1.1 THE PRACTICAL USER: How BecomingComputer Savvy Benefits You

1.2 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY & YOURLIFE: The Future Now

Two Parts of IT: Computers &Communications

Education: The Promise of More Interactive &Individualized Learning

Practical Action Box: How to Be a Good OnlineStudent

Health: High Tech for Wellness

Money: Toward the Cashless Society

Leisure: Infotech in Entertainment & the Arts

Government & Electronic Democracy:Participating in the Civic Realm

Jobs & Careers

1.3 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY IS ALLPERVASIVE:Cellphones, Email, the Internet, &the E-World

The Phone Grows Up

“You’ve Got Mail!” Email’s Mass Impact

Practical Action Box: Managing Your Email

The Internet, the World Wide Web, & the“Plumbing of Cyberspace”

College Students & the E-World

1.4 THE “ALL-PURPOSE MACHINE”: TheVarieties of Computers

All Computers, Great & Small: The Categoriesof Machines

Supercomputers

Mainframe Computers

Workstations

Microcomputers

Microcontrollers

Servers

1.5 Understanding Your Computer

How Computers Work: Three Key Concepts

Pretending to Customize a Desktop Computer:Basic Knowledge of How a Computer Works

Input Hardware: Keyboard & Mouse

Processing & Memory Hardware: Inside theSystem Cabinet

Storage Hardware: Hard Drive & CD/DVDDrive

Output Hardware: Video & Sound Cards, Monitor,Speakers, & Printer

Communications Hardware: Modem

Software

1.6 Where Is Information TechnologyHeaded?

Computers: Miniaturization, Speed, &Affordability

Communications: Connectivity, Interactivity, &Multimedia

When Computers & Communications Combine:Convergence, Portability, Personalization,Collaboration, & Cloud Computing

“E” Also Stands for Ethics

Experience Box: Better Organization & TimeManagement: Dealing with the Information Delugein College—& in Life

CHAPTER 2: THE INTERNET & THE WORLD WIDEWEB: EXPLORING CYBERSPACE

2.1 Connecting to the Internet: Narrowband,Broadband, & Access Providers

Narrowband (Dial-Up Modem): Low Speed butInexpensive

High-Speed Phone Lines: More Expensive butAvailable in Most Cities

Problem for Telephone Internet Connections: TheLast Mile

Cable Modem: Close Competitor to DSL

Satellite Wireless Connections

Other Wireless Connections: Wi-Fi, 3G, & 4G

Internet Access Providers (ISPs):Three Kinds

2.2 How Does the Internet Work?

Internet Connections: POPs, IXPs,Backbone, & Internet2

Internet Communications: Protocols,Packets, & Addresses

Who Runs the Internet?

2.3 The World Wide Web

The Face of the Web: Browsers,Websites, & Web Pages

How the Browser Finds Things: URLs 66

The Nuts & Bolts of the Web: HTML &Hyperlinks

Using Your Browser to Get aroundthe Web

Web Portals: Starting Points for FindingInformation

Search Services & Search Engines &How They Work

Four Web Search Tools: Individual SearchEngines, Subject Directories, Metasearch Engines,& Specialized Search Engines

Smart Searching: Three GeneralStrategies

Practical Action Box: Evaluating & SourcingInformation Found on the Web

Multimedia Search Tools: Image, Audio, &Video Searching

Practical Action Box: Serious Web SearchTechniques

Desktop Search: Tools for Searching YourComputer’s Hard Disk

Tagging: Saving Links for EasierRetrieval Later

2.4 Email & Other Ways ofCommunicating over the Net

Two Ways to Send & Receive Email

How to Use Email

Sorting Your Email

Attachments

Instant Messaging

FTP—for Copying All the Free Files You Want

Newsgroups—for Online Typed Discussions onSpecific Topics

Listservs: Email-Based DiscussionGroups

Netiquette: Appropriate OnlineBehavior

2.5 THE ONLINE GOLD MINE: Telephony,Multimedia, Webcasting, Blogs,E-Commerce, & Social Networking

Telephony: The Internet Telephone &Videophone

Multimedia on the Web

E-Commerce: B2B Commerce, Online Finance,Auctions, & Job Hunting

Web 2.0: Social Networking, MediaSharing, Social-Network Aggregation, &Microblogging

Practical Action Box: Social Networking: Worththe Convenience?

2.6 THE INTRUSIVE INTERNET: Snooping,Spamming, Spoofing, Phishing, Pharming,Cookies, & Spyware

Snooping on Your Email: Your Messages AreOpen to Anyone

Spam: Electronic Junk Mail

Spoofing, Phishing, & Pharming: Phony EmailSenders & Websites

Cookies: Convenience or Hindrance?

Spyware—Adware, Browser & Search Hijackers,& Key Loggers: Intruders to Track Your Habits &Steal Your Data

Practical Action Box: Tips for AvoidingSpyware

Experience Box: Web Research, Term Papers, &Plagiarism

CHAPTER 3: SOFTWARE: TOOLS FORPRODUCTIVITY & CREATIVITY

3.1 SYSTEM SOFTWARE: The Power behindthe Power

3.2 THE OPERATING SYSTEM: What It Does

Booting

CPU Management

File Management

Task Management

Security Management

3.3 OTHER SYSTEM SOFTWARE: Device Drivers& Utility Programs

Device Drivers: Running PeripheralHardware

Practical Action Box: Utility Programs

Utilities: Service Programs

3.4 Common Features of the User Interface

The GUI: The Graphical User Interface

The Help Command

3.5 Common Operating Systems

Macintosh Operating System

Microsoft Windows

Network Operating Systems: OES, WindowsServer, Unix, & Linux

Embedded Operating Systems forHandhelds

3.6 APPLICATION SOFTWARE: GettingStarted

Application Software: For Sale, For Free, or ForRent?

Tutorials & Documentation

A Few Facts about Files & the Usefulness ofImporting & Exporting

Types of Application Software

3.7 Word Processing Software

3.8 Spreadsheet Programs

The Basics: How Spreadsheet Programs Work

Analytical Graphics: Creating Charts

3.9 Database Software

The Benefits of Database Software

The Basics: How Databases Work

Personal Information Managers (PIMs)

3.10 Specialty Application Software

Presentation Graphics Software

Financial Software

Desktop Publishing

Drawing & Painting Programs

Video/Audio Editing Software

Animation Software

Multimedia Authoring Software

Web Page Design/Authoring Software

Project Management Software

Practical Action Box: Help in Building Your WebPage

Integrated Software & Software Suites

Portable Document Format (PDF)

Computer-Aided Design (CAD)

3.11 Filenames & Extensions

Data Compression: Putting More Data in LessSpace

Experience Box: Getting Help from TechSupport

CHAPTER 4: HARDWARE: THE CPU & STORAGE:HOW TO CHOOSE A MULTIMEDIACOMPUTER SYSTEM

4.1 Microchips, Miniaturization, &Mobility

From Vacuum Tubes to Transistors toMicrochips

Miniaturization Miracles: Microchips& Microprocessors

Mobility

Choosing an Inexpensive Personal Computer:Understanding Computer Ads

4.2 THE SYSTEM UNIT: The Basics

The Binary System: Using On/Off Electrical Statesto Represent Data & Instructions

Machine Language

The Computer Case: Bays, Buttons, &Boards

Power Supply

The Motherboard & the MicroprocessorChip

Practical Action Box: Power Issues: Problemswith Electrical Power to Your Computer

Processing Speeds: From Megahertz toPicoseconds

4.3 MORE ON THE SYSTEM UNIT: WhatSupports the Processor?

Word Size

The Parts of the CPU

How Memory Works: RAM, ROM, CMOS, &Flash

How Cache Works

Other Methods of Speeding Up Processing

Ports & Cables

Expandability: Buses & Cards

4.4 Secondary Storage

Hard Disks

Optical Disks: CDs & DVDs

Smart Cards

Flash & Solid State Memory

Practical Action Box: Storing Your Stuff: HowLong Will Digitized Data Last?

Online Secondary Storage

Practical Action Box: Starting Over withYour Hard Drive: Erasing, Reformatting, &Reloading

4.5 Future Developments in Processing &Storage

Future Developments in Processing

Future Developments in SecondaryStorage

Experience Box: How to Buy a Laptop

CHAPTER 5: HARDWARE: INPUT & OUTPUT:TAKING CHARGE OF COMPUTING &COMMUNICATIONS

5.1 INPUT & OUTPUT

5.2 INPUT HARDWARE

Keyboards

Pointing Devices

Scanning & Reading Devices

Audio-Input Devices

Webcams & Video-Input Cards

Digital Cameras

Speech-Recognition Systems

Sensors

Radio-Frequency Identification Tags

Human-Biology-Input Devices

5.3 OUTPUT HARDWARE

Traditional Softcopy Output: DisplayScreens

Traditional Hardcopy Output: Printers

Practical Action Box Buying a Printer

Mixed Output: Sound, Voice, & Video

5.4 INPUT & OUTPUT TECHNOLOGY &QUALITY OF LIFE: Health & Ergonomics

Health Matters

Ergonomics: Design with People in Mind

5.5 THE FUTURE OF INPUT & OUTPUT

Toward More Input from Remote Locations

Toward More Source Data Automation

Toward More Realistic Output

Experience Box: Good Habits: Protecting YourComputer System, Your Data, & Your Health

CHAPTER 6: COMMUNICATIONS, NETWORKS,& SAFEGUARDS: THE WIRED &WIRELESS WORLD

6.1 FROM THE ANALOG TO THE DIGITALAGE

The Digital Basis of Computers: Electrical Signalsas Discontinuous Bursts

The Analog Basis of Life: Electrical Signals asContinuous Waves

Purpose of the Modem: Converting Digital Signalsto Analog Signals & Back

Converting Reality to Digital Form

6.2 NETWORKS

The Benefits of Networks

A Few Disadvantages of Networks

Types of Networks: WANs, MANs, & Others

How Networks Are Structured: Client/Server &Peer to Peer

Intranets, Extranets, & VPNs

Components of a Network

Network Topologies

Ethernet

6.3 WIRED COMMUNICATIONS MEDIA

Wired Communications Media: Wires &Cables

Wired Communications Media for Homes

6.4 WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONSMEDIA

The Electromagnetic Spectrum, the Radio-Frequency (RF) Spectrum, & Bandwidth

Practical Action: Telecommuting & Telework:The Nontraditional Workplace

Five Types of Wireless CommunicationsMedia

Long-Distance Wireless: One-WayCommunication

Long-Distance Wireless: Two-WayCommunication

Short-Range Wireless: Two-WayCommunication

6.5 CYBERTHREATS, HACKERS, &SAFEGUARDS

Cyberthreats

Practical Action Box: WikiLeaks & DDoS

Practical Action Box: Ways to Minimize VirusAttacks

Some Cybervillains: Hackers & Crackers

Online Safety

Practical Action Box: How to Deal withPasswords

Experience Box: Virtual Meetings: Linking UpElectronically

CHAPTER 7: PERSONAL TECHNOLOGY: THEFUTURE IS YOU

7.1 Convergence, Portability, &Personalization

Convergence

Portability

Personalization

Popular Personal Technologies

7.2 Portable Media Players

How PMP/MP3 Players Work

The Societal Effects of PMPs

Using PMPs in College

7.3 High-Tech Radio: Satellite, HighDefinition & Internet

Satellite Radio

HD Radio

Internet Radio

Podcasting

7.4 Digital Cameras: ChangingPhotography

How Digital Cameras Work

The Societal Effects of Digital Cameras

Practical Action Box: Online Viewing & Sharingof Digital Photos

7.5 Digital Television

Three Kinds of Television: DTV, HDTV,SDTV

The Societal Effects of the New TV

7.6 E-Book Readers: The New ReadingMachines

How an E-Book Reader Works

The Drawbacks of E-Book Readers

7.7 Tablet PCs

7.8 Smartphones: More Than Talk

How a Mobile Phone Works

The Societal Effects of Cellphones

7.9 Videogame Systems: The UltimateConvergence Machine?

EXPERIENCE BOX: The “Always On”Generation

CHAPTER 8: DATABASES ARE IN YOUR LIFE:DIGITAL ENGINES FOR TODAY’SECONOMY

8.1 MANAGING FILES: Basic Concepts

How Data Is Organized: The Data Storage

Hierarchy

The Key Field

8.2 Database Management Systems

The Benefits of Database Management Systems

Three Database Components

Practical Action Box: Accuracy &Completeness

The Database Administrator

8.3 Database Models

Hierarchical Database

Network Database

Relational Database

Object-Oriented Database

Multidimensional Database

8.4 Data Mining

The Process of Data Mining

8.5 DATABASES & THE DIGITAL ECONOMY:E-Commerce & E-Business

E-Commerce: Online Buying & Selling

8.6 INFORMATION SYSTEMS INORGANIZATIONS: Using Databases to HelpMake Decisions

The Qualities of Good Information

Information Flows within an Organization

Computer-Based Information Systems

Office Information Systems

Transaction Processing Systems

Management Information Systems

Decision Support Systems

Executive Support Systems

Expert Systems

8.7 Artificial Intelligence

Expert Systems

Natural Language Processing

Intelligent Agents

Pattern Recognition

Fuzzy Logic

Virtual Reality & Simulation Devices

Robotics

Two Approaches to Artificial Intelligence: Weakversus Strong AI

Artificial Life, the Turing Test, & AI Ethics

8.8 DATABASES: Concerns about Privacy &Identity Theft

The Threat to Privacy

Identity Theft

EXPERIENCE BOX: Preventing Your Identity fromGetting Stolen

CHAPTER 9: THE CHALLENGES OF THE DIGITALAGE: SOCIETY & INFORMATIONTECHNOLOGY TODAY

9.1 TRUTH ISSUES: Manipulating DigitalData

Manipulation of Sound

Manipulation of Photos

Manipulation of Video & Television

9.2 SECURITY ISSUES: Threats to Computers &Communications Systems

Errors & Accidents

Natural Hazards

Computer Crimes

Computer Criminals

Practical Action Box: Is the Boss Watching You?Trust in the Workplace

9.3 SECURITY SAFEGUARDS: ProtectingComputers & Communications

Deterrents to Computer Crime

Identification & Access

Encryption

Protection of Software & Data

Disaster-Recovery Plans

9.4 QUALITY-OF-LIFE ISSUES: TheEnvironment, Mental Health, Child Protection, &the Workplace

Environmental Problems

Mental-Health Problems

Protecting Children: Pornography, SexualPredators, & Online Bullies

Workplace Problems: Impediments toProductivity

9.5 ECONOMIC & POLITICAL ISSUES:Employment & the Haves/Have-Nots

Technology, the Job Killer?

Gap between Rich & Poor

Whom Does the Internet Serve?

In a World of Breakneck Change, Can You StillThrive?

Experience Box: Student Use of Computers: SomeControversies

CHAPTER 10: BUILDING SYSTEMS & APPLICATIONS:SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT,PROGRAMMING, & LANGUAGES

10.1 Systems Development and the Life Cycle ofa Software Project

The Purpose of a System

Getting the Project Going: How It Starts, Who’sInvolved

The Six Phases of Systems Analysis &Design

The First Phase: Preliminary Investigation

The Second Phase: Systems Analysis

The Third Phase: Systems Design

The Fourth Phase: Systems Development

The Fifth Phase: Systems Implementation

The Sixth Phase: Systems Maintenance

10.2 PROGRAMMING: Traditionally a Five-StepProcedure

The First Step: Clarify the ProgrammingNeeds

The Second Step: Design the Program

The Third Step: Code the Program

The Fourth Step: Test the Program

The Fifth Step: Document & Maintain theProgram

10.3 Five Generations of ProgrammingLanguages

First Generation: Machine Language

Second Generation: Assembly Language

Third Generation: High-Level or ProceduralLanguages

Fourth Generation: Very-High-Level or Problem-Oriented Languages

Fifth Generation: Natural Languages

10.4 Programming Languages UsedToday

FORTRAN: The language of mathematics and thefirst high-level language

COBOL: The language of business

BASIC: The easy language

Pascal: The simple language

C: For portability, operating systems, andscientific use

C++: Enhancement of C

LISP: For artificial intelligence programs

10.5 Object-Oriented & VisualProgramming

Object-Oriented Programming (OOP)

Visual Programming: The Example of VisualBASIC

10.6 MARKUP & SCRIPTING LANGUAGES

HTML: For creating 2-D web documents andlinks

VRML: For creating 3-D web pages

XML: For making the web work better

JavaScript: For dynamic web pages

Flash: Also for creating dynamic web pages

ActiveX: For creating interactive web pages

CGI (Common Gateway Interface)

Perl: For CGI scripts

PHP (Personal Home Page, or PHP HypertextPreprocessor)

Experience Box: Critical Thinking Tools

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