Technology In Action

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Technology In Action
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Midterm Exam Study Guide

• The Exam
• Sample Exam Questions
• Review
• Lab Exercises 3 and 4
• Technology in Focuses 3 and 4
• Sound-bytes 6 to 10
• Chapters 6 to 10

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The Midterm Exam

• When
• Thursday, April 3, 2008
• 530 645pm
• MSB 115
• 15 of your final grade
• Covers
• Chapters 6 to 10
• Sound-bytes 6 to 10
• Technology in Focus 3 and 4
• Lab exercises 3 and 4
• This is an open-notes exam. All in-class
  hand-outs are allowed.
• Writing on your notes is ok!
• You may not use a textbook, a computer, or any
  electronic device.

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Sample Exam Questions 1

• Multiple-choice Question
• ____________ storage refers to storage that loses
  its data when the power is turned off.
• A. Permanent
• B. Volatile
• C. Virtual
• D. Nonvolatile
• Answer B
• Reference Chapter 6 - Evaluating RAM

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Sample Exam Questions 2

• True/false Question
• Laptop computers are also known as tablet
  computers
• Answer False (notebook computers)
• Reference Chapter 8 - Notebooks

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Sample Exam Questions 3

• Matching Question
• Match the following acronyms to their
  descriptions
• A. SATA
• B. ALU
• C. VRAM
• D. IrDA
• E. DIMM
• _____ type of memory module
• _____ memory generally used for graphics display
  
• _____ port for wireless data transmission
• _____ type of hard disk drive interface
• _____ CPU component that performs mathematical
  operations
• Answer E, C, D, A, B
• Reference Chapter 6

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Lab Exercises

• Lab exercise 3
• Creating a basic web page
• Investigating HTML
• Terms related to the Internet and HTML
• Lab exercise 4
• Using a word processing software (Microsoft Word)
• Investigating how file compression works
• Terms related to mass storage devices and memory

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Technology in Focuses

• Technology in Focus 3 Computing Alternatives
• Open-source software
• Application software alternatives OpenOffice
• Operating alternatives Linux
• Hardware alternatives MAC, DIY

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Technology in Focuses

• Technology in Focus 4 Protecting Your Computer
  and Backing up Your Data
• Physically protecting your computer
• Keeping cell phones and PDAs safe
• Protecting your computer from unauthorized access
• Access privileges and password protection
• Updating your software
• Backing up your data

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Sound-bytes

• Hard Disk Anatomy Interactive
• Installing a Home Network
• Tablet and Notebook Tour
• Memory Hierarchy Interactive
• Programming for End Users Macros

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Technology In Action

• Chapter 6
• Evaluating Your System
• Understanding and Assessing Hardware

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Chapter Topics

• To buy or upgrade?
• Evaluating your system
• CPU
• RAM
• Storage devices
• Video output
• Sound systems
• Computer ports
• System reliability

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Chapter 6 Summary Questions

• How can I determine whether I should upgrade my
  existing computer or buy a new one?
• You need to conduct a system evaluation by look
  at computers subsystems
• CPU
• Memory
• The storage subsystem
• The video subsystem
• The audio subsystem
• Your computers ports
• Then, determine if its economically practical to
  upgrade or buy a new one

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Chapter 6 Summary Questions

• What does the CPU do and how can I evaluate its
  performance?
• Processes instructions, performs calculations,
  manages the flow of information through a
  computer system
• To evaluate its performance
• Look at the clock speed
• The ability to process multimedia instructions
  and handle audio and video processing commands
• The power consumption
• Mulitcore capability option
• Usually a newer generation CPU have a lot of
  improvement over the previous generation

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Chapter 6 Summary Questions

• How does memory work and how can I evaluate how
  much memory I need?
• Random access memory (RAM) is your computers
  temporary storage space
• A short-term memory--it remembers everything that
  the computer needs to process the data into
  information, such as inputted data and software
  instructions, but only while the computer is on
• To determine how much RAM is needed you must look
  at the memory requirements of each program youll
  run and add them up

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Chapter 6 Summary Questions

• What are the computers main storage devices and
  how can I evaluate whether they match my needs?
• Hard disks (nonvolatile storage) are devices for
  permanent storage of instructions and data when
  the computer is powered off
• The hard disk should have enough space for all
  installed programs ,data, and virtual memory

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Chapter 6 Summary Questions

• What components affect the output of video and
  how can I evaluate whether they are meeting my
  needs?
• How video is displayed depends on two components
• Video card and monitor
• A more powerful card is required if you plan to
  use your computer for graphics-intense games and
  multimedia.
• The monitor size, resolution, refresh rate, and
  color reproduction are all affect how well the
  monitor performs.

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Chapter 6 Summary Questions

• What components affect the quality of sound and
  how can I evaluate whether they are meeting my
  needs?
• Your computers sound depends on your speakers
  and a sound card
• An upgrade sound card enables the computer to
  produce 3-D or surround sound and additional
  ports for audio equipments

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Chapter 6 Summary Questions

• What are the ports available on desktop computers
  and how can I determine what ports I need?
• A port is an interface through which peripheral
  devices are connected to your computer
• There are many kinds of ports available such as
  serial, parallel, USB, Firewire, Ethernet,
  S-Video, DVI, Bluetooth, IrDA, MIDI, HDMI, and
  eSATA

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Chapter 6 Summary Questions

• How can I ensure the reliability of my system?
• There are several procedures you can follow to
  ensure your system performs reliably
• Clean out your Startup folder
• Make sure you delete only programs you know for
  sure are unnecessary
• Clear out unnecessary files to free-up hard drive
  space
• Run an antispyware/antivirus program as well as
  an anti-adware program
• Run the Disk Defragmenter utility once in a while
  to compact your hard drive

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Technology In Action

• Chapter 7
• Networking and Security
• Connecting Computers and Keeping
• Them Safe from Hackers and Viruses

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Chapter Topics

• Networking fundamentals
• Network architecture
• Network components
• Peer-to-peer networks
• Computer threats
• Computer safeguards
• Computer viruses

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Chapter 7 Summary Questions

• What is a network and what are the advantages of
  setting one up?
• A computer network is simply two or more
  computers connected together via software and
  hardware so they can communicate
• The main functions for most networks
• to facilitate information sharing
• allow users to share peripherals and Internet
  connectivity

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Chapter 7 Summary Questions

• What is the difference between a client/server
  network and a peer-to-peer network?
• Network architectures are classified according to
  the way in which they are controlled and the
  distance between their nodes
• There are two main ways a network can be
  controlled
• A peer-to-peer network is the most common example
  of a locally controlled network
• The most common type of centrally controlled
  network is a client/server network

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Chapter 7 Summary Questions

• What are the main components of every network?
• In order to move data from one computer to
  another, four components are required
• Transmission media
• Network adapters that translate the computers
  signal to a network message
• Navigation devices that decide how data traffic
  comes and goes
• Network software that allows the software to run

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Chapter 7 Summary Questions

• What are the most common home networks?
• Ethernet and wireless network
• The major difference in these networks is the
  transmission media by which the nodes are
  connected

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Chapter 7 Summary Questions

• What are power-line networks?
• Power-line networks use the existing electrical
  wiring in your home to connect the nodes in the
  network
• Any electrical outlet provides a network
  connection
• The original power line networks had a maximum
  data transfer rate of 14 Mbps
• New standards provide for data transfer rates
  approaching 200 Mbps

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Chapter 7 Summary Questions

• What are phoneline networks?
• Phoneline networks move data through the network
  using conventional phone lines rather than power
  lines
• Any phone jack in a house provides a network
  connection
• Phoneline networks have a maximum data transfer
  rate of 10 Mbps

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Chapter 7 Summary Questions

• What are Ethernet networks?
• Ethernet networks use the Ethernet protocol as
  the means by which the nodes on the network
  communicate
• Requires that you install an adapter to each
  computer or peripheral you want to connect to the
  network
• Most computers come with Ethernet adapters
  preinstalled as network interface cards (NICs)

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Chapter 7 Summary Questions

• What are wireless networks?
• A wireless network uses radio waves instead of
  wires or cables as its transmission media
• Each node on a wireless network requires a
  wireless network adapter
• These adapters are either built-in or inserted an
  added-on card into an expansion slot or an open
  USB port

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Chapter 7 Summary Questions

• How can hackers attack a network and what harm
  can they cause?
• A hacker is defined as anyone who breaks into a
  computer system (whether an individual computer
  or a network) unlawfully
• A hacker can use software to break into a
  computer connected to the Internet
• Once gaining access to the computer, the hacker
  can steal, damage or destroy information, or use
  the computer to attack other computers

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Chapter 7 Summary Questions

• How are home wireless networks vulnerable?
• Wireless network range doesnt stop at the
  property line
• A hacker can intercept and decode information
  from your transmissions that may allow him to
  bypass your firewall
• Others may steal your bandwidth and crimes can be
  committed through your network

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Chapter 7 Summary Questions

• What is a firewall and how does it keep my
  computer safe from hackers?
• Firewalls are software programs or hardware
  devices designed to keep computers safe from
  hackers
• By using a firewall, you can close off open
  logical ports to invaders and potentially make
  your computer invisible to other computers on the
  Internet

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Chapter 7 Summary Questions

• From which types of viruses do I need to protect
  my computer?
• Boot-sector viruses
• Logic bombs
• Time bombs
• Worms
• Script viruses
• Macro viruses
• E-mail viruses
• Encryption viruses
• Trojan Horses

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Chapter 7 Summary Questions

• What can I do to protect my computer from
  viruses?
• Use your common sense
• Install antivirus software

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Technology In Action

• Chapter 8
• Mobile Computing
• Keeping Your Data on Hand

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Topics

• Advantages and limitations of mobile computing
• Mobile computing devices
• Pagers, cell phones, PDAs, and portable media
  players
• Synchronizing mobile devices with computers
• Tablet PCs
• Notebooks

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Chapter 8 Summary Questions

• What are the advantages and limitations of mobile
  computing?
• Advantages
• Convenience
• Boost productivity
• Communicate with others anywhere
• Access to electronic information
• Limitations
• Expensive
• Short battery life
• Small screen display
• Slow Internet speed

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Chapter 8 Summary Questions

• What are the various mobile computing devices?
• Paging devices
• Cell phones
• MP3 players
• Personal digital assistants (PDAs)
• Tablet PCs
• Laptops

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Chapter 8 Summary Questions

• What can pagers do?
• A paging device (pager) is a small wireless
  device that allows you to receive and sometimes
  send numeric (and sometimes text) messages on a
  small display screen

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Chapter 8 Summary Questions

• How do cell phone components resemble a
  traditional computer and how do cell phones work?
• Cell phones have the same components as a
  computer a processor, memory, and input and
  output devices
• When you speak to the phone
• Sound enters as a sound wave
• Analog sound waves, then, are converted to
  digital signals
• The compressed digital signals are transmitted to
  the cellular network then to the phone

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Chapter 8 Summary Questions

• What can I carry in a portable media player and
  how does it store data?
• Portable media players (PMPs) are small portable
  devices (such as an iPod) that enable playing of
  MP3 files anywhere
• Some devices can play video files
• Some MP3 players allow you to add additional
  removable flash memory cards

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Chapter 8 Summary Questions

• For what can I use a PDA and what internal
  components and features does it have?
• A personal digital assistant (PDA) is a small
  device that allows you to carry digital
  information
• Often called palm computers or handhelds
• PDAs are about the size of your hand
• Most PDAs come with a standard collection of
  software such as a to-do list, contacts manager,
  calendar, and software applications

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Chapter 8 Summary Questions

• How can I synchronize my mobile devices with my
  desktop computer?
• PDA files can be transferred to a desktop using
• Flash card readers
• Cradles
• Wireless transfers
• IrDA
• Bluetooth

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Chapter 8 Summary Questions

• What is a tablet PC?
• A tablet PC is a portable computer that is
  lightweight, features advanced handwriting
  recognition, and can be rotated into a clipboard
  style
• Its monitor can be used either in a traditional
  laptop mode or in tablet mode, much like an
  electronic clipboard
• Tablet PCs also can be connected to a full-size
  keyboard and monitor

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Chapter 8 Summary Questions

• How powerful are notebooks and how do they
  compare to desktop computers?
• The most powerful mobile computing solution is a
  notebook computer
• Comparing to desktop computers, notebooks are
  usually less powerful than the desktops

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Technology in Action

• Chapter 9
• Behind the Scenes A Closer Look at System
  Hardware

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Chapter Topics

• Computer switches
• Binary number system
• Inside the CPU
• Cache memory
• Types of RAM
• Computer buses
• Creating faster CPUs

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Chapter 9 Summary Questions

• What is a switch and how does it work in a
  computer?
• Electronic switches are devices inside the
  computer that can be flipped between these two
  states 1 or 0, on or off
• Modern computers understand only two states of
  existence on and off
• Computers represent these two possibilities (or
  states) using the digits 1 and 0

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Chapter 9 Summary Questions

• What is the binary number system and what role
  does it play in computer system?
• Computers describe a number as powers of 2
  because each switch can be in one of two
  positions on or off
• This numbering system is referred to as the
  binary number system
• To process data into information, computers need
  to work in binary language

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Chapter 9 Summary Questions

• What is inside the CPU and how do these
  components operate?
• The entire CPU fits on a tiny chip, called the
  microprocessor, which contains all of the
  hardware responsible for processing information,
  including millions of transistors
• The control unit of the CPU manages the switches
  inside the CPU
• The arithmetic logic unit (ALU) is the part of
  the CPU designed to perform mathematical and
  comparison operations
• Cache memory consists of small blocks of memory
  located directly on and next to the CPU chip

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Chapter 9 Summary Questions

• How does a CPU process data and instructions?
• Any program you run on your computer is actually
  a long series of binary code, 1s and 0s,
  describing a specific set of commands the CPU
  must perform
• To perform its tasks, CPUs must perform a series
  of similar general steps or machine cycle (or
  processing cycle
• Fetch
• Decode
• Execute
• Store

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Chapter 9 Summary Questions

• What is cache memory?
• Cache memory consists of small blocks of memory
  located directly on and next to the CPU chip
• These memory blocks are holding places for
  recently or frequently used instructions or data
  that the CPU needs the most
• When these instructions or data are stored in
  cache memory, the CPU can more quickly retrieve
  them than if it had to access the instructions or
  data in RAM

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Chapter 9 Summary Questions

• What types of RAM are there?
• A variety of types of DRAM are on the market,
  each with different performance levels and prices
  
• Synchronous DRAM (SDRAM) is much faster than
  traditional DRAM
• The current standard of DRAM in home systems is
  double data rate synchronous DRAM (DDR SDRAM)
• DDR SDRAM is faster than regular SDRAM but not as
  fast as DDR2 SDRAM or DDR3 SDRAM, which is the
  most recent entry on the market
• Each of these types of DRAM increases the speed
  with which the CPU can access data, but also
  increases the cost of the memory modules

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Chapter 9 Summary Questions

• What is a bus and how does it function in a
  computer system?
• A bus is an electrical wire in the computers
  circuitrythe highway that data (or bits) travels
  on between the computers various components
• Computers have two different kinds of buses
• Local buses are on the motherboard and run
  between the CPU and the main system memory
• Expansion bus allows a range of different
  expansion cards (such as video cards and sound
  cards) to communicate with the motherboard

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Chapter 9 Summary Questions

• How do manufacturers make CPUs so that they run
  faster?
• These are some method to make faster CPUs
• One method found to speed up a CPU is called
  pipelining
• Use dual/quad processors
• Increase clock speed or cache size

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Technology in Action

• Chapter 10
• Behind the Scenes Software Programming

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Chapter Topics

• System development life cycle
• Life cycle of a program
• Problem statement
• Algorithms
• Moving from algorithm to code
• Moving from code to machine language
• Testing programs
• Completing a program
• Selecting the right programming language
• Most popular programming languages

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Chapter 10 Summary Questions

• What is a system development life cycle and what
  are the phases in the cycle?
• System development life cycle (SDLC)
• An organized process (or set of steps) used to
  develop systems in an orderly fashion
• There are six steps in the SDLC
• Problem/Opportunity Identification
• Analysis
• Design
• Development and Documentation
• Testing
• Maintenance and Evaluation

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Chapter 10 Summary Questions

• What is the life cycle of a program?
• Programming is the process of translating a task
  into a series of commands a computer will use to
  perform that task
• It involves
• Identifying which parts of a task a computer can
  perform
• Describing those tasks in a very specific and
  complete manner
• Translating this description into the language
  spoken by the computers CPU.
• There are five steps in the PDLC.
• Describing the Problem
• Developing an Algorithm
• Coding
• Debugging
• Finishing the Project

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Chapter 10 Summary Questions

• What role does a problem statement play in
  programming?
• The problem statement is the starting point of
  programming work
• It is a very clear description of what tasks the
  computer program must accomplish and how the
  program will execute these tasks and respond to
  unusual situations
• Programmers develop problem statements so that
  they can better understand the goals of their
  programming efforts

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Chapter 10 Summary Questions

• How do programmers create algorithms?
• They begin developing a detailed algorithm or a
  set of specific, sequential steps that describe
  in natural language exactly what the computer
  program must do to complete its task
• Complex algorithms include decision
  points/control structure at which the program
  must choose from different actions based on the
  value of its current inputs
• Yes/No (binary)
• Loop (iterative)

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Chapter 10 Summary Questions

• How do programmers move from algorithm to code?
• Select the best programming language for the
  problem
• Translate or code the algorithm into that
  language
• Computer programming languages use special words
  and strict rules to enable programmers to control
  the CPU without having to know all of its
  hardware details

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Chapter 10 Summary Questions

• How does a programmer move from programming code
  to the 1s and 0s that the CPU can understand?
• Compilation is the process by which code is
  converted into machine language
• Compiler
• Interpreter

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Chapter 10 Summary Questions

• How is a program tested?
• The process of running the program over and over
  to find errors and to make sure the program
  behaves in the way it should is debugging

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Chapter 10 Summary Questions

• What steps are involved in completing the
  program?
• At this point, technical writers are responsible
  for creating documentation for the program,
  including user manuals and user training

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Chapter 10 Summary Questions

• How do programmers select the right programming
  language for a specific task?
• Space available
• Speed required
• Resources available
• Target application