What does it mean to be “computer fluent”?
Computer fluency goes way beyond knowing how to use a mouse and send e-mail. If you are computer fluent, you understand the capabilities and limitations of computers and know how to use them wisely. Being computer fluent also enables you to make informed purchasing decisions, use computers in your career, understand and take advantage of future technologies, and understand the many ethical, legal, and societal implications of technology today.
How does being computer fluent make you a savvy computer user and consumer?
By understanding how a computer is constructed and how its various parts function, you’ll be able to get the most out of your computer. Among other things, you’ll be able to avoid hackers, viruses, and Internet headaches; protect your privacy; separate the real risks from those you don’t have to worry about; be able to maintain, upgrade, and troubleshoot your computer; and make good purchasing decisions.
How can becoming computer fluent help you in a career?
As computers become more a part of our daily lives, it is difficult to imagine any career that does not use computers in some fashion. Understanding how to use computers effectively will help you be a more productive and valuable employee, no matter which profession you choose.
How can becoming computer fluent help you understand and take advantage of future technologies?
The world is changing every day, and many changes are a result of new computer technologies. Understanding how today’s computers function should help you utilize technology effectively now. And by understanding computers and how they work today, you can contribute to the technologies of tomorrow by providing manufacturers with suggestions on what you need to do that you can’t do with current technology.
What kinds of challenges do computers bring to a digital society and how does becoming computer fluent help you deal with these challenges?
Although computers offer us a world of opportunities, they also pose ethical, legal, and moral challenges and questions. Being computer fluent enables you to form educated opinions on these issues and to take stands based on accurate information rather than media hype and misinformation.
What exactly is a computer and what are its four main functions?
Computers are data processing devices. They help organize, sort, and categorize data to turn it into information. The computer’s four major functions are (1) it gathers data (or allows users to input data), (2) it processes that data (performs calculations or some other manipulation of the data), (3) it outputs data or information (displays information in a form suitable for the user), and (4) it stores data and information for later use.
What is the difference between data and information?
Data is a representation of a fact or idea. The number 3 and the words televisions or Sony are pieces of data. Information is data that has been organized or presented in a meaningful fashion. An inventory list that indicates that “3 Sony televisions” are in stock is processed information. It allows a retail clerk to answer a customer query about the availability of merchandise. Information is more powerful than raw data.
What are a bit and a byte and how are they measured?
To process data into information, computers need to work in a language they understand. This language, called binary language, consists of two numbers: 0 and 1. Each 0 and 1 is a binary digit, or bit. Eight bits create one byte. In computers, each letter of the alphabet, each number, and each special character consists of a unique combination of eight bits (1 byte), or a string of eight 0s and 1s. For describing large amounts of storage capacity, the terms kilobyte (approximately 1,000 bytes) megabyte (approximately 1 million bytes), and gigabyte (approximately 1 billion bytes) are used.
What hardware does a computer use to perform its functions?
Hardware is any part of the computer you can touch. Most computers have input devices that you use to input data into your computer. Those components that process that data are located inside the system unit. They include the CPU (central processing unit), memory, and motherboard. Output devices (such as monitors and printers) are used to display information (after processing) in a format suitable for users. Finally, storage devices (such as hard disk drives) are used to preserve data and information for future use.
What are the two main types of software you find in a computer?
The two broad categories of software are application software and system software. Application software is the set of programs you use on a computer to help you carry out tasks (such as writing a letter). System software is the set of programs that enables your computer’s hardware devices and application software to work together. The most common type of system software is the operating system.
What different kinds of computers are there?
Aside from PCs and Macs, you’ll find mobile computing devices (such as laptops and PDAs), as well as servers, mainframes, and supercomputers. Servers are computers that provide resources to other computers connected in a network. Mainframes are large, expensive computers specifically designed to provide services to hundreds (or thousands) of users at the same time. Supercomputers are designed to perform a small number of calculations as rapidly as possible.
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