© 2006 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 1

Technology In ActionTechnology In ActionTechnology In ActionTechnology In Action

Technology In Action Chapter 1

Technology In ActionTechnology In ActionTechnology In ActionTechnology In Action

Chapter 1Chapter 1

Why Computers Matter to You: Becoming Why Computers Matter to You: Becoming Computer FluentComputer Fluent

Chapter 1Chapter 1

Why Computers Matter to You: Becoming Why Computers Matter to You: Becoming Computer FluentComputer Fluent

Technology In Action Chapter 1

Technology In Action Chapter 1

• Why is this Class Important or Why should you take this Why is this Class Important or Why should you take this Class?Class?

Currently, the world is irreversibly dependent Currently, the world is irreversibly dependent on computers and networkson computers and networks

Computers have eliminated many jobs through Computers have eliminated many jobs through automation but other jobs have been createdautomation but other jobs have been created

–Entire high-tech industry including telecommunications

–Programmers, e-commerce, web development, engineers

• Why is this Class Important or Why should you take this Why is this Class Important or Why should you take this Class?Class?

Currently, the world is irreversibly dependent Currently, the world is irreversibly dependent on computers and networkson computers and networks

Computers have eliminated many jobs through Computers have eliminated many jobs through automation but other jobs have been createdautomation but other jobs have been created

–Entire high-tech industry including telecommunications

–Programmers, e-commerce, web development, engineers

Technology In Action Chapter 1

• Why is this class important?Why is this class important?Examples of computer usageExamples of computer usage

– Type address of a friend across country or state and get driving instructions and map

– Write a term paper using resources from across the world

– Supercomputers are used to predict weather world-wide or design new drugs

– Search and find almost anything via the Internet

– Shop for rare books on-line or anything from a worldwide marketplace

– Market items from small local companies to the world

• Why is this class important?Why is this class important?Examples of computer usageExamples of computer usage

– Type address of a friend across country or state and get driving instructions and map

– Write a term paper using resources from across the world

– Supercomputers are used to predict weather world-wide or design new drugs

– Search and find almost anything via the Internet

– Shop for rare books on-line or anything from a worldwide marketplace

– Market items from small local companies to the world

Technology In Action Chapter 1

• Why is this class important?Why is this class important?– Computers have changed our society in several ways:Computers have changed our society in several ways:

Nowhere is remoteNowhere is remoteConnecting with People is DifferentConnecting with People is DifferentRevised Human RelationshipsRevised Human RelationshipsLimitless Access to InformationLimitless Access to Information

• Why is this class important?Why is this class important?– Computers have changed our society in several ways:Computers have changed our society in several ways:

Nowhere is remoteNowhere is remoteConnecting with People is DifferentConnecting with People is DifferentRevised Human RelationshipsRevised Human RelationshipsLimitless Access to InformationLimitless Access to Information

Technology In Action Chapter 1

• Nowhere is RemoteNowhere is RemoteResidents in New York City or in Anchorage Residents in New York City or in Anchorage

Alaska see few differences in connectivity, and Alaska see few differences in connectivity, and accessaccess

Everywhere is equal in terms of distance from Everywhere is equal in terms of distance from informationinformation

Instead of physically distributing a newspaper Instead of physically distributing a newspaper like the Spokesman Review, people on either like the Spokesman Review, people on either side of the world can read it electronicallyside of the world can read it electronically

Computers allow people to telecommuteComputers allow people to telecommute– People can be as productive in Jackson

Hole, Wyoming as in Denver

• Nowhere is RemoteNowhere is RemoteResidents in New York City or in Anchorage Residents in New York City or in Anchorage

Alaska see few differences in connectivity, and Alaska see few differences in connectivity, and accessaccess

Everywhere is equal in terms of distance from Everywhere is equal in terms of distance from informationinformation

Instead of physically distributing a newspaper Instead of physically distributing a newspaper like the Spokesman Review, people on either like the Spokesman Review, people on either side of the world can read it electronicallyside of the world can read it electronically

Computers allow people to telecommuteComputers allow people to telecommute– People can be as productive in Jackson

Hole, Wyoming as in Denver

Technology In Action Chapter 1

• Connecting with OthersConnecting with Others– People keep in closer contact via the Internet than through People keep in closer contact via the Internet than through

telephone or mailtelephone or mail

Lower cost, fasterLower cost, fasterCan read e-mail later or answer instantlyCan read e-mail later or answer instantlyCan meet people with similar interests via Web Can meet people with similar interests via Web

page associationspage associations– Web pages passively advertise people’s

interests and allow the informal gathering of people of similar interests

• Connecting with OthersConnecting with Others– People keep in closer contact via the Internet than through People keep in closer contact via the Internet than through

telephone or mailtelephone or mail

Lower cost, fasterLower cost, fasterCan read e-mail later or answer instantlyCan read e-mail later or answer instantlyCan meet people with similar interests via Web Can meet people with similar interests via Web

page associationspage associations– Web pages passively advertise people’s

interests and allow the informal gathering of people of similar interests

Technology In Action Chapter 1

• Revised Human RelationshipsRevised Human Relationships– Computers displace real human interactionsComputers displace real human interactions

Time with computers, playing games and Time with computers, playing games and surfing the Web displaces social interactionsurfing the Web displaces social interaction

• Revised Human RelationshipsRevised Human Relationships– Computers displace real human interactionsComputers displace real human interactions

Time with computers, playing games and Time with computers, playing games and surfing the Web displaces social interactionsurfing the Web displaces social interaction

Technology In Action Chapter 1

• Limitless Access to InformationLimitless Access to Information– Information appears to be endless on almost any topicInformation appears to be endless on almost any topic

Good and BadGood and BadGoodGood

– Can find out about anything you need

BadBad

– Internet is uncensored so quality of information is unknown

– Overwhelmed with information

» Type: Iraq War or Linux

• Limitless Access to InformationLimitless Access to Information– Information appears to be endless on almost any topicInformation appears to be endless on almost any topic

Good and BadGood and BadGoodGood

– Can find out about anything you need

BadBad

– Internet is uncensored so quality of information is unknown

– Overwhelmed with information

» Type: Iraq War or Linux

Technology In Action Chapter 1

• Goals of the ClassGoals of the Class

– One goal is for you to become skilled with current One goal is for you to become skilled with current Information Technology (IT) Information Technology (IT)

What does that mean?What does that mean?– People who are skilled with IT know how to

use computers, networks and information resources effectively

– Know the applications and what each one can do

• Goals of the ClassGoals of the Class

– One goal is for you to become skilled with current One goal is for you to become skilled with current Information Technology (IT) Information Technology (IT)

What does that mean?What does that mean?– People who are skilled with IT know how to

use computers, networks and information resources effectively

– Know the applications and what each one can do

Technology In Action Chapter 1

• Goals of the ClassGoals of the Class– Another goal is for you to be adaptable to changing or Another goal is for you to be adaptable to changing or

future Information Technology (IT)future Information Technology (IT)

Know when and how to acquire new Know when and how to acquire new technology as needs change or technology technology as needs change or technology changeschanges

Be able to sift through some of the hype and Be able to sift through some of the hype and information overload that surrounds new information overload that surrounds new technologytechnology

– Both Goals are Important!Both Goals are Important!

• Goals of the ClassGoals of the Class– Another goal is for you to be adaptable to changing or Another goal is for you to be adaptable to changing or

future Information Technology (IT)future Information Technology (IT)

Know when and how to acquire new Know when and how to acquire new technology as needs change or technology technology as needs change or technology changeschanges

Be able to sift through some of the hype and Be able to sift through some of the hype and information overload that surrounds new information overload that surrounds new technologytechnology

– Both Goals are Important!Both Goals are Important!

Technology In Action Chapter 1

• Goals of the ClassGoals of the Class– A third goal is to make you more employableA third goal is to make you more employable

Today’s market, being knowledgeable about Today’s market, being knowledgeable about technology will only helptechnology will only help

More and more professions require you to have More and more professions require you to have computer skillscomputer skills

– Business, marketing, sports medicine, education, psychology, all science fields, doctors, lawyers

• Goals of the ClassGoals of the Class– A third goal is to make you more employableA third goal is to make you more employable

Today’s market, being knowledgeable about Today’s market, being knowledgeable about technology will only helptechnology will only help

More and more professions require you to have More and more professions require you to have computer skillscomputer skills

– Business, marketing, sports medicine, education, psychology, all science fields, doctors, lawyers

Technology In Action Chapter 1

• How to do Well in this Course …How to do Well in this Course …– Come to classCome to class

If you come to class you will not fail this If you come to class you will not fail this coursecourse

– Turn in Assignments Turn in Assignments

Come to lab sections, you will get credit for Come to lab sections, you will get credit for most of the lab exercises since you mostly most of the lab exercises since you mostly do them in labdo them in lab

– Read the Book and Extra Reading assignedRead the Book and Extra Reading assigned

Reading the book does helpReading the book does helpWe have a much improved book and there We have a much improved book and there

will be some outside reading of articleswill be some outside reading of articles

• How to do Well in this Course …How to do Well in this Course …– Come to classCome to class

If you come to class you will not fail this If you come to class you will not fail this coursecourse

– Turn in Assignments Turn in Assignments

Come to lab sections, you will get credit for Come to lab sections, you will get credit for most of the lab exercises since you mostly most of the lab exercises since you mostly do them in labdo them in lab

– Read the Book and Extra Reading assignedRead the Book and Extra Reading assigned

Reading the book does helpReading the book does helpWe have a much improved book and there We have a much improved book and there

will be some outside reading of articleswill be some outside reading of articles