List five input devices and three output devices that might be attached to a PC.
Describe a typical use for each.
INPUT DEVICES:
Keyboard: Used for inputing information into the computer through typing. Such as typing a repot using a word processor.
Mouse: Used to send commands to the computer, such as clicking on the link to a website
Scanner: Used to input pictures and text into computers.
White smartboard: Used in schools and otehr places for presentaitons to store tha images on the board in the computer.
OUTPUT DEVICES
Moniter: Allows the computer to display information and any work being done by the computer on the screen
Speakers: Allows one to hear the content in the computer such as videos, music, etc
Pritner: Allows one to print information displayed on the screen form the ocmputer onto paper.
Name and describe three special-purpose input devices people commonly use in public places, such as stores, banks, and libraries.
Touch Screens: USed in restaurants and stores to input information regardign a purchase tinto a computer during checkout.
Optical mark Readers: Used by test amking companies to score standardized tests by scanning pencil marks.
Bar code Readers: Allow stores to gather information on a product by scanning its barcode
Many people find that the mouse is impractical for use as a pointing device on a laptop computer. Describe at least three alternatives that are more appropriate.
There are many alternatives for a mouse:
Touchpad: commonly found on laptops; uses a small panel sensitive to touch to navigate the computer screen.
Trackball: Uses a protruding ball to control the pointer on the screen.
Pointing stick: A small joysttick on the keyboard that can be used to control the pointer by pushing it in the direction you wish teh cursor to move.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
ITGS Project: Criterion G
This year, a new system was created for the school to encourage moral behavior and boost school spirit. This was a house system, modeled after the system practiced in British schools, that divided all Ib students into one of four houses. Each house would then be capable of earning or losing points for their house through their actions. Teachers and administration would have the power to give or take points from each house based on their judgment. This made teachers responsible for keeping track of points they awarded or took away and turning them in every week to those responsible for calculating points and keeping students up to date of which house was in the lead.
The system was initially successful and definitely boosted school spirit in a new way, but there were a few problems. Perhaps the most significant problem was that the current system had a very tedious way for teachers to keep track of points they gave or took away. This caused teachers to not reward or deduct points and therefore, caused students to forget there even was a house system. The administration and students who created the system want it to be more inherent in the school, and would like a more efficient and easy to use means for recoding points. They have expressed their concerns, but do not have the time to carry out anything for improvement.
In order to revive the system, a new more effect way for recording points must be created. Tow possible solutions include using spreadsheets in the computer lab. Teachers may access the spreadsheets and log in their data, which would automatically be calculated. Another method, which is more complex in terms of set up, but easier for teachers and those responsible for calculating points would be to create a website, where teachers may log in with their own passwords and plug g in points taken or given to houses. They may then be calculated automatically on the website and then the results can be posted on the website itself. The website can also have other house system-related features such as descriptions of the houses and a “sorting” personality quiz.
With a more efficient system in pace, teachers and students will likely participate more in the house system and school spirit and moral character will improve.
The system was initially successful and definitely boosted school spirit in a new way, but there were a few problems. Perhaps the most significant problem was that the current system had a very tedious way for teachers to keep track of points they gave or took away. This caused teachers to not reward or deduct points and therefore, caused students to forget there even was a house system. The administration and students who created the system want it to be more inherent in the school, and would like a more efficient and easy to use means for recoding points. They have expressed their concerns, but do not have the time to carry out anything for improvement.
In order to revive the system, a new more effect way for recording points must be created. Tow possible solutions include using spreadsheets in the computer lab. Teachers may access the spreadsheets and log in their data, which would automatically be calculated. Another method, which is more complex in terms of set up, but easier for teachers and those responsible for calculating points would be to create a website, where teachers may log in with their own passwords and plug g in points taken or given to houses. They may then be calculated automatically on the website and then the results can be posted on the website itself. The website can also have other house system-related features such as descriptions of the houses and a “sorting” personality quiz.
With a more efficient system in pace, teachers and students will likely participate more in the house system and school spirit and moral character will improve.
Friday, December 11, 2009
Get Ready for the Real Bionic Man
Discussion Questions Page 57
1) Glasses are more of a hassle in the sense that you have to take them on and off. They can also easily be danmaged and don't offer a full 360 degrees clear view; one is limited to seeing only within the frames of their glasses.
2) There are many benefits to using bionic devices with interated chips, becasue the devices will be able to perform more tasks and run more effiecently. It will make them more reliable overall. The downsides would be that no matter how reliable, a machine is a machine and it can never replicate the biological functions fo our body, they will still at one point or another lack in ability. We may rely on them too much and be dissapointed.
3) Yes, unless a clear threat is scene in their development and use, the development of bionic devices seems inveitable. Especially with the line between science and ethics thinning, and technological advances being seen as opportunities, technology will find its way into all aspects of life.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Chapter 3: Hardware Basics
Review Questions (page 60)
3) Both are different methods for a computer to break down and understand/manipulate any information input into it. The binary number system would denote the information into combinations fo two digits, while the ASCII code represents each character with a 8-bit code to break down the information.
4)Information is stored in binary formats because a computer cannot directly read any text, multipeida,etc, unless it breaks it down into binary code.
5) Not all software is compatible with every CPU, becasue software isusually written for a specifi processor, and not for any other ones. This is why mactintoch sfotware won't work with an intel processor.
6) Another factor besides clock speed that determines a CPU's performance level is the "architecture" of the CPU, as wella s how many bits it can process at one time (word size).
7)
8) Symmettric multi-processing is when chip makers put multiple CPUs in a single chip. Its more efficeint becasue it makes use of one operating ssytem to control more than one processor; it in creases a PCs performance without geenrating the heat that owould be generated by adding a single, faster CPU.
9) RAM is random access memory. it stores information until the processor is ready to handle it, but it only stores things temporarily. ROM, on the other hand, is read-only memory. It stores information for the computer to carry out essential functions permanently.
10)Primary storage, such as the RAM, stores data that needds to be instantly accessible to the CPU. Secondary storage, such as various storage devices (USBs, CDs,etc) stores any other data, that one can easily access and retrieve information with.
3) Both are different methods for a computer to break down and understand/manipulate any information input into it. The binary number system would denote the information into combinations fo two digits, while the ASCII code represents each character with a 8-bit code to break down the information.
4)Information is stored in binary formats because a computer cannot directly read any text, multipeida,etc, unless it breaks it down into binary code.
5) Not all software is compatible with every CPU, becasue software isusually written for a specifi processor, and not for any other ones. This is why mactintoch sfotware won't work with an intel processor.
6) Another factor besides clock speed that determines a CPU's performance level is the "architecture" of the CPU, as wella s how many bits it can process at one time (word size).
7)
8) Symmettric multi-processing is when chip makers put multiple CPUs in a single chip. Its more efficeint becasue it makes use of one operating ssytem to control more than one processor; it in creases a PCs performance without geenrating the heat that owould be generated by adding a single, faster CPU.
9) RAM is random access memory. it stores information until the processor is ready to handle it, but it only stores things temporarily. ROM, on the other hand, is read-only memory. It stores information for the computer to carry out essential functions permanently.
10)Primary storage, such as the RAM, stores data that needds to be instantly accessible to the CPU. Secondary storage, such as various storage devices (USBs, CDs,etc) stores any other data, that one can easily access and retrieve information with.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Hardware Basics Review
Questions 12/08/09
1)What are the four basic functions of a computer?
-Recieve Input
-Process information
-Produce Output
-Store Information
2)Waht oes CPU stand for?
Central Processing Unit
3) Explain what a bit is.
A computer must break down information input to it into binary numbers. The smallest Binary digit or unit of information is a bit.
4)Name two codes used to convert words into bits:
-Unicode
-ASCII
5)Why is information stored in some kind of binary format in computers?
A computer cannot read text,images,etc unless it first converts it into binary digits.
1)What are the four basic functions of a computer?
-Recieve Input
-Process information
-Produce Output
-Store Information
2)Waht oes CPU stand for?
Central Processing Unit
3) Explain what a bit is.
A computer must break down information input to it into binary numbers. The smallest Binary digit or unit of information is a bit.
4)Name two codes used to convert words into bits:
-Unicode
-ASCII
5)Why is information stored in some kind of binary format in computers?
A computer cannot read text,images,etc unless it first converts it into binary digits.
Monday, December 7, 2009
Notes "How Stuff Works" Video
Seven Major parts of A Computer:
Motherboard: Heart of the Computer
CPU: Central Processing Unit. The brain of the computer that runs much of its functions.
RAM: Random Access ememory. Hold the data and software you're currently running.
Video card: creates the images displayed on your computer.
Power suppy: Supplies the power to the computer.
Hard Disk: Holds information even when the powers off. When the computer turns on, the information is transferred tot he RAM.
Optical Drive: Uses a laser to read or write CDs and DVDs
Motherboard: Heart of the Computer
CPU: Central Processing Unit. The brain of the computer that runs much of its functions.
RAM: Random Access ememory. Hold the data and software you're currently running.
Video card: creates the images displayed on your computer.
Power suppy: Supplies the power to the computer.
Hard Disk: Holds information even when the powers off. When the computer turns on, the information is transferred tot he RAM.
Optical Drive: Uses a laser to read or write CDs and DVDs
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Tech Reflect: 12/01
Discuss the advantages and disadvanteges of telecommuting:
The advantages of telecommuting include:
-less air pollution, becasue people aren't driving to work
-less office distractions
-more time for the employee to get work done becasue they're not stuck in traffic
-studies show that telecommuting shows increased productivity.
-Employee has more freedom as to how to use their time. Less control from project managers over employees in the aspect of time.
The disadvantages of telecommuting include:
-Holding meetings could be difficult.
-Those in charge would not be able to track an employees progress as easily ( control), or ask their employees direct questions.
- If the project managers, need to have an urgent conversation with an employee, they cannot do so as easily as a face to face conversation. ( reliability)
The advantages of telecommuting include:
-less air pollution, becasue people aren't driving to work
-less office distractions
-more time for the employee to get work done becasue they're not stuck in traffic
-studies show that telecommuting shows increased productivity.
-Employee has more freedom as to how to use their time. Less control from project managers over employees in the aspect of time.
The disadvantages of telecommuting include:
-Holding meetings could be difficult.
-Those in charge would not be able to track an employees progress as easily ( control), or ask their employees direct questions.
- If the project managers, need to have an urgent conversation with an employee, they cannot do so as easily as a face to face conversation. ( reliability)
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