Computers, Communications, and Information: A User's Introduction : Comprehensive Version

by Clifford, Sarah Hutchinson; Sawyer, Stacey C.

• ISBN13: 9780072508284
• ISBN10: 0072508280
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2001-06-01
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill College
• More Book Details
• Purchase Benefits

Summary

Provides a comprehensive overview of information systems and computer technology.

Table of Contents

Overview: The Foundation for Your Future	1	(1)
Who Is the User?-Mostly People Like You	2	(1)
The Importance of Becoming Computer Literate and Computer Competent	3	(1)
What Is a Computer-Based Information System?	4	(4)
The Digital Basis of Computers	6	(1)
The Analog Basis of Life	7	(1)
Computer Hardware	8	(4)
Input Hardware	8	(2)
Processing and Memory (Primary Storage) Hardware	10	(1)
Output Hardware	11	(1)
Secondary Storage Hardware	11	(1)
Communications Hardware	11	(1)
Computer Software	12	(1)
System Software: The Computer's Boss	12	(1)
Applications Software: Your Servant	12	(1)
Types of Computer Systems: What's the Difference?	13	(3)
Milestones in Computer Development	16	(5)
The Evolution of Computers: March of the Generations	17	(3)
The Information Explosion: Data Overload or Knowledge	20	(1)
Computing Trends: Connectivity, Interactivity, and Digital Convergence	21	(1)
Connectivity	21	(2)
Interactivity	23	(1)
Digital Convergence	24	(1)
Career Box: Using Computers in Real Estate	25	(1)
Career Box: Using Computers in Government and Politics	26	(1)
Summary	27	(6)
Exercises	33	(3)
Episode 1: Starting a Web Business	36
Processing Hardware: Turning Data into Something You Can Use	1	(1)
How Data and Programs Are Represented in the Computer	4	(4)
Binary Coding Schemes	4	(1)
The Parity Bit: Checking for Errors	5	(1)
Machine Language: Your Brand of Computer's Very Own Language	6	(1)
How Computer Capacity Is Expressed: Bit by Bit	7	(1)
The Processor, Main Memory, and Registers	8	(5)
The Processor. In Charge	8	(1)
Specialized Processor Chips: Assistants to the CPU	9	(2)
CISC, RISC, and MPP: Not All Processors Are Created Equal	11	(1)
Main Memory: Working Storage Area for the CPU	11	(1)
Registers	12	(1)
The Machine Cycle: How a Single Instruction Is Processed	12	(1)
Telling Computers Apart: RAM Capacity, Word Size, and Processor Speed	13	(2)
RAM Capacity	14	(1)
Word Size	14	(1)
Processing Speeds	15	(1)
Focus on the Microcomputer: What's Inside?	15	(10)
The Power Supply	16	(1)
The Motherboard	17	(1)
The Microprocessor	17	(2)
RAM Chips	19	(1)
ROM Chips	19	(1)
Other Forms of Memory	20	(1)
Ports: Connecting Peripherals	21	(2)
Expansion Slots and Boards	23	(2)
Coming Attractions?	25	(3)
Career Box: Using Computers in Law	28	(1)
Career Box: Using Computers in Information Technology	29	(1)
Summary	30	(4)
Exercises	34
Input/Output Hardware: Interfaces Between You & the Computer	1	(1)
I/O, I/O, It's Off to Work We Go	2	(1)
Input Hardware	3	(19)
Keyboard Input	4	(3)
Pointing Devices	7	(4)
Source-Data Entry	11	(1)
Scanning Devices	12	(4)
Voice Recognition	16	(1)
Audio Input Devices	16	(2)
Video and Photographic Input	18	(2)
Sensors	20	(1)
Human-Biology Input Devices	20	(1)
Multimedia Input Needs	20	(1)
Input Controls: Preserving Data Integrity	21	(1)
Output Hardware	22	(11)
Impact Printers	22	(1)
Nonimpact Printers	22	(4)
Plotters	26	(1)
Installing a Printer or Plotter	26	(1)
Multifunction Printer Technology: One for All	27	(1)
Monitors	27	(4)
Future Display Technology	31	(1)
Audio Output Hardware	31	(1)
Multimedia Output Needs	32	(1)
In and Out: Devices That Do Both	33	(1)
Terminals	33	(1)
Smart Cards and Optical Cards	34	(1)
Touch Screens	35	(1)
Now You See It, Now You Don't	35	(2)
Career Box: Using Computers in Law Enforcement	37	(1)
Career Box: Using Computers in Genealogy	38	(1)
Summary	39	(6)
Exercises	45	(2)
Episode 2: Deciding to Start Your Web Business	47
Storage Hardware: Preserving Data & Information	1	(1)
Storage Fundamentals	2	(6)
Common Elements of Storage Technology	3	(3)
Types of Files	6	(1)
What Can You Do with Files Besides Filing Them?	7	(1)
Tape Storage	8	(1)
Diskette Storage	8	(4)
How a Disk Drive Works	9	(1)
Characteristics of Diskettes	10	(2)
Hard Disks	12	(6)
Nonremovable Internal Hard Disk Drives of Microcomputers	13	(3)
Microcomputer Hard Disk Variations: Power and Portability	16	(1)
Virtual Memory: Using Disk Space to Increase RAM	17	(1)
Hard Disk Technology for Large Computer Systems	17	(1)
Future Hard Disk Technology: The MR Head	18	(1)
Optical Disks	18	(7)
CD-ROM Disks	19	(2)
CD-R Disks	21	(1)
CD-RW Disks	22	(1)
DVD-ROM: The ``Digital Convergence'' Disk	22	(3)
The Importance of Backup	25	(1)
Other Forms of Secondary Storage	25	(1)
Flash-Memory Cards	26	(1)
Advanced Storage Technology	26	(1)
Career Box: Using Computers in Agriculture	27	(1)
Summary	28	(4)
Exercises	32
System Software: The Director	1	(1)
Two Basic Software Types: For the Computer and for the User	2	(2)
System Software Components	4	(10)
Operating System: In Control	4	(4)
Utility Programs: Helping Hands	8	(5)
Language Translators	13	(1)
System Software Interfaces	13	(1)
Common Operating Systems: Platforms	14	(8)
DOS and Windows 3.x	15	(1)
Windows 9x	16	(2)
Windows NT / Windows 2000	18	(1)
OS/2 Warp	18	(1)
Unix	19	(1)
Linux	20	(1)
Macintosh OS	20	(1)
Net Ware	21	(1)
The Future: Is the Web Changing Everything?	22	(1)
Bloatware or the Network Computer?	23	(1)
The Jolt from Java	24	(2)
Career Box: Using Computers in Photography	26	(1)
Summary	27	(3)
Exercises	30
Applications Software: The User's Tools	1	(1)
Applications Software Tools	2	(2)
Common Features of Applications Software	4	(4)
Compatibility Issues: What Goes with What?	7	(1)
Productivity Software Tools	8	(14)
Word Processing Software	8	(4)
Spreadsheet Software	12	(2)
Personal Finance Software	14	(1)
Presentation Graphics	15	(1)
Database Management System Software	16	(2)
Groupware	18	(2)
Desktop Accessories and PIMs	20	(1)
Integrated Software and Software Suites	21	(1)
Web Browsers	21	(1)
Specialty Applications Software Tools	22	(8)
Desktop-Publishing Software	23	(1)
Project Management Software	24	(2)
Computer-Aided Design (CAD) and Manufacturing (CAM)	26	(1)
Drawing and Painting Software	27	(1)
Multimedia Authoring Software	28	(2)
Installing and Updating Applications Software	30	(1)
Installing Applications Software	30	(1)
Software Versions and Releases	30	(1)
Ethics and Intellectual Property Rights: When Can You Copy?	31	(1)
What Is a Copyright?	31	(1)
Piracy, Plagiarism, and Ownership of Images and Sounds	32	(1)
Public Domain Software, Freeware, and Shareware	33	(1)
Proprietary Software and Types of Licenses	34	(1)
The Software Police	35	(1)
Career Box: Using Computers in Automobile Manufacturing	36	(1)
Career Box: Using Computers in Sports	37	(1)
Summary	38	(6)
Exercises	44	(3)
Episode 3: Planning for Commerce at Your Site	47
Communications Technology: Starting Along the Information Superhighway	1	(1)
Using Computers to Communicate Technological Basics	2	(6)
Analog Signals: Continuous Waves	3	(1)
Digital Signals: Discrete Bursts	3	(1)
The Modem: The Great Translator	3	(3)
Communications Software	6	(1)
ISDN, Cable Modems ADSL, and Dishes: Faster, Faster, Faster!	6	(2)
Communications Channels: The Conduits of Communications	8	(8)
Twisted-Pair Wire	9	(1)
Coaxial Cable	9	(1)
Fiber-Optic Cable	10	(1)
Microwave Systems	10	(1)
Satellite Systems	11	(1)
Other Wireless Communications	11	(5)
Factors Affecting Communications Among Devices	16	(7)
Transmission Rate: Higher Frequency, Wider Bandwidth, More Data	16	(1)
Line Configurations: Point-to-Point and Multipoint	16	(11)
Serial and Parallel Transmission	27
Direction of Transmission Flow: Simplex, Half-Duplex, and Full-Duplex	18	(1)
Transmission Mode: Asynchronous Versus Synchronous	18	(2)
Packet Switching: Getting More Data on a Network	20	(2)
Multiplexing: Enhancing Communications Efficiencies	22	(1)
Protocols: The Rules of Data Transmission	23	(1)
Communications Networks	23	(3)
Types of Networks: Wide Area, Metropolitan Area, and Local	25	(1)
Some Network Features: Hosts and Nodes, Downloading and Uploading	25	(1)
Advantages of Networks	26	(1)
Local Networks	26	(7)
Types of Local Networks: PBXs and LANs	27	(1)
Types of LANs: Client-Server and Peer-to-Peer	27	(4)
Topology of LANs	31	(2)
Networking at Work	33	(1)
Fax Messages	33	(1)
Voice Mail	34	(1)
Electronic Mail	34	(1)
Videoconferencing and V-Mail	35	(1)
Workgrouping Computing and Groupware	36	(1)
Electronic Data Interchange	37	(1)
Intranets and Extranets	37	(1)
Telecommuting	38	(1)
The Virtual Office	38	(5)
Career Box: Using Careers in Retailing (E-Tailing)	43	(1)
Summary	44	(6)
Exercises	50
Uses of Communications Technology : Telecommuting, Online Resources, & the Internet	1	(1)
The Internet	2	(10)
Where Did the Internet Come From?	3	(1)
Connecting to the Internet	3	(2)
What Can You Use the Internet for?	5	(3)
Internet Addresses	8	(4)
The World Wide Web	12	(9)
Popular Uses of the Web	12	(1)
Browsing the Web	13	(2)
Searching the Web	15	(1)
Experiencing Multimedia on the Web	15	(4)
Designing Web Pages	19	(1)
Push Technology: Web Sites Come Looking for You	20	(1)
Online Services: Who Should Use Them?	21	(1)
Online Services versus Portals: Is There a Difference?	21	(1)
New Internet Technologies	22	(3)
Net Loss?	25	(2)
Career Box: Using Computers in Job Searches	27	(1)
Career Box: Using Computers in Auctions	28	(1)
Summary	29	(3)
Exercises	32	(3)
Episode 4: Promoting Traffic to Your Site	35
Information Systems Analysis & Design: The Systems Development Life Cycle	1	(1)
User Participation in Systems Development: Helping to Avoid System Failure	3	(2)
Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC)	5	(4)
Are the Phases Distinct? Not Always	5	(2)
Who Participates? Basically, Everyone	7	(2)
The First Phase: Conduct a Preliminary Investigation	9	(2)
Conduct the Preliminary Analysis	9	(1)
Propose Alternative Solutions	10	(1)
Describe Costs and Benefits	11	(1)
Submit a Preliminary Plan	11	(1)
The Second Phase: Do a Detailed Analysis of the System	11	(7)
Gather Data	12	(1)
Analyze the Data	13	(5)
Write a Report	18	(1)
The Third Phase: Design the System	18	(3)
Do a Preliminary Design	18	(1)
Do a Detail Design	19	(2)
Write a Report	21	(1)
The Fourth Phase: Develop/Acquire the System	21	(2)
Acquire Software	21	(1)
Acquire Hardware	22	(1)
Test the System	22	(1)
The Fifth Phase: Implement the System	23	(3)
Convert to the New System	23	(2)
Compile Final Documentation	25	(1)
Train the Users	25	(1)
The Sixth Phase: Maintain the System	26	(1)
Career Box: Using Computers in the Movies	27	(1)
Summary	28	(3)
Exercises	31
Software Programming & Languages: Where Software Comes From	1	(1)
Programming: A Five-Step Procedure	2	(10)
The First Step: Clarify the Programming Needs	3	(1)
The Second Step: Design the Program	4	(6)
The Third Step: Code the Program	10	(1)
The Fourth Step: Test the Program	10	(1)
The Fifth Step: Document and Maintain the Program	11	(1)
Five Generations of Programming Languages	12	(6)
First Generation: Machine Language	14	(10)
Second Generation: Assembly Language	24
Third Generation: High-Level Languages	15	(2)
Fourth Generation: Very-High-Level Languages	17	(1)
Fifth Generation: Natural Languages	17	(1)
High-Level Programming	18	(4)
FORTRAN: The Language of Mathematics	19	(1)
COBOL: The Language of Business	19	(2)
C: For Portability and Scientific Use	21	(1)
BASIC: The Easy Language	21	(1)
Pascal: The Simple Language	22	(1)
Object-Oriented and Visual Programming	22	(4)
Object-Oriented Programming: Block by Block	24	(2)
Internet Programming: HTML, XML, VRML, Java, and ActiveX	26	(4)
Career Box: Using Computers in Music	30	(1)
Career Box: Using Computers in Stock Trading	31	(292)
Summary	323
Exercises	37
Information Management: Who Needs to Know What, & When?	1	(1)
Trends Forcing Change in the Workplace	3	(2)
The Virtual Office	3	(1)
Automation	3	(1)
Downsizing and Outsourcing	4	(1)
Total Quality Management	4	(1)
Employee Empowerment	4	(1)
Reengineering	5	(1)
Organizations: Departments, Tasks, Management Levels, and Types of Information	5	(7)
Departments: R&D, Production, Marketing, Accounting, Human Resources	5	(2)
Management Tasks: Five Functions	7	(1)
Management Levels: Three Levels Three Kinds of Decisions	7	(4)
Types of Information: Unstructured, Semistructured, and Structured	11	(1)
Management Information Systems	12	(8)
Transaction Processing Systems: To Support Operational Decisions	12	(2)
Management Information Systems: To Support Tactical Decisions	14	(1)
Decision Support Systems: To Support Strategic Decisions	15	(3)
Executive Information Systems	18	(1)
Expert Systems	19	(1)
Office Automation Systems	19	(1)
The Future: Going Sideways	20	(2)
Career Box: Using Computers in Health	22	(1)
Career Box: Using Computers in Journalism	23	(1)
Summary	24	(2)
Exercises	26
Files & Databases: Organizing & Maintaining Digital Data	1	(1)
All Databases Great and Small	3	(3)
The Database Administrator	5	(1)
The Data Storage Hierarchy and the Key Field	6	(2)
The Data Storage Hierarchy	6	(1)
The Key Field	7	(1)
File Handling: Basic Concepts	8	(3)
Types of Files: Program and Data Files	8	(1)
Two Types of Data Files: Master and Transaction	8	(1)
Batch Versus Online Processing	9	(1)
Offline Versus Online Storage	9	(1)
File Organization: Three Methods	9	(2)
File Management Systems	11	(1)
Disadvantages of File Management Systems	11	(1)
Database Management Systems	12	(2)
Advantages and Disadvantages of a DBMS	13	(1)
Types of Database Organization	14	(3)
Hierarchical Database	14	(1)
Network Database	15	(1)
Relational Database	16	(1)
Object-Oriented Database (OODBMS)	16	(1)
Features of a DBMS	17	(4)
Data Dictionary	18	(1)
Utilities	18	(1)
Query Language	18	(1)
Report Generator	19	(1)
Access Security	19	(1)
System Recovery	20	(1)
New Approaches: Mining, Warehouses, and ``Siftware''
Data Mining: What It Is, What It's Used For	21	(1)
Preparing Data for the Data Warehouse	22	(1)
``Siftware'' for Finding and Analyzing	23	(1)
The Ethics of Using Databases: Concerns About Accuracy and Privacy	24	(1)
Accuracy and Completeness of Data	25	(1)
Privacy	26	(3)
Career Box: Using Computers in Education	29	(1)
Summary	30	(3)
Exercises	33
Advances in Computing: Multimedia, Artificial Intelligence, & Intelligent Agents	1	(1)
Multimedia as Part of Your World	2	(9)
Business and Industry	2	(1)
Education and Training	3	(1)
Entertainment and Games	3	(1)
The Multimedia Computer	3	(1)
Creating Multimedia	4
Acquiring Content	3	(4)
The Authoring Process	7	(2)
Career Opportunities in Multimedia	9	(2)
Artificial Intelligence (AI)	11	(15)
What Is AI Supposed to Do?	11	(1)
Robots and Perception Systems	11	(2)
Natural Language Processing	13	(1)
Fuzzy Logic	14	(1)
Expert Systems: Human Expertise in a Computer	14	(4)
Neural Networks	18	(2)
Genetic Algorithms	20	(1)
Artificial Life, the Turing Test, and AI Ethics	21	(2)
Virtual Reality (VR)	23	(3)
Intelligent Agents, Information Filtering, and Avatars	26	(1)
Intelligent Agents	26	(1)
Avatars	27	(2)
Career Box: Using Computers in Science	29	(1)
Career Box: Using Computers in Home-Based Work	30	(1)
Summary	31	(2)
Exercises	33
Ethics, Privacy, Security, & Social Questions: Computing for Right Living	1	(1)
Computers and Privacy	3	(4)
Databases	3	(1)
Electronic Networks	4	(2)
Rules and Laws on Privacy	6	(1)
The Case for Limiting Privacy: Should We Really Fear ``Data Rape''?	7	(1)
Intellectual Property Rights	7	(3)
Copyright	7	(3)
Truth in Art and Journalism	10	(3)
Manipulation of Photos	11	(1)
Manipulation of Video	11	(1)
Manipulation of Facts	12	(1)
Free Speech, Civility, Pornography, Hate Speech, and Censorship	13	(2)
Civility: Online Behavior and ``Nettiquette''	13	(1)
Pornography and Censorship	13	(2)
Security: Threats to Computer and Communications Systems	15	(8)
Errors and Accidents	15	(1)
Natural and Other Hazards	16	(1)
Crimes Against Computers and Communications	17	(1)
Crimes Using Computers and Communications	18	(1)
Worms and Viruses	19	(2)
Computer Criminals	21	(2)
Security: Safeguarding Computers and Communications	23	(6)
Identification and Access	23	(3)
Encryption	26	(1)
Protection of Software and Data	27	(1)
Disaster-Recovery Plans	28	(1)
Social Questions: Will Information Technology Make Our Lives Better?	29	(1)
Mental-Health Problems: Isolation, Gambling, Net Addiction, Stress	30	(1)
Workplace Problems	31	(1)
Economic Issues: Employment and the Haves/Have-Nots	32	(2)
Education and Information	34	(1)
Health	35	(1)
Commerce and Electronic Money	35	(1)
Government and Electronic Democracy	36	(1)
Career Box: Using Computers in Banking	37	(1)
Summary	38	(2)
Exercises	40	(2)
Episode 5: The Future of Your Web Business	42
Notes	1	(5)
Credits	6	(3)
Index	9