Scanners are used to convert information that exists in visible form into electronic form.

• Image scanner-captures images, photos, text, and artwork that already exist on paper.

• Bar code scanner- reads information that is in the form of vertical bars, where their width and spacing represent digits (often used in point-of-sale [POSJ systems, in retail environments).

• Optical mark reader- detects the presence or absence of a mark in a predetermined spot on the page (often used for true/false and multiple choice exam answers).

• Optical character reader- reads characters that appear on a page or sales tag (often used in point-of-sale [POSJ systems in retail environments).

• Biometric scanner- scans some human physical attribute like your fingerprint or iris for security purposes.

• Digital cameras capture still images or video as a series of ls and Os. You can use a still camera for short videos or a video camera for still photos.

• Digital still camera-digitally captures still images in varying resolutions.

• Digital video camera- captures video digitally.

• Webcam-captures digital video to upload to the Web.

• Microphones capture audio for conversion into electronic form.

Figure A.8 Common Inpu t Devices

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Figure A.9 Categories of Output Devices

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COMMON OUTPUT DEVICES

An output device is a tool you use to see, hear, or otherwise recognize the results __ your information-processing requests. The most common output devices for both bU£:- ness and personal computing environments are monitors and printers, but speakers an plotters (printers that generate drawings) are also output devices (see Figure A.9). Arr-- device that converts the digital form of information in a computer to something that y o; can see, read, or hear is an output device.

MONITORS The screens we use today on which to view output are mostly flat-p an LCD (liquid crystal display). On desktop computers, the screen is separate from th~ computer and is usually referred to as a monitor. When the screen is part of the device, as on a smartphone or a notebook computer, it' s called a display screen. (See Figure A. l 0. A liquid crystal display (LCD) makes the screen image by sending electricity throu~ crystalized liquid trapped between two layers of clear plastic or glass. Since liquid crysra.: displays do not emit light, such displays have to be lit from the bacl} - called backligk- ing. A newer form of LCD display is lit with LEDs. An LED (light-emitting diode) is _ very tiny bulb . Products such as alarm clocks and Christmas lights use LEDs . You ma:- also have seen very large screens on buildings or at a football stadium or ballpark. These screens are very bright- you can see them in direct sunlight-and are made up of mair- LEDs . Using LEDs for backlighting improves the image on an LCD screen.

Some displays are now being developed that used OLED technology. Organic ligh emitting diode ( OLED) displays use many layers of organic material emitting a visible light and therefore eliminating the need for backlighting. The advantage of an O LED technology is that it produces brighter, more efficient, and thinner displays than tradi- tional LCDs.

When selecting a monitor, the important features to consider, besides price, are ics image size and its resolution. The viewable image size (VIS) of a screen ( 4.3" on a ce

Monitors

LCD

LED

Inkjet

Laser

Multi- function

Pl otte r

n;J:""r .....

Hardware: Your Physical Interface 337

phone or 21 " on a monitor) is measured diagonally from corner to corner. The resolu- tion of a screen is the number of pixels it has. Pixels (picture elements) are the dots that make up the image on your screen. For example, a monitor with a resolution of 2560 X 1440 has 2560 pixels across and 1440 down the screen.

PRINTERS Printers are another common type of output device (see Figure A.11). The sharpness and clarity of a printer' s output depend on the printer's resolution. The resolution of a printer is the number of dots per inch (dpi) it produces. This is the same principle as the resolution in monitors. As is the case with monitors, the more dots per inch, the better the image, and consequently, the more costly the printer. Some printers, especially those that advertise high-quality photo output, achieve higher resolutions by making multiple passes across the image to produce the clarity needed.

• Inkjet printers make images by forcing ink droplets through nozzles. Standard inkjet printers use four colors: black, cyan (blue), magenta (purplish pink) , and yellow. Some inkjet printers produce high-quality images and are often advertised as photo printers. These have two shades each of magenta and cyan for a total of six colors. Others include colors such as orange and red.

• Laser printers form images using the same sort of electrostatic process that photocopiers use. Laser printers are usually more expensive than inkjets, hut

Figure A.10 Display Screens Are Common Output Devices

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Figure A.11 Printers Are Also Common Output Devices

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they have become dramatically cheaper lately. They usually provide better quali-- images than inkjets. They come in black and white and in color versions.

• Multifunction printers scan, copy, and fax, as well as print. These devices are very popular in homes and small offices since they offer so many features all in one unit. Multifunction printers can be either inkjet or laser.

• Plotters form their output by moving a pen across the surface of a piece of paper. Plotters were the first type of printer that could print with color and render graphics and full-size engineering drawings. As a rule, plotters are much more expensive than printers. They are most frequently used for CAE (computer-aid engineering) applications, such as CAD (computer-aided design) and CAM (computer-aided manufacturing).

• A :JD printer is a printer that can produce solid, three-dimensional objects. One method involves first scanning the object and then sending the scan to the printer where a tray of powder is loaded. Then an inkjet-like arm solidifies a layer of the object. Successive layers of material are laid down until the obJect is completely formed . The process is great for prototypes,jewelry, art, machine parts and tools, medical equipment, etc. It' s even being used to replicate body parts.

COMMON STORAGE DEVICES

As opposed to RAM, which is temporary memory, storage media don't lose their coL·- tents when you turn off your computer. The main issues to consider when choosing _ storage medium are (1) whether you want portability, (2) how much storage space yo need, and (3) whether you need to change the information on the medium.

Some storage devices, such as hard disks, offer you easy update capabilities and hi. - storage capacity, but may not be portable. Others, like flash memory devices, while the- are portable and updateable , have less storage space. Still others like DVD-ROMs arr portable with high capacity, but the information that comes on them can't be change<! (see Figure A.12).

Capacities of storage media are measured in megabytes, gigabytes, and terabytes. A mega- byte (MB or Mor Meg) is roughly 1 million bytes; a gjgabyte (GB or Gig) is roughly 1 billi bytes; and a terabyte (TB) is roughly 1 trillion bytes. A consumer hard disk would haYe - capacity of2 terabytes or more, while a hard disk for a large organization (also called a ha disk pack) can hold in excess of 100 TB of information. Common storage devices include

• Magnetic storage media:

• Hard disk-magnetic storage device with one or more thin metal platters or disks that store information sealed inside the disk drive. You usually get one installed in your system unit (the computer box) when you buy a computer. If you need more hard disk space or want portability, you can get an external unit that you can plug into the USB ports. (We'll discuss USB ports in a later section.) A hard disk offers ease of updating and large storage capacity.

• Optical storage media are plastic discs on which information is stored, deleted . and/or changed using laser light and include CDs and DVDs, of which there are several types :

• CD-ROM (compact disc-read-only memory)-an optical or laser disc whos information cannot be changed. A CD stores up to 800 Meg of information.

• CD-R (compact disc- recordable)-an optical or laser disc that you can wrice to one time only.

• CD-RW (compact disc-rewritable)-an op tical or laser disc on which you can save, change, and delete files as often as you like.

Hardware: Your Physical Interface 339

M agnetic

Hard Disk CD

Storage Media

-ROM

-R

-RW

DVD

-ROM

-R +R

-RW +RW

Flash Memory

Cards

Solid State Hard

Drives

Flash Memory Drives

• DVD-ROM-a high-capacity optical or laser disc whose information cannot be changed. The capacity of a DVD, unlike that of a CD, varies according to type.

• DVD-R or DVD + R (DVD-recordable)-a high-capacity optical or laser disc to which you can write one time only.

• DVD-RW or DVD+ RW (depending on the manufacturer)-a high-capacity optical or laser disc on which you can save, change, and delete files.

• Solid state media are nonvolatile forms of storage where the data is stored on microchips. Nonvolatile means that the data remains after the power is switched off unlike the RAM or memory in a computer. One great advantage of solid state storage is that it has no moving parts, making it less susceptible to physical shock and mech~nical problems. It operates silently and has faster access time for the data. Solid state media come in three varieties: solid state hard drives, flash memory drives, and flash memory cards . (See Figure A.13.)

o A solid state hard drive is a hard drive that uses solid-state memory chips to store data long term. Solid state will most likely eventually replace magnetic hard drives because they are more robust and quiet.

0 A flash memory drive (also called a jump drive or thumb drive) is a solid state storage device that is small enough to fit on a key ring and plugs directly into the USB port on your computer.

o A flash memory card consists of solid state memory chips laminated inside a small piece of plastic. You most likely have one for your digital camera. Flash memory cards differ from flash memory drives in that they need a reader. This reader device may be built into the computer or printer, otherwise you will need a separate device. SD (Secure Digital) cards are the most popular type of flash memory cards. Other examples are xD Picture Cards, Compact Flash (CF) Cards, and Memory Stick Media.

Figure A.12 Categories of Storage Media

340 Extended Learning Module A

Figure A.13 Common Types of Flash Memory

Figure .A.14 CPU and RAM

1:13@

16GB 133xSpeed

CPU AND RAM

Together, your CPU and RAM make up the real brains of your computer (see Figure A. l""' Your CPU largely determines the power (and also the price) of your computer. The centra. processing unit (CPU) is the hardware that interprets and executes the system and appli- cation software instructions and coordinates the operation of all other hardware. RandtJ: access memory (RAM) is a temporary holding area for the information you're working '~i­ as well as the system and application software instructions that the CPU currently needs.

A CPU used to have just one microprocessor, but nowadays CPUs can have two , fo ur. six or more microprocessors. Such CPUs are called multi-core processors. You migk expect that having six processors would speed up the processor by a factor of six, bu: that is not necessarily the case. The reason is that most software was written for a singie processor. That means that it was built to do only one thing at a time. So, your spel> checker will not work six times faster if you have a 6-core CPU. However, some software.

Hardware: Your Physical Interface 341

as image processing software, can divide up the task into multiple smaller jobs that be done simultaneously. Operating systems also sometimes separate out tasks so that

~- are running at the same time , such as loading a file while simultaneously playing ic. In the future software will increasingly be written to take advantage of multi-core

mces smg. To day' s CPU speed is usually quoted in gigahertz. Gigahertz (GHz) is the number

- billions of CPU cycles per second that the CPU can handle. The more cycles per ::rond, the faster the processing and the more powerful the computer. Gigahertz refers

h ow fast the CPU can carry out the steps it takes to execute software instructions-a cess sometimes called the CPU cycle or machine cycle. A CPU cycle (machine cycle) is ts of retrieving, decoding, and executing the instruction, then returning the result

RAM, ifnecessary (see Figure A.15). When you load (or open) a program, you're tell- ~_,, your computer to send a copy of the program from the storage device (hard disk or '.::::)) into RAM. In carrying out the software instructions, the CPU repeatedly performs

chine cycles as follows: I. Retrieve an instruction: The control unit, which is the component of the CPU

that directs what happens in your computer, sends to RAM for instructions and the information it needs. If the instruction says to add 4 and 6, for example, the two numbers travel as information with the add instruction. The instruction travels from RAM on the system bus. The system bus consists of electrical pathways that move information between basic components of the motherboard, including between RAM and the CPU. When the instruction reaches the CPU it waits temporarily in CPU cache, which is a type of memory on the CPU where instructions called up by the CPU wait until the CPU is ready to use them. It takes much less time to get the instruction from CPU cache to the control unit than from RAM , so CPU cache speeds up processing.

2. Decode the instruction: The CPU gets the instruction out of cache and examines it to see what needs to be done, in this case, add 4 and 6.

3. Execute the instruction: The CPU then does what the instruction says to do. In our example, it sends the two numbers to the arithmetic logic unit to be added. The arithmetic logic unit (ALU) is a component of the CPU that performs arithmetic, as well as comparison and logic operations.

Figure A.15 Your CPU and RAM at Work

YOUR COMPUTER'S BRAIN __ _.Telecommunications - - - - devices n put

:.evi ces .........

ut put

...... ......

::evi ces +-- - - -

::~o ra ge 4-"'.., ::evi ces

..,.., .;

Instructions

----------- What to do

CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT

--- ---

Data Information

342 Extended Learning Module A

.~

4. Store the result in RAM: The CPU then sends the result of the addition, 10, to RAM. There's not always a result to send back to RAM. Sometimes the CPU does intermediate calculations that don't get saved.

You'll sometimes hear the CPU speed referred to as the "clock speed." This refers - the CPU clock. Every CPU has its own CPU clock, which is simply a sliver of quartz tha beats at regular intervals in response to an electrical charge. The beat of the CPU d oc.± is like the drummer in a marching band. Just as the drummer keeps everyone marchin~ in time , the CPU clock keeps all your computer's operations synchronized. Each beat ~r tick of the CPU clock is called a clock cycle and is equivalent to a CPU cycle (machine cycle). The CPU uses the CPU clock to keep instructions and information marchine through your CPU at a fixed rate.

RAM is a sort of whiteboard that your CPU uses while it processes informatio and software instructions. When you turn off your computer, everything in ~-­ disappears-that' s why we call it " temporary." When you first start your computer, S}-S- tem instructions that are necessary to keep your computer running get written into~.::. Then, as you open applications, like Microsoft Word or Excel, the instructions to mah those programs run join the operating system in RAM. As you type 'in your document c:- enter information into your workbook, that too is stored in RAM. When you've finis hed your work and save it, a copy is transferred from RAM to your disk CD, or flash drive.

The most important thing you need to know about RAM is its capacity for sto~ instructions and information. RAM capacity is expressed in megabytes or gigabytes. You-: remember that a megabyte is roughly 1 million bytes. A byte is equivalent to a char~cter. RAM with a capacity of 2 gigabytes can hold 2 billion characters-that includes operatirJ:E system instructions as well as the applications and information that you're currently usina

NOTEBOOK COMPUTER CPUS AND RAM A notebook computer is to a deskto computer as a recreational vehicle is to a traditional home-everything is smaller, an power to run devices is limited since you have to carry the power sources with you . _-. mobile CPU is a special type of CPU for a notebook computer that changes speed, an therefore power consumption, in response to fluctuation in use. A desktop CPU, runnin~ at 2.6 GHz , uses between 75 and 1,090 watts of power whereas a mobile CPU might nu:. at a much smaller 34 watts. RAM modules for notebook computers are smaller thar. those for desktop computers.

CONNECTING THE HARDWARE OUTSIDE TO THE HARDWARE INSIDE

Since the CPU controls all computer hardware, all hardware devices must be connecte<i to the CPU,just as your limbs are connected to your brain through your spinal cord.

The CPU, along with RAM, is located on the large circuit board (called the mother- board) inside your system unit. The connector (or plug) on the end of the cable corc.- ing out of your printer connects it to the motherboard which then carries informatio between the CPU and the printer.

WIRED CONNECTIONS All devices that are not wireless have connectors on the end: of cables that plug into ports on the computer. A port is the place on your system uni- monitor, or keyboard through which information and instructions flow to and from your computer system. For wired connections it's the opening or socket where you insert th~ connector, and for wireless devices a port is where the wave information goes in and ou-

The ports are accessible on the outside of the system unit and that means that yo don't have to open up the sys tem unit to plug in your scanner. There are various types v. connectors/p orts (see Figure A. 16) including:

Hardware: Your Physical Interface 343

Hot Swap Plug and Play

USB 1.1

USB 2.0

USB 3.0

Fi rewire

PS/2

VGA

DVI

• USB (universal serial bus) port- fit small flat plug-and-play, hot-swap USB connectors, and, using USB hubs , you can connect up to 127 devices to a single USB port on your computer. The newest type is USB 3.0 which has faster transfer rates than its predocessors. Hot swap is an operating system feature that allows you-while your computer is running-to unplug a device and plug in a new one (without first shutting down your computer). Plug and play is an operating feature that finds and installs the device driver for a device that you plug into your computer. USB connectors come in two general physical shapes called Type A and Type B. Type A USB connectors/ports are all the same size and shape, but Type B USB connectors are smaller, more square, and come in several different sizes. Type B connectors are usually on the end of the cable that plugs into a device like a camera or a scanner.

• Firewire ports-( also called IEEE 1394 or I-Link) fit hot-swap, plug-and-play Firewire connectors , and you can connect up to 63 Firewire devices to a single Firewire port by daisy-chaining the devices together.

• PS/2 por ts-fit PS/ 2 connectors, which you often find on keyboards and mice . PS/2 is a special type of serial connector/port. Serial connectors/ports are gradually being replaced by USB and Firewire.

• DVI (Digital Visual Interface) and VGA (Video graphics Array) are two different types of ports for monitors . DVI Ports are the newer standard.

Figure A.17 provides photo illustrations of some of the connectors we've just described.

VIRELESS CONNECTIONS Wireless devices transfer and receive information in the · rm of waves , either infrared or radio waves. Different types of waves have different

Figure A.16 Categories of Connectors and Ports

344 Extended Learning Module A

Figure A.17 Connectors Used to Connect Devices to the CPU on the Motherboard

Figure A.'1 8 Expansion Cards Add Functionality to a Computer

USB connector

Firewire connector

~ iiiiiii-' DVI connector VGA connector

frequencies. The three types most frequently used in personal and business compw"'- environments are infrared, Bluetooth, and WiFi.

• Infrared-also called IR or IrDA (infrared data association) uses red light to send and receive information. Infrared light has a frequency that's below wha t ch:: eye can see. It's used for TV remotes and other devices that operate over short distances (the effective distance is about one mile) that are free of obstacles .

• Bluetooth-is a standard for transmitting information in the form of short-range radio waves over distances of up to 30 feet and is used for purposes such as wirelessly connecting a cell phone or a PDA to a computer.

• WiFi (wirelessfidelity)-is a standard for transmitting information in the form of radio waves over distances up to 400 feet. WiFi has several forms. For example, WiFi is also called IEEE 802.1 la, b, g, or n, each of which is a unique: type. WiFi is usually the type of wireless communication used in a network environment.

EXPANSION CARDS AND SLOTS Whether wired or wireless, ports are sometim= directly on the motherboard and sometimes on expansion cards. An expansion card n - board) is a circuit board that you insert into the expansion slot on the motherboard to which you connect a peripheral device. An expansion slot is a long skinny sacker :::

the motherboard into which you insert an expansion card. lnformaci coming from and going to expansion slots and ports moves along \\-ir:::. (called a " bus") to the CPU. The expansion bus is the set ofpathw along which information moves between devices outside the motherboa:: and the CPU (see Figure A.18). We have already discussed the system that moves information between basic motherboard components, incl· ~· ­ ing RAM and the CPU.

To add devices to your notebook computer, you slide a PC Card in: the PC Card slot on the notebook, and connect the device to the P

Summary: Student Learning Outcomes Revisited 345

.....ard . A PC Card is the expansion card you use to add devices to your notebook com- cer. PC Cards look like thick credit cards. PC Card slots are the openings, one on top

: i:he other, on the side or front of a notebook, where you connect external devices with a Card (see Figure A.19). For example, if you wanted to add a CD-ROM drive , you' d

"de a PC Card into the slot and then connect the CD-ROM drive to the _ nnector on the PC Card. One of the great things about PC Cards is

t you can hot-swap devices.

Figure A.19 PC Cards Connect External Devices to Your Notebook Computer

SUMMARY: STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES REVISITED

1. Define information technology (IT) and its two basic categories: hardware and software. Information technology (IT) is any computer-based tool that people use to work with information and support the information and information-processing needs of an organization. For example, IT includes cell phones, software such as spreadsheet software, and output devices such as printers. Hardware consists of the physical devices that make up a computer (often referred to as a computer system). Software is the set of instructions that your hardware executes to carry out a specific task for you.

2. Describe the categories of computers based on size. Categories of computers by size include Smartphones , tablet PCs, notebook computers , desktop computers, minicomputers, mainframe computers, and supercomputers. A smartphone is a cell phone with additional features such as a camera; Internet connectivity;•note taking capabilities; GPS capabilities; and digital music and video players. A tablet PC is a slim-line handheld computer. An e-book reader is a portable computer designed specifically for reading digitized books and periodicals. A notebook computer is a small, portable, fully functional battery- powered computer designed for you to carry around with you. A desktop computer is the most popular choice for personal computing needs . These four are all computers designed for use by one person. A minicomputer (mid-range computer) is designed to meet the computing needs of several people simultaneously in a small to medium-size business environment. A mainframe computer (mainframe) is a computer designed to meet the computing needs of hundreds of people in a large business environment. A supercomputer is the fastest, most powerful, and most expensive type of computer. In the order given, PDAs are the smallest, least powerful, and least expensive while supercomputers are the largest, most powerful, and most expensive.

3. Compare the roles of personal productivity, vertical market, and horizontal market software. Application software executes your specific programs and tasks. Personal productivity software helps you perform personal tasks- such

346 Extended Learning Module A

as writing a memo, creating a graph, and creating a slide presentation-that y can usually do even if you don't own a computer. Vertical market software is application software that is unique to a particular industry. Horizontal mark software is application software that is general enough to be suitable for use in a variety of industries. Personal productivity software is very inexpensive wher: compared to both vertical market and horizontal market software. With perso productivity software, you do not obtain the right to change the way the softrn!.: works. If you buy vertical market or horizontal market software, you can often the right to change the way the software works.

4. Describe the roles of operating system software and utility software as components of system software. System software handles technology management tasks and coordinates the interaction of all your technology device Operating system software controls your application software and manages h your hardware devices work together. So, operating system software really en you to run application software. Utility software adds additional functionali ty to your operating system, including such utilities as anti-vi1;us software, screen savers, crash-proof software, uninstaller software, disk optimization, spam blocking, and anti-spyware software. Although these "add" functionality, you definitely need utility software, especially anti-virus software.

5. Define the purpose of each of the six major categories of hardware. The si_x major categories of hardware are

' • Input devices-Convert information and commands from a form that you

understand into a form your computer can understand.

• Output devices-Help you see, hear, or otherwise accept the results of your information-processing requests, that is, convert information from a form your computer understands into a form you can understand.

• CPU and RAM-The real brains of your computer that execute software instructions (CPU) and hold the information, application software, and operatin= system software you're working with (RAM).

• Storage devices-Store information for use at a later time.

• Telecommunications devices-Send information to and from persons and locations .

• Connecting devices-Connect all your hardware devices to the motherboard.

- - · KEY TERMS AND CONCEPTS ~

3D printer, 338 3G, 325 4G, 325 Anti-spyware software, 332 Anti-virus software, 332 Application software, 324 Arithmetic logic unit (ALU), 341 ASCII (American Standard Code for Information

Interchange), 333 Barcodescanne~ 335 Binary digit (bit), 333 Biometric scanner, 335

Bluetooth, 344 Byte, 333 CD-R (compact disc-recordable), 338 CD-ROM (compact disc-read-only memory), 338 CD-RW (compact disc-rewritable), 338 Central processing unit (CPU), 324, 340 Communications software, 329 Control unit, 341 CPU cache, 341 CPU clock, 342 CPU (machine) cycle, 341 Crash-proof software, 332

atabase management system (DBM S), 329 es ktop computer, 326 esktop publishing software, 32 9 igi tal camera, 335 igi tal still camera, 335 ig ital video camera , 335 isk opti mization software, 332

::>VD-R or DVD + R (DVD-recordable), 339 VD-ROM, 339 VD-RW or DVD + RW, 339 VI 343

=-b ook reader (e-book device, e-reader), 325 ::.Xpansion bus, 344 ::.Xpansion card (board), 344 ::.Xpansion slot, 344 =irewire port (IEEE 1394 or I-Link), 343 =lash memory card, 339 =lash memory drive, 339 =tat-panel LCD, 336

ame controller, 334 -a mepad, 335

,- am ing wheel, 335 igabyte (GB or Gig), 338 igahertz (GHz), 341 raph ics software, 329 ard disk, 338 ardware, 323 or izontal market software, 330 ot swap, 343

rn age scanner, 335 '1fo rmation technology (IT), 323 'lfr ared, IR, or lrDA (infrared data association), 344

kj et printer, 337 np ut device, 324, 334 oystick, 335 eyboard, 334

_a ptop, 325 _a ser printer, 337 _ED (light emitting diode), 336 _in ux, 331 _iq u id crystal display (LCD) monitor, 336

111 ac OS, 33 1 v1 ai nframe computer (mainframe), 327

eg abyt e (MB or M or Meg), 338 icrophone, 335

..1i n icomputer (mid-range computer), 327 ob ile CPU, 342

Aouse, 334 .~ u l tifunct i on printer, 338

ultitasking, 33 1 ot ebook computer, 325

Key Terms and Concepts 347

OLED (organic light emitting d iode), 336 Open-source software, 331 Operating system softwa re, 324, 331 Optical character reader, 335 Optical mark reader, 335 Optical storage media , 338 Output device, 324, 336 PC Card, 345 PC Card slot, 345 Personal finance software, 329 Personal information management software

(PIM), 329 Personal p roductivity software, 328 _. Pi xels (picture elements), 337 Plotter, 338 Plug and play, 343 Pointing device, 334 Port, 342 Presentation software, 329 PS/2 po rt, 343 Random access memory (RAM), 324, 340 Resolution of a printer, 337 Resol ution of a screen, 337 Scanner, 335 Secure Digital (SD) card, 339 Smartphone, 325 Software, 324 Sol id state hard d r ive, 339 Solid state media, 339 Spam blocker software, 332 Spreadsheet software, 329 Storage device, 324 Stylus, 334 Supercomputer, 338 System bus, 34 1 System software, 324 Tablet PC, 325 Telecommunications device, 324 Terabyte (TB), 338 Touchpad, 334 Trackball, 334 Un insta ll er softwa re, 332 USB (universal serial bus) port, 343 Utility software, 324, 332 Ve rtical market software, 328 VGA 343 Viewable image size (VIS), 336 Web authoring softwa re, 329 Webcam, 335 WiFi (wireless fidelity, or IEEE 802.11 a, b, g, or n), 344 Word processing software, 329

348 Extended Learning Module A

- ---· SHORT-ANSWER QUESTIONS

1. What are the two categories of information 7. What is a gaming wheel and how does it d if£E~

technology (IT)? from a gamepad?

2. What are the six categories of hardware? 8. What is the difference between a CRT and a

3. What is the difference between application flat-panel display?

software and system software? 9. How would you measure the size of a scree n?

4. Dollar for dollar with comparable 10. How is the resolution of a printer compara ble

characteristics, which is faster and more to the resolution of a screen?

powerful-a desktop computer or a notebook 11. How does a CD differ from a flash drive?

computer? 12. What are three types of flash memory card s?

5. What is the difference between vertical 13. What is a mobile CPU?

and horizontal market software? 14. Which wireless standard is used by networks .

6. What do the terms bit and byte mean?

- ---· ASSIGNMENTS AND EXERCISES

1. COMPARING DIFFERENT TYPES OF COMPUTER capability in terms of CPU speed, RAM size,

SYSTEMS Computers come i n varying sizes monitor quality, and storage capacity:- Now,

and levels of power and performance. Use customize that system to increase CPU speed,

the Web to find out about computer system add more RAM, increase monitor size and

configurations. Do some comparison shopping quality, and add more storage capacity. Wh a

for three types of computers: desktops, the difference in price between the two?

notebooks, and tablet PCs. Choose three Web Which system is more in your price range?

sites that sell computer systems. From each Which system has the speed and capacity yo t..

of these sites, choose the most expensive and need?

least expensive computer systems you can 3. UNDERSTANDING THE COMPLEXITY OF

find for each of the three types of computers. SOFTWARE Software instructions on how to

Create a table for each of the three types of open Microsoft Word or send information t o

computers and compare them based on the a printer must be provided to a computer in

following criteria: great detail and with excruciating accuracy.

• Type and speed of CPU Writing code to make the computer execute

• Type and speed of RAM these instructions properly and in the right

• Amount of CPU cache order is not a simple task. To understand ho

• System bus speed ("

detailed you must be, pick a partner for th is

• Hard disk capacity and speed (revolutions project and envision that you are standing in

per minute or rpm) a kitchen. The task for one of you is to wr ite

• Number and type of ports down all the instructions that are necessary

2. CUSTOMIZING A COMPUTER PURCHASE One of to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

the great things about the Web is the number When the instructions are complete, have t he

of e-tailers that are now on line offering you other person follow those instructions exa ctl,

a variety of products and services. One such How successful was the second person in

e-tailer is Dell, which allows you to customize making the sandwich? Did your instruction s

and buy a computer. Connect to Dell's site at include every single step? What did you leave

www.dell.com . Go to the portion of Dell's site out?

that allows you to customize either a notebook 4. ADDING MEDIA TO A PRESENTATION We

or desktop computer. First, choose an already- certainly live in a "multimedia" society, in

prepared system and note its price and which it's often easy to present and receive

information using a variety (multi) of

media. Presentation tools such as Microsoft's

PowerPoint can help you easily build

presentations that include audio, animation,

and video . And this may help you get a

better grade in school. Using your preferred

presentation software, document the steps

necessary to add a short audio or video clip to

a presentation. How does the representation

of the clip appear on a slide? How can you

initiate it? Does your presentation software

include any clips that you can insert or do you

have to record your own? Now, try recording a

short audio clip. What steps must you perform?

Assignments and Exercises 349

5. COMPARE SMARTPHONES People today use

smartphones for calling, texting, checking

e-mail, Web surfing, taking and storing photos,

and many other tasks. Find four smartphones

from different manufacturers and compare the

following features.

• Speed (3G or 4G)

• Size

• Weight

• Screen size

• Screen resolution

• Resolution of camera _.

• GPS capability