ch.7 Web technology

Within the section Web Technology of chapter 7 the text explains :The Web Basics , HTML, HTTP, WB, Browsers, Cookies, Web pageAuthoring and HTML Scripts. By reading Section A, Ive discovered that the web is a collection of documents, images, videos and sound files that can be linked over the internet using a protocol called HTTP.The terms Internet and web are sometimes used in the same way they, are not the same. The web is an interlinked collection of information and the internetis a communications system used to transport information from computers thatsend it to people who want to view it. A web site is also apart of web basics which typically contains a collection of related information organized and firmattedso, it can be accessed using software called a browser. Many web sites offer podcast. A podcast is an audio file that is distribued through downloads or the use of a feed that automatically sends new podcats as they are produced.

Ch.2-Microprocessors and Memory-Aaron York

Microprocessors are integrated circuits that are designed to process instructions. The microprocessor is the most important and the most expensive part of the computer. There are multiple levels of performance on multiple microprocessors. These levels of performance are based on several factors, these factors include clock speed, bus speed, word size, cache size, instruction set, number of cores, and processing techniques. Computer performance seems to be measured with MHz and GHz, which actually indicates the speed of the microprocessor clock. The microprocessor is a timing device that sets the pace for executing instructions. Most of the ads that are seen for computers being sold will specify the speed of the microprocessor in gigahertz. A gigahertz are billions of cycles per second and cycles are the smallest unit of time in a microprocessor's universe. There are other types of microprocessors such as the multi-core processor. A multi-core processor is a single microprocessor that contains circuitry for more than one processing unit. The more cores usually produce faster performance.

                There are more factors pertaining to the performance of a microprocessor. The FSB or the front side bus, a term that refers to the circuitry that transports data to and from the microprocessor is one of these factors. The faster the front side bus moves data the then the higher the capacity the microprocessor can work at.

                RAM, random access memory, is a temporary holding area for data, application program instructions, and the operating system. RAM acts as a “waiting room” for raw data as well as the instructions for the program. RAM is obviously not the only type of memory used in a computer. There is also hard-disk storage. They both share the function of holding data, only RAM holds data in circuitry that is directly connected to the system board. Hard-disk storage is on magnetic media. Basically, RAM is temporary whereas hard-disk is more permanent.

Ch.11-File and Database Concepts-Aaron York

Databases are used in almost every single aspect of our lives whether we know it or not. When you people say database, most would think of something involving school, like the databases used to research a topic for a paper or for a project. But it is not just schools and random information sites that use databases. We see it every day that we go to the store or even when we move to a different house. What happens at stores is a point-of-sale system that has every single item that is in stock at that location, then when someone buys an item it will automatically subtract or decrease the quantity of the item bought from the inventory database. This point-of-sale system then allows for restocking and ordering of the item. Databases make our lives easier by allowing easy access to almost anything you are looking for, whether it be at the library looking for a book, or a mechanic looking for a part to a car.

            Data mining is the process of taking information from databases and analyzing it to discover unknown and possibly useful information, which includes patterns. There are several techniques behind data mining which are stored in a data warehouse. The data warehouse is composed of several databases. Among the several databases are: Hierarchical, Network, relational, dimensional, object, and object relational. Hierarchical databases allow a one-to-one and one-to-many relationships, linked in a hierarchical structure. A network database uses mesh-like structure to offer additional capacity many-to-many relationships. A relational database stores data in collections of tables. A dimensional database, also known as the multidimensional database, organizes relationships over three or more dimensions. Object databases store data as objects which allows for grouping into classes. Object-relational databases is used to describe a variety of technologies that combine object-oriented and relational concepts.

Ch.2-PC Basics-Preston Law III

In this section of chapter 2, a background on computer systems components and how they operate is discussed. A personal computer system has two meanings. It can be any computer that uses pc’s for core processing operations or it can be personal computer, software, or peripheral devices that have the ability to be connected together for a single user. A peripheral device can designate input, output, and storage equipment that might be added to a computer to enhance its functionality.

            A basic personal computer system might be composed of a CD/DVD drive, system unit or tower which is the computer itself, hard drive, graphics card, sound card, modem, or network card, speakers, display devices such as monitors, mice and printers, fax machines or scanners.  These are all basic things that personal computers systems might have.

            There are a variety of personal computers on the market. There are portable computers, which are small lightweight personal computers with screen, keyboard, storage and processing components put into a single unit. There are netbook computers, also referred to as laptops, which is the same thing as a portable computer only a laptop opens up like a clamshell. Tablet computers are portable computing devices that feature a touch screen that can be utilized like a writing or drawing pad.

            As far as different personal computers go, it’s really about what you want. Home computer systems have tools and computer configurations for mostly personal tasks. Gaming computers can also be used for simple tasks at home, but these pc’s have some of the fastest processors, and have lots of memory, with state of the art sound cards and graphics cards. Computers aimed for the small business people tend to be middle of the line models striped down to essentials, nothing fancy.

            Once you get the pc you want, the next question you should ask yourself is what software to use. Today there are three main platforms for operating systems. And these are the PC platform or Windows, Macintosh platform or Apple, and the Linux platform. Nearly all computers have preinstalled software on them fresh out of the box. You can always upgrade your computer later on if you wish, such as add more memory, RAM, better graphics card, sound card, etc. Some people mod their computers to make them better or more powerful than they were originally. As far as where to buy a computer, the options are endless, there are many places online to find computers, as well as the retail stores themselves, such as Apple.

Ch.1-Digital Devices-Preston Law III

In this chapter and section, digital devices of all sorts are discussed as well as computer basics, concepts and terminology. The first digital device that is described in detail is a computer, which at its core, is a multipurpose device that accepts inputs, processes various amounts of data, stores information, and produces output, all according to a very specific series of stored instructions. Computer inputs by their very definition can be typed, submitted, or directly transmitted to a computer itself. Input can be supplied by a person manually, or by another computer digitally or electronically.

            On the contrary output is any result made by a computer system. Reports, documents, music, graphs, and pictures are some examples. Computers can also process, or manipulate data, which technically data is symbols that equate or represent facts, objects and/or ideas. All computers have a CPU or central processing unit that processes data. The CPU of most modern computers is a microprocessor, which is equipment in a computer that can be programmed to do things based on info it receives. Computers can store data using memory, whereas storage is where data can be left permanently where it won’t be immediately needed for processing.

            This data is kept in files, which are named collections of info that exist inside a storage medium like a hard drive, CD, DVD or flash drive. A personal computer or pc is a microprocessor based computing device designed to meet the needs of individuals. Computers can also be considered workstations, where the computer is simply connected to a network or the computer is a powerful desktop computer utilized to perform complex or powerful tasks. Popular video game devices, like the Xbox 360, Wii, or PS3 are not considered pc’s simply because of their history of being game devices.

            A computer can be a server simply because it is designed to serve other computers on a network. Clients are what computers use to request data from. Bigger computers exist in the world today. These are called Mainframe computers, which are large expensive computers with lots of processing power.  Whereas a super computer, would be some of the fastest computers built.

            Handheld devices, such as iPhones, iPods, GPS, Blackberry, Kindles ,etc. have computer characteristics just as much as video game consoles have them. Some of the first handheld devices were called PDS’s or personal digital assistants, which basically were appointment books. With many handheld devices, apps are used. Apps or applications can be anything and everything from games to news, really anything you need.