1.1 Just What Is a Computer?
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computer
analog computer
digital computer
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What is the difference between an analog and a digital computer?
What is an example of an analog computer?
What is an example of a digital computer?
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1.2 Computers in All Shapes and Sizes
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What are the two broad groups of computers?
What companies manufacture each of the groups?
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Supercomputer
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supercomputer
petaflop
computer cluster
render farm
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How are supercomputers used?
What do flops measure?
What industries use computer clusters and render farms?
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Desktop
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desktop computer
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What peripherals are usually included in a desktop computer setup?
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Laptop
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laptop
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What differentiates a laptop from a desktop?
How are laptops used today?
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Tablet PC
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Tablet PC
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About how much does a Tablet PC weigh?
How are Tablet PCs used?
What type of input devices are used in a Tablet PC?
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Netbook
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netbook
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What is the typical screen size and weight of a netbook?
Netbooks were originally designed for what purposes?
What operating systems are used with netbooks? How will this change in the near future?
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Spotlight on the Future Podcast: Will Computers Help Us Live Forever?
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What does it mean that advances in computing power progress exponentially?
What is the technological singularity discussed in the podcast?
How does Kurzweil posit that technology and biology will merge to extend human longevity?
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The Convergence of Computing Devices
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technological convergence
convergence device
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What is meant by technological convergence?
What are some examples of convergence devices?
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Take the Next Step: Activity 1.2.1
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What makes up a computer system?
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1.3 Who Is Using Computers and How?
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How are computers used in businesses?
How are they used in homes?
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Computers Are Everywhere
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ubiquitous computing
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What is an example of ubiquitous computing?
What is another term for ubiquitous computing?
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Finding a Career in Computing
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computer engineering (CE)
computer science (CS)
information systems (IS)
information technology (IT)
software engineering (SE)
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What areas of computing are encompassed by the field of computer engineering?
What types of work might people working in computer science do?
What types of problems does an information systems worker tackle?
How is information technology different from information systems?
What do software engineers do?
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Take the Next Step: Activity 1.3.1
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webmaster
Internet law
web designer
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What computer jobs has the Web produced?
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1.4 What Is Information Technology?
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Why are IT departments in an organization important?
What do they do?
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Differentiating Between Data and Information
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data
information
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What is the difference between data and information?
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The Information Processing Cycle
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information processing cycle
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What are the four parts of the information processing cycle?
Where does it end?
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Input
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binary system
bit
byte
input
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How is the binary system different from the decimal system?
What is the relationship between bits and bytes?
How are data entered into a computer?
What are the types of input devices that may be used?
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Processing
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central processing unit (CPU)
processing
microprocessor
computer memory
random access memory (RAM)
cache memory
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What does the CPU do?
What are microprocessors? What do they do? What are they made of?
How is RAM used? How long are data stored in RAM?
How does cache memory work?
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Output
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output
resolution
pixel
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How might you receive output from your computing device?
How does resolution relate to pixels?
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Storage
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storage
file
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What types of permanent storage are used in today's computers?
How has permanent storage changed through the years?
What is the basic storage unit? What might be contained in it?
How is storage capacity measured?
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Take the Next Step: Activity 1.4.1
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DRAM
SDRAM
SDRAM
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What are the various types of RAM?
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Take the Next Step: Activity 1.4.2
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machine cycle
instruction register
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What is the machine cycle?
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