Transcript Chapter 1 - Intro

Technology Literacy
Introduction to Information Technology
Computers are Ubiquitous
• They can be found on desks, in pockets in offices in stores and
movie theaters. They can even be found where you can’t look;
inside other devices.
• The integration of computer technology into daily life is why
our society is refereed to as a digital society.
Digital Revolution
• What is a computer anyway?
• A Device that handles input, processes data, stores data, and
produces usable output according to sets of stored
instructions.
Digital Revolution
• The Digital Revolution is the ever expanding progression of
technical, economic, and cultural changes brought about by
computers. It has gone through four phases:
•
•
•
•
Giant Computers
Personal Computers
Networked Computers
Cloud Computing
Digital Revolution
• Giant Computers
•
•
•
•
•
From the 1940s to 1960s
So large they had to be located in special facilities
Required highly skilled technicians to run even simple reports
Programs were small and extremely efficient
Only one program could run at a time
Digital Revolution
• Personal Computers
• The 2nd Phase of the digital revolution
• Started in the 1970s and lasted through the 1990s
• Small and inexpensive enough to be used in households and
businesses
• Not dumb terminals connected to a giant computer
• White letters, black background
• Text based interface
• Internet not available for public yet
Digital Revolution
• Networked Computers
•
•
•
•
•
The 3rd phase of computing
1990s Through early 2000s
Software became user friendly
Companies such as AOL, and CompuServe were started
Email sent over LANS
Digital Revolution
• Internet
• Started in the 1960s and called ARPANET and funded by the
DoD
• Connected to National Science Foundation network (NSFNET)
• The last restrictions on commercial use was in 1995
Digital Revolution
• World Wide Web
•
•
•
•
Is part of the Internet
The Web uses the Internet
Launched in 1991
Used to be one page on one website
Digital Revolution
• Mobile Computers
• The third phase
• Small handheld devices that rely on satellite, microwave, and
cellular transmissions for data transfer
• Smartphones, tablets, GPS, etc.
• Uses Wi-Fi t save cost
Digital Revolution
• Cloud Computing
•
•
•
•
•
•
The fourth phase
Started early 2000s until the present
Stores and receives data from internet-based spaces
Backs-imp and stores data
Can run programs not installed on your computer
Shares resources among computers
Embedded Computers
• Are small digital computers found inside other devices.
Embedded systems are found in digital cameras, mobile
phones, home appliances, music players and many more items
such as cars and clothes.
Embedded Computers
• Location
• In automobiles; metering fuel flow, monitoring emissions
levels, controlling breaking systems and diagnosing functional
problems.
• In the home that are found in gaming consoles, remote
controls, DVD players, thermostats, alarm systems,
camera/alarm systems, stoves, medical devices and washing
machines.
Embedded Computers
• Continuous Operation
• Reside in machines that are expected to run continuously for
years without errors
• Used in NASA Space Probes and Mars Rover
• Also use in other remote applications such as undersea cables,
navigational beacons and control systems for boreholes that
carry fluids hundreds of feet underground
Communications Technologies
• Computer technology has made it possible for those with
access to digital communication devices to stay in touch with
others 24/7.
• A notable innovation is the smartphone – a handheld
computer that is used as a telephone mostly but also hold
applications and can connect to the Internet. The impact is
increased speed of communication and connection regardless
of geographical area.
Communications Technologies
• Speed
• Written communications until recently still took days to be
delivered.
• The Internet has reduced waiting time for written
communications to milliseconds.
• Bandwidth is a measure of the amount of data that can travel
on a communications system.
• Use of high bandwidth is called broadband communications.
Communications Technologies
• Reach
• Communication programs that share video, voice, and data
are accessible to anyone with a computer or smartphone with
an Internet connection. In developing countries, people who
may never have owned radios or televisions often have
smartphones.
Communications Technologies
• Advantages
• Significant power to access information
• Search items are good indicator of activity (i.e. swine flu).
Google launched Google Flu Trends to estimate flu activity.
Google was able to track reaction to swine flu as well as the
disease itself but using comments in tweets.
• An innovative scientific tool for epidemiologist.
Communications Technologies
• Disadvantages
• Epidemic of new crime
•
•
•
•
Phishing
Malware
Privacy Violations
Security Violations
Emerging Technologies
• …are innovations that represent significantly new fields of
technologies. Companies are fining new ways to use
technology to make money. However, there are other areas
that are not necessarily profit driven, such as education and
other industries.
Emerging Technologies
• Four new emerging classes of software:
1. Software as a service – (SaaS) resides in the cloud and is
accessed without downloading or installing
2. Software Defined Storage – cloud based file storage
3. QR Codes – two-dimensional bar codes that can be read two
ways. May contain email addresses uses 4 data types:
numeric, alphanumeric, binary and kanji. Can be scanned
with smart phones.
Emerging Technologies
• Electronic Textiles
• Electronic textiles or e-textiles are fabrics embedded with
performance monitor that is worn around the torso.
Emerging Technologies
• Visual Displays
• Augmented Reality (AR) or Augmented Printing is a view of
the live world that has been enhanced with computerized
graphics, sound or other outputs.
• A form of AR is Augmented Printing. A user holds a mobile
device over a printed page and instantly and instantly
associated videos or other content appears on the screen. The
printed page is connected to the visual world.
Emerging Technologies
• Medical Technology
• Diagnosis can be done remotely
• Ultra high resolution graphics allow physicians to visualize the
detail and activity of functioning hearts and brains
• With feedback systems they can even feel the organs without
actually touching the patient.
Cultural and Societal Issues
• Computers have impacted the workplace and education
•
•
•
•
Increased efficiency
Increased speed
Level of detail
Overall progress
• Telecommuting
• Saves on transportation cost
• Jobs lost because of computers
• VCR Repair
• Television repair
• Typewriter manufacturing and repair
Cultural and Societal Issues
• The continued growth of in the use of the Internet and
communications technologies will create new careers
• With the increased numbers of digital devices, there will be an
increased need for people to grasp these concepts.
• Jobs such as Green Collar jobs are involve in designing,
manufacturing, selling, installing and maintaining
environmentally friendly technologies
• We live in a digital society – which is a world of computer users!
Cultural and Societal Issues
• An Example of how computers are used in the workplace
• Track and apprehend criminal suspects
• Research diseases an maintain complex health records.
• Track progress of a package.
Cultural and Societal Issues
• The first computers were electronic typewriters and
calculators with memory. Before the Internet, computing was
a local or individual pursuit. After the Internet, consumers
demanded powerful computers that were easier to use. This
had a profound effect on society and culture.
Cultural and Societal Issues
• Digital Middle Class
• …people who extensively use digital devices and embrace the
newest digital technologies. They expect more capability to be
available to maximize access to the Internet and all it offers.
Cultural and Societal Issues
• Data Mining
• …is the method of searching through huge amounts of data to
find patterns.
• Data mining is used to…
• Stock inventory
• Analyze customer trends/behaviors
• Use for targeted advertising
Cultural and Societal Issues
• Cybersecurity
• With so much available data, consumers and businesses need
to learn how to protect it.
• Cybersecurity is a branch of Information Technology that
protects computer systems. The prefix cyber means relating to
computers or computer networks.
Closing the Digital Divide
• The digital divide is commonly defined as the gap between
people having access to digital technologies and those that
don’t have access. It is an educational, social and economic
disparity that runs across:
•
•
•
•
Societal economic status
Race
Gender
Countries
• Which cause disparity in education, social and economic
growth.
Closing the Digital Divide
• Education – a critical first step is providing computer literacy
for all students.
• Social – Access to information is necessary for promoting
good citizenship. Many sources such as libraries provide
access to free Wi-Fi in public locations. Free training is also
available from community initiatives.
• Economic – This is the most obvious. Technologies are being
invented to operate without electricity. Use of solar power or
windup generators allow the ability to power computers and
mobile devices.