Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Technology In Action
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
The Midterm Exam When
Thursday, April 3, 2008 5:30 – 6:45pm 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.
Sample Exam Questions 1
Multiple-choice Question ____________ storage refers to
storage that loses its data when the power is turned off.A. PermanentB. VolatileC. VirtualD. Nonvolatile
Answer: BReference: Chapter 6 - Evaluating RAM
Sample Exam Questions 2
True/false Question
Laptop computers are also known as tablet computers
Answer: False (notebook computers) Reference: Chapter 8 - Notebooks
Sample Exam Questions 3Matching Question Match the following acronyms to their descriptions :
A. SATA B. ALUC. VRAMD. IrDAE. DIMM
1. _____ type of memory module 2. _____ memory generally used for graphics display 3. _____ port for wireless data transmission 4. _____ type of hard disk drive interface5. _____ CPU component that performs mathematical operations
Answer: E, C, D, A, B Reference: Chapter 6
Lab Exercises Lab exercise 3
1. Creating a basic web page2. Investigating HTML3. Terms related to the Internet and HTML
Lab exercise 41. Using a word processing software (Microsoft
Word)2. Investigating how file compression works 3. Terms related to mass storage devices and
memory
Technology in Focuses Technology in Focus 3: Computing
Alternatives Open-source software
Application software alternatives – OpenOffice
Operating alternatives – Linux Hardware alternatives – MAC, DIY
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
Sound-bytes Hard Disk Anatomy Interactive Installing a Home Network Tablet and Notebook Tour Memory Hierarchy Interactive Programming for End Users: Macros
Technology In Action
Chapter 6Evaluating Your System:
Understanding and Assessing Hardware
Chapter Topics To buy or upgrade? Evaluating your system:
CPU RAM Storage devices Video output Sound systems Computer ports
System reliability
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 computer’s subsystems CPU Memory The storage subsystem The video subsystem The audio subsystem Your computer’s ports
Then, determine if it’s economically practical to upgrade or buy a new one
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
Chapter 6 Summary Questions How does memory work and how can I
evaluate how much memory I need?
Random access memory (RAM) is your computer’s 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 you’ll run and add them up
Chapter 6 Summary Questions What are the computer’s 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
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.
Chapter 6 Summary Questions What components affect the quality of
sound and how can I evaluate whether they are meeting my needs? Your computer’s 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
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
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
Technology In Action
Chapter 7Networking and Security:
Connecting Computers and Keeping Them Safe from Hackers and Viruses
Chapter Topics
Networking fundamentals Network architecture Network components Peer-to-peer networks Computer threats Computer safeguards Computer viruses
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
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
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 computer’s
signal to a network message Navigation devices that decide how data traffic
comes and goes Network software that allows the software to
run
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
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
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
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)
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
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
Chapter 7 Summary Questions
How are home wireless networks vulnerable? Wireless network range doesn’t 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
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
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
Chapter 7 Summary Questions
What can I do to protect my computer from viruses? Use your common sense Install antivirus software
Technology In Action
Chapter 8Mobile Computing:
Keeping Your Data on Hand
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
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
Chapter 8 Summary Questions
What are the various mobile computing devices? Paging devices Cell phones MP3 players Personal digital assistants (PDAs) Tablet PCs Laptops
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Technology in Action
Chapter 9Behind the Scenes:
A Closer Look at System Hardware
Chapter Topics
Computer switches Binary number system Inside the CPU Cache memory Types of RAM Computer buses Creating faster CPUs
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 computer’s circuitry—the
highway that data (or bits) travels on between the computer’s 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
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
Technology in Action
Chapter 10Behind the Scenes: Software
Programming
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
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
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
computer’s CPU. There are five steps in the PDLC.
Describing the Problem Developing an Algorithm Coding Debugging Finishing the Project
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
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)
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
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
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
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
Chapter 10 Summary Questions
How do programmers select the right programming language for a specific task?• Space available• Speed required• Resources available• Target application
