Computer Concepts-Illustrated Complete, Sixth Edition

by Parsons, June Jamrich; Oja, Dan

• ISBN13: 9781418860387
• ISBN10: 1418860387
• Edition: 6th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-05-12
• Publisher: Course Technology

Summary

Computer Concepts, Sixth Edition-Illustrated is your solution for making practical computer concepts engaging and approachable for students.

Table of Contents

Preface	p. vi
Computer and Internet Basics	p. 1
Defining computers	p. 2
What's a peripheral device?
Exploring computer functions	p. 4
Understanding the importance of stored programs
Categorizing computers	p. 6
How do personal computers, notebooks, and video consoles differ?
Examining personal computer systems	p. 8
Exploring data, information, and files	p. 10
Introducing application and system software	p. 12
Defining Internet basics	p. 14
What is podcasting?
Connecting to the Internet	p. 16
What services does an Internet Service Provider provide?
More about passwords
Understanding World Wide Web basics	p. 18
Using search engines
Using Web browsers	p. 20
Copying text, sound, and images from a Web page
Understanding e-mail basics	p. 22
Tech Talk: The Boot Process	p. 24
Computers in Context: Marketing	p. 26
Issue: E-mail Privacy-Who Is Reading Your E-mail?	p. 28
What is spam?
Interactive Questions
Expand the Ideas
End of Unit Exercises	p. 30
Key Terms
Unit Review
Fill in the Best Answer
Practice Tests
Independent Challenges
Labs
Visual Workshop
Computer Hardware	p. 35
Introducing storage technology	p. 36
The science of data representation
Comparing storage technologies	p. 38
Exploring floppy disk technology
Comparing storage media and devices	p. 40
Exploring hard disk technology	p. 42
Understanding tape storage
Exploring CD/DVD technology	p. 44
What is Blu-ray?
Exploring solid state storage	p. 46
Why use solid state storage?
Examining input devices	p. 48
Comparing display devices	p. 50
Comparing printers	p. 52
Understanding expansion slots, cards, and ports	p. 54
Exploring peripheral devices	p. 56
Tech Talk: The Windows Registry	p. 58
Computers in Context: The Military	p. 60
Issue: Why Recycle Computers?	p. 62
Interactive Questions
Expand the Ideas
End of Unit Exercises	p. 64
Key Terms
Unit Review
Fill in the Best Answer
Practice Tests
Independent Challenges
Labs
Visual Workshop
Computer Software	p. 69
Introducing computer software	p. 70
Explaining how computers interpret software	p. 72
Exploring operating systems	p. 74
How does the operating system manage processor resources?
Comparing operating systems	p. 76
Defining office productivity software	p. 78
Defining graphics software	p. 80
Defining entertainment and education software	p. 82
Defining business and science software	p. 84
What is a software suite?
Using data responsibly
Understanding utilities	p. 86
Buying utilities
Understanding licenses and copyrights	p. 88
Reviewing software copyright protections by software classifications
Tech Talk: Installing Software	p. 90
Computers in Context: Journalism	p. 92
Issue: What Is Being Done about Software Piracy?	p. 94
Interactive Questions
Expand the Ideas
End of Unit Exercises	p. 96
Key Terms
Unit Review
Fill in the Best Answer
Practice Tests
Independent Challenges
Labs
Visual Workshop
Digital Electronics and File Management	p. 103
Discussing digital data representation	p. 104
Quantifying bits and bytes
Introducing integrated circuits	p. 106
Which companies produce most of today's popular processors?
Exploring processors	p. 108
Benchmarking
Introducing computer memory: RAM	p. 110
What are SDRAM and RDRAM?
Exploring computer memory	p. 112
Understanding memory specified in computer ads
Introducing computer file basics	p. 114
Examining file locations	p. 116
Deleting files
Introducing file management	p. 118
Save vs. Save As dialog box
Exploring file management	p. 120
Examining file storage	p. 122
Tech Talk: How a Processor Executes Instructions	p. 124
Computers in Context: Banking	p. 126
Issue: Can Online Voting Be Fair and Secure?	p. 128
Interactive Questions
Expand the Ideas
End of Unit Exercises	p. 130
Key Terms
Unit Review
Fill in the Best Answer
Practice Tests
Independent Challenges
Labs
Visual Workshop
Networks and the Internet	p. 137
Introducing networks	p. 138
Classifying networks	p. 140
Understanding client/server terminology
Introducing network topology	p. 142
How to interconnect various networks
Using addressing to identify network devices
Exploring network hardware	p. 144
Exploring communications channels	p. 146
What is HomePNA? What is HomePLC?
Defining broadband and narrowband
Transporting data	p. 148
What is VolP?
Exploring wired technology	p. 150
What are some legacy wired technologies?
Exploring wireless technology	p. 152
Introducing Internet connections	p. 154
How fast is a modem?
Introducing IP addresses and domain names	p. 156
How to register a domain name
Connecting to the Internet using POTS	p. 158
Connecting to the Internet using cable	p. 160
Security and always-on connections
Connecting to the Internet without wires	p. 162
What features should I look for in a handheld device that connects to the Internet?
Tech Talk: Install and Use a LAN	p. 164
Installing a LAN
Using a LAN
Computers in Context: Education	p. 166
Issue: Free Wi-Fi? Why or Why Not?	p. 168
Interactive Questions
Expand the Ideas
End of Unit Exercises	p. 170
Key Terms
Unit Review
Fill in the Best Answer
Practice Tests
Independent Challenges
Labs
Visual Workshop
Data Security	p. 175
Knowing what can go wrong	p. 176
What if disaster strikes?
Protecting systems	p. 178
Securing your computer and data
Ways to restrict physical access
Introducing computer viruses	p. 180
What are the symptoms of a virus?
Learning how viruses spread	p. 182
How can I know if my e-mail is safe?
Introducing bots	p. 184
Using antivirus software	p. 186
Virus hoaxes
Introducing data backup	p. 188
Backing up the Windows Registry
Examining backup procedures	p. 190
Exploring backup media and software	p. 192
Creating a boot disc
What is a data center?
Tech Talk: Internet Access Security	p. 194
Computers in Context: Law Enforcement	p. 196
Issue: What Are Professional Ethics?	p. 198
Interactive Questions
Expand the Ideas
End of Unit Exercises	p. 202
Key Terms
Unit Review
Fill in the Best Answer
Practice Tests
Independent Challenges
Labs
Visual Workshop
The Web and E-commerce	p. 207
Introducing Web technology	p. 208
Exploring HTML	p. 210
Using Web browsers	p. 212
Blocking adware, spyware, and pop-up ads
Creating navigation elements	p. 214
What is a broken link?
Explaining HTTP and Web servers	p. 216
Introducing Web page authoring	p. 218
Enhancing Web pages	p. 220
What are XML, XSL, Java, and ActiveX controls?
Animating graphics
Organizing Web pages	p. 222
How does an HTML form work?
Introducing e-commerce	p. 224
Securing e-commerce transactions	p. 226
Understanding transaction privacy and security
Avoiding fraud when shopping online	p. 228
How safe are cookies?
Tech Talk: Encryption	p. 230
Computers in Context: Politics	p. 232
Issue: Censorship on the Web	p. 234
Interactive Questions
Expand the Ideas
End of Unit Exercises	p. 236
Key Terms
Unit Review
Fill in the Best Answer
Practice Tests
Independent Challenges
Labs
Visual Workshop
Digital Media	p. 241
Introducing digital graphics	p. 242
Modifying bitmap graphics	p. 244
Working with color	p. 246
Resolution and digital cameras
Introducing vector graphics	p. 248
Vector graphics on the Web
Creating vector graphics	p. 250
Using rasterization to create bitmap graphics from vector graphics
Exploring 3-D graphics	p. 252
Introducing digital video	p. 254
Exploring video equipment	p. 256
Creating good desktop videos
Editing and processing desktop video	p. 258
Introducing digital sound	p. 260
Exploring synthesized sound	p. 262
What are portable audio players?
Tech Talk: Data Compression	p. 264
Computers in Context: Film	p. 266
Issue: Who Owns the Rights?	p. 268
Interactive Questions
Expand the Ideas
End of Unit Exercises	p. 270
Key Terms
Unit Review
Fill in the Best Answer
Practice Tests
Independent Challenges
Labs
Visual Workshop
Buyer's Guide Worksheets	p. 277
Information Systems Basics	p. 281
Defining information systems	p. 282
Categorizing information systems	p. 284
Planning information systems	p. 286
Successful IS planning requires collaboration
Analyzing information systems	p. 288
What is a System Requirements Report?
Evaluating solutions	p. 290
Completing the design phase	p. 292
What is feature creep?
Implementing information systems	p. 294
Where is a new information system tested?
Maintaining information systems	p. 296
Incorporating system security during the maintenance phase
Tech Talk: Documentation Tools	p. 298
Computers in Context: Architecture and Construction	p. 300
Issue: Is It a Crime?	p. 302
Interactive Questions
Expand the Ideas
End of Unit Exercises	p. 304
Key Terms
Unit Review
Fill in the Best Answer
Practice Tests
Independent Challenges
Labs
Visual Workshop
Database Basics	p. 309
Exploring database concepts	p. 310
Defining database models	p. 312
What is an object-oriented database?
Exploring data management tools	p. 314
Custom data management software
Using the Web to access data	p. 316
Designing databases	p. 318
How is data loaded into the database tables?
Controlling data integrity	p. 320
Organizing data
Designing the interface and report formats	p. 322
Understanding data analysis	p. 324
Data analysis: summaries, predictions, and classifications
Tech Talk: SQL and Databases	p. 326
Computers in Context: Medicine	p. 328
Issue: What Happened to Privacy?	p. 330
Interactive Questions
Expand the Ideas
End of Unit Exercises	p. 332
Key Terms
Unit Review
Fill in the Best Answer
Practice Tests
Independent Challenges
Labs
Visual Workshop
Computer Programming Basics	p. 337
Introducing programming	p. 338
Defining the problem	p. 340
Who writes computer programs?
What is the size of a typical computer program?
Defining algorithms	p. 342
What is the procedural paradigm?
Coding computer programs	p. 344
Why apply the event-driven paradigm?
Exploring control structures	p. 346
Why apply the procedural paradigm?
Exploring object-oriented paradigms	p. 348
Exploring declarative paradigms	p. 350
Programming Web pages	p. 352
What is XML and XSL?
Understanding ActiveX controls
Debugging and documenting programs	p. 354
Understanding the Prolog trace feature
Tech Talk: Programming Tools	p. 356
Computers in Context: Agriculture	p. 358
Issue: Are Computers Designed for Ease of Use?	p. 360
Interactive Questions
Expand the Ideas
End of Unit Exercises	p. 362
Key Terms
Unit Review
Fill in the Best Answer
Practice Tests
Independent Challenges
Labs
Visual Workshop
The Computer Industry and Careers	p. 367
Reviewing the history of calculating machines	p. 368
What was the first commercially successful computer?
Examining the development of computers	p. 370
Introducing information technology industries	p. 372
What was the dot-com bubble?
How is the IT industry regulated?
Marketing information technology products	p. 374
Ordering custom computers on the Web
Introducing information technology careers	p. 376
Exploring information technology education and certification	p. 378
Finding information on computer-related degree programs and certification
Exploring employment strategies	p. 380
Head hunters and employment agencies
Using the Internet to find a job	p. 382
Tech Talk: The Future of Computing	p. 384
Computers in Context: Travel	p. 386
Issue: Offshoring and Outsourcing	p. 388
Interactive Questions
Expand the Ideas
End of Unit Exercises	p. 390
Key Terms
Unit Review
Fill in the Best Answer
Practice Tests
Independent Challenges
Labs
Visual Workshop
Glossary	p. 395
Index	p. 427
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