DISCOVERING COMPUTERS: TECHNOLOGY IN A

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Discovering Computers ©2015 Chapter 1

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DISCOVERING COMPUTERS: TECHNOLOGY IN A

WORLD OF COMPUTERS, MOBILE DEVICES, AND THE

INTERNET

CHAPTER ONE: DIGITAL LITERACY

END OF CHAPTER SOLUTIONS

STUDY GUIDE

Answers to Study Guide questions are below. Information related to digital-only content is in italics.

• Digital literacy involved having a current knowledge and understanding of computers,

mobile devices, the Internet, and related technologies.

• A computer is an electronic device, operating under the control of instructions stored in its

own memory, that can accept data (input), process the data according to specified rules, produce information (output), and store the information for future use. A user is anyone who interacts with a computer or mobile device, or utilizes the information it generates.

• A desktop is a personal computer designed to be in a stationary location, where all of its

components fit on or under a desk or table. A laptop is a thin, lightweight mobile computer with a screen in its lid and a keyboard in its base. Laptops are also called notebook computers.

• A tablet is a thin, lighter-weight mobile computer that has a touch screen.
• You usually can interact with a touch screen using gestures. A gesture is a motion you make

on a touch screen with the tip of one or more fingers on your hand. Links to additional content about gestures are available as digital content.

• A server is a computer dedicated to providing one or more services to other computers or

devices on a network. Services provided by servers include storing content and controlling access to hardware, software, and other resources on a network.

• A mobile device is a computer because it operates under the control of instructions stored in

its own memory, can accept data, process the data according to specified rules, produce or display information, and store the information for future use.

• A smartphone is an Internet-capable phone that also includes a calendar, an appointment

book, an address book, a calculator, a notepad, games, and several other apps.

• Text messages are short notes, typically fewer than 300 characters, sent to or from a

smartphone or other mobile device. A picture message is a photo or other image, sometimes along with sound and text, sent to or from a smartphone or other mobile device. A video 2 / 4

Discovering Computers ©2015 Chapter 1

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message is a short video clip, usually about 30 seconds, sent to or from a smartphone or other mobile device.

• A digital camera allows you to take photos and store the photographed images digitally. A

portable media player allows you to store organize, and play or view digital media. An e- book reader is used primarily for reading e-books. A game console is designed for single- player or multiplayer video games.

• Convergence, described as the trend of computers and devices with technologies that overlap,

means that consumers may need fewer devices for the functionality that they require. Mobile devices often include cameras and enable you to play media or read e-books without purchasing separate devices for each function.

• The ESRB provides guidelines for the gaming industry. The ESRB provides ratings that

indicate appropriate ages for games. The ratings range from Early Childhood to Adults Only (18 and up).

• Data (text, numbers, audio, and more) is a collection of unprocessed items. Information

(reports, results of calculations, and more) conveys meaning to users.

• Input means to enter data. Output is the results of the data once it is process. Examples of

input devices include keyboards, pointing devices, voice and video input, scanners, and more. Examples of output devices include printers, displays, and speakers.

• A pointing device allows the user to control a small symbol on a screen, called the pointer. A

mouse and a touchpad are both examples of pointing devices.

• To enter voice and video, you can use a microphone, a headset, or a webcam.
• Memory consists of electronic components that store instructions waiting to be executed and

the data needed by those instructions. Storage holds data, instructions, and information for future use.

• A computer keeps data, instructions, and information on storage media. Examples of storage

media include hard disks, solid-state drives, USB flash drives, memory cards, and optical discs.

• Cloud storage is an Internet service that provides storage to computer users. Some cloud

storage providers provide storage for specific types of media, such as photos, whereas others store any content and provide backup services.

• Components of a backup plan include using a backup program, copying files to a storage

medium, subscribing to a cloud storage provider, and scheduling your files to be backed up regularly.

• The Internet is a worldwide collection of computer networks that connects millions of

businesses, government agencies, educational institutions, and individuals. People use the Internet to search for information, conduct research, communicate with and meet other people, share information with others, access information, participate in online training, shop, play games, download or listen to music, watch videos, and download or read books.

• The web consists of a worldwide collection of electronic documents. Each electronic

document is called a web page.

• The web is a service of the Internet. 3 / 4

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• A search engine is software that finds websites, webpages, images, videos, news, maps, and

other information related to a specific topic. Ask, Aol Search, Bing, Dogpile, Google, and Yahoo! Search are examples of search engines.

• Online social network is a website that encourages members in its online community to

share their interests, ideas, stories, photos, music, and videos with other registered users. A Tweet is a short post that Tweeters broadcast for all their followers.

• Facebook is an online social network started by Mark Zuckerberg with 1 billion active users.

Twitter is a social media site where its 500 million registered users post messages, photos, videos, news stories and more in 140-character tweets.

• A company might look at a potential employee’s social networking site to see if you have

posted information about unethical, illegal, or unsavory activities. A company or organization might follow an employee’s activity on social networking site to make sure the employee is not posting information that violates company policies or privacy standards.

• Malware is software that acts without a user’s knowledge and deliberately alters the

computer’s and mobile device’s operations. To protect yourself from malware, use virus protection software and a firewall, be suspicious of unsolicited email attachments, disconnect your computer from the Internet, download software with caution, close spyware windows, scan removable media for malware before use, keep software current, and back up regularly.

• To create a strong password, avoid using personal information, use at least eight characters

and a variety of upper- and lowercase numbers and punctuation, change the password frequently, do not use the same password for all accounts, use a passphrase, avoid common sequences, and test password strength. Popular tools for testing password strength include How Secure is My Password, Microsoft, Passfault, SensePost, Strength Test – Rumkin, The Password Meter, The Password Security Checker -- Estastis

• Prolonged or improper computer use can lead to injuries or disorders of the hands, wrists,

elbows, eyes, neck, and back. Two behavioral health risks are technology addiction and technology overload.

• Green computing involves reducing the electricity consumed and environmental waste

generated when using a computer. Strategies that support green computing include recycling, using energy efficient hardware and energy saving features, regulating manufacturing processes, extending the life of computers, and immediately donating or properly disposing of replaced computers.

• Software consists of a series of related instructions, organizes for a common purpose, that

tells the computer what tasks to perform and how to perform them. Software also is called a(n) program.

• System software consists of the programs that control or maintain the operations of the

computer and its devices. An operating system is a set of programs that coordinates all the activities among computer or mobile device hardware. Popular operating systems include Microsoft Windows, Apple’s Mac OS and iOS, and Google’s Android.

• Steve Jobs helped build the first desktop personal computer, marketed an innovative

operating system, and cofounded the Apple Computer Corporation. He also revolutionized music distribution by guiding the evolution of the iTunes store. Jobs also cofounded Pixar Animation Studios. Bill Gates developed the BASIC programming language for the MITS

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