| Almost everyone in our information society needs a | | | | — Multimedia authoring software enable users to |
| basic understanding ofwhat a computer is and what | | | | integrate multimediaelements-text, images, sound, |
| can it do for you. These bits of information | | | | motion, animation into a logical sequence ofevents. |
| willsimulate your imagination, challenge your every | | | | Internet programs: Communications software |
| resource, from physicaldexterity to intellect, and alter | | | | manages the transmission of databetween |
| your sense of perspective of technology. | | | | computers. Electronic mail software enables users to |
| Computers seem to consist of incredibly complicated | | | | exchange letter anddocuments between computers. |
| circuitry and devices, buttheir underlying principle is | | | | Web browsers are software programs that allow |
| simple. They can be either turned on or turnedoff, | | | | people to view information of website in the form of |
| and because of this two-state arrangement, | | | | colorful, on-screen magazine-style “pages” |
| represented by 1 and 0 digit,they take up the binary | | | | with text,graphics, and sound. Using a browser, users |
| system or “double” binaries. Today, digital | | | | can access search tools known assearch engines |
| specificallyrefers to communications signals | | | | such as Yahoo, google, etc. |
| represented in a two-state (binary) way. | | | | To Study for more exams of Microsoft, Cisco, and |
| In the binary system, each 0 (off) or 1 (on) is called | | | | other IT certification is the best site tobe. |
| a bit short for binarydigit. In turn, bits can be grouped | | | | Glitches in software |
| in various combinations to representcharacters of | | | | Basically there are two major drawbacks of |
| data numbers, letters, punctuation marks, and so on. | | | | applications. Software can come withmany more |
| For example,the letter H could corresponds to the | | | | features than you will ever need, this is sometimes |
| electronic signal 01001000 (that | | | | called “bloatware.” |
| is,off-on-off-off-on-off-off-off). This group of eight | | | | Software can also come with many flaws this is |
| bits is called a byte. Twocommon binary coding | | | | called “shovelware.” Instructionmanuals, help |
| schemes are EBCDIC and ASCII. A newer one is the | | | | software, telephone help lines, commercial how-to |
| Unicode. | | | | books, andknowledgeable friends can help users deal |
| Digital data is the method of data representation by | | | | with bloatware and shovelware |
| which computers process andstore data | | | | Types of computers |
| communicate with each other. A | | | | Today the five types of computers available are |
| computer-and-communications system hassix | | | | micro controllers,microcomputers, minicomputers, |
| elements: users; procedures; data; hardware; | | | | mainframes, and supercomputers. |
| software; and communications. | | | | — Micro-computer are embedded in machines, |
| There is a technical difference between data and | | | | such as cars, phones, industrialcontrollers and kitchen |
| information. Data isunprocessed and raw form of | | | | appliances. |
| information, which after being processed shapes | | | | — Micro-controllers may be personal computers |
| intouncomprehensible information. Both forms are | | | | (PCs) or workstations. PCs includedesktop and floor |
| measured by certains units, such askilobytes, | | | | standing units, laptops, notebooks, sub-notebooks, |
| megabytes, gigabytes, and terabytes. | | | | pocket PCs,and pen computers. |
| Hardware that is associated with a normal computer | | | | — Workstations are sophisticated desktop |
| includes devices such askeyboard, mouse, CPU (the | | | | microcomputers used for technicalpurposes. |
| processor), hard disk, RAM, monitor, CD-ROM, | | | | — Minicomputers or midrange computers are |
| soundcard and a modem. Additional peripherals may | | | | intermediate-size machines. |
| include scanner and printer. | | | | — Mainframes are the traditional size of computer |
| Software or programs comprise the instructions that | | | | and are used in largecompanies to handle millions of |
| tell the computer what todo. In general, software is | | | | transactions. |
| divided into two categories, applications softwareand | | | | — The high-capacity machines called |
| system software. The applications are developed to | | | | supercomputers are the fastest calculatingdevices |
| perform useful tasks,solve problems, or to provide | | | | and are used for large-scale projects, such as in |
| entertainment. The system software, on the | | | | NASA, nuclear powerplant, etc. |
| otherhand, enable the applications software to run on | | | | Any of these last four types of computers may be |
| the computer. System softwarecomprises three | | | | used as a server, a centralcomputer in a network. |
| basic components: operating system, utility programs. | | | | Moral issues |
| Operating system: The operating system manages | | | | Some ethical concerns in the field of IT are: |
| the basic operations of thecomputer. These | | | | Speed and scale: Great amounts of information can |
| operations includes booting the computer and | | | | be stored, retrieved, andtransmitted at a speed and |
| management ofstorage media. | | | | on a scale not possible before. Despite the |
| Utilities: These programs, such as Norton, either | | | | benefits,this has serious implications “for data |
| enhance existing functions orprovide services not | | | | security and personal privacy [as wellas |
| performed by other system software. They include | | | | employment]”, because IT can never be |
| backup,data recovery, file defragmention, disk repair, | | | | considered totally secure againstunauthorized access. |
| virus protection, datacompression, and memory | | | | Unpredictability: Computers and communications are |
| management. | | | | pervasive, touching nearlyevery aspect of our lives. |
| Kinds of application | | | | However, compared to other |
| Several kinds of software applications are being | | | | pervasivetechnologies-such as electricity, television, |
| developed for differentpurposes and types of users. | | | | and automobiles-informationtechnology is a lot less |
| Some basic categories are defined below: | | | | predictable and reliable. |
| Word processing software: This software, caters to | | | | Complexity: The on/off principle underlying computers |
| the needs of all kinds ofusers from beginners to | | | | may be simple, but thesystems themselves are often |
| expert. Programs like Microsoft Word, StarOffice, | | | | incredibly complex. Indeed, some are so complexthat |
| etc,fall under this category. These allow you to use | | | | even their creators do not always understand them. |
| computers to create, edit,format, print, and store | | | | This, “often makes themcompletely |
| text material, among other things. | | | | unmanageable,” producing massive foul-ups or |
| Electronic spreadsheet: Programs, such as Lotus1-2-3 | | | | spectacularlyout-of-control costs. |
| and Microsoft Excel, workas spreadsheets and allow | | | | Violation of copyright laws |
| users to create tables and financial schedules | | | | Intellectual property consists of the products of the |
| byentering data into rows and columns arranged as a | | | | human mind. Such propertycan be protected by |
| grid on a display screen. Ifone (or more) numerical | | | | copyright, the exclusive legal right that prohibits |
| value or formula is changed the software calculates | | | | copyingit without the permission of the copyright |
| theeffect of the change on the rest of the | | | | holder. |
| spreadsheet. These programs also allowusers to | | | | Software piracy, network piracy, and plagiarism |
| create analytical graphics charts to present data. | | | | violate copyright laws. Publicdomain software, |
| Personal information management: PIM or in other | | | | freeware and shareware can be legally copied, which |
| words electronic databaseapplications software is a | | | | is not thecase with proprietary (commercial) |
| computer-based collection of interrelated files. | | | | software. |
| Database software is a program that controls the | | | | Info superhighway |
| structure of a database andaccess to the data. | | | | Communications refers to the electronic transfer of |
| Personal Information Management (PIM) software is | | | | data. The kind of datacommunicated is rapidly |
| specialized database softwarethat helps track and | | | | changing from analog to digital. The |
| manage information used on a daily basis, such as | | | | informationsuperhighway is a metaphor for the fusion |
| addressesappointments, lists, and miscellaneous notes. | | | | of telephones and networked computerswith |
| Financial software: Such software includes personal | | | | television and digital radio. |
| finance managers,entry-level accounting packages | | | | Developments in telecom |
| and business financial-management software. | | | | Communications, or telecommunications, has had |
| Personal-finance managers let you keep track of | | | | three important developments:better communications |
| income and expenses, writecheques, do online | | | | channels, the use of networks, and new sending |
| banking and plan financial goals. | | | | andreceiving devices. Trends in information |
| Packages and suites: Integrated software packages | | | | technology involve connectivity andinteractivity. |
| combine the basic features ofseveral applications | | | | Connectivity: Also known as online information |
| programs-for example, word processing, | | | | access, refers to connectingcomputers to one |
| spreadsheet,database manager, graphics and | | | | another by modem or network and communications |
| communications-into one software package. | | | | lines. |
| Software suites are full-fledged versions of several | | | | Connectivity provides, among other things, the |
| applications programsbundled together. | | | | benefits of voice mail, email,telecommuting, |
| Major uses of programs for desktop publishing, | | | | teleshoping, databases, online services and networks, |
| presentation graphics, projectmanagement, | | | | andelectronic bulletin board systems. |
| computer-aided design, drawing and painting, | | | | Interactivity: It refers to the back-and-forth |
| groupware, andmultimedia authoring software | | | | “dialogue” between communicationsdevice. |
| Special purpose software includes the following | | | | Interactive devices include multimedia computers, |
| programs: | | | | personal digitalassistants, and “smart boxes,” |
| — Desktop publishing (DTP) combines text and | | | | TV/PCs and WebTVs. |
| graphics in a highly sophisticatedmanner to produce | | | | Under development are different versions of a |
| high-quality output for commercial printing | | | | device that combines telephone,television, and |
| — Presentation graphics and data/information | | | | personal computer. This device would deliver |
| from other software tools tocommunicate or make a | | | | digitizedentertainment, communications, and |
| presentation of data to others. | | | | informational together in one device. |
| — Project management software is used to plan | | | | Gaining elementary computer knowledge is just like |
| schedule and control the people,costs, and resources | | | | discovering and beginningyour computer journey that |
| required to complete a project on time. | | | | lasts a lifetime. Information technology is |
| — Computer-aided design (CAD) program are for | | | | changingevery minute of the day. Every year, you |
| designing products and structures. | | | | confront hundreds of new IT-relatedbuzz words, |
| — Drawing programs allow users to design and | | | | concepts, applications, and hardware devices. So |
| illustrate object and products, andpainting programs | | | | make good use oftechnologies, such as internet, and |
| allow them to simulate painting on screen. | | | | multimedia programs easily available on CDs,to |
| — Groupware is used on a network and allows | | | | increase your knowledge-base and be counted as |
| users within the same building or ondifferent | | | | expert computer user. |
| continents to share ideas and update documents. | | | | |