Computers

CORE MODULE. 1. The World of Computers. The Information Society. Networking: Bringing People Together. Computers: The Essentials. Personal Computers to Supercomputers: Capabilities and Uses. A Computer System at Work. How Do We Use Computers? Focus on IT: The History of Computing: An Overview. 2. Inside the Computer. Data Storage: A Bit About the Bit. Encoding Systems: Bits and Bytes. Analyzing a Computer System, Bit by Bit. Describing the Processor: Distinguishing Characteristics. Inside the PC. Focus on IT: The Computer on a Chip. 3. Software: Telling Computers What To Do. Software in Perspective. System Software: Maintaining Control. The Operating System: Directing the Action. Programming Languages: Computertalk. Platforms: Homes for Software. Interacting with the PC and Its Software. 4. Storing and Retrieving Information: Disks and Tape Backup Units. Secondary Storage and Files: Data Keepers. Sequential and Random Access: New Terms for Old Concepts. Magnetic Disks: Round and Round. Magnetic Tape: Ribbons of Data. Backup: Better Safe than Sorry. Optical Laser Disks: High-Density Storage. Storage Forecast: Is There a Disk in Your Future? 5. Input/Output: Computers In Action. I/O Devices: Let's Interface. Traditional Input Devices: Key, Point, and Draw. Source-Data Automation: Getting Closer to the Action. Output Devices: Computers Communicate with Us. Terminals: Input and Output. 6. Networks and Networking: Linking the World. Our Weird, Wild, Wired World. Data Communications Hardware: Making It Happen. The Data Communications Channel: Data Highways. Networks: Connecting Nodes. Local Area Networks: Local Nets. 7. Going Online: The Net, Information Services, and More. The Online World. Information Services: America Online, CompuServe, and Many More. The Internet: A Worldwide Web of Computers and Information. Appendix: The Windows Environment. Concepts and Terminology. Sharing Information Among Applications. Migrating to Windows 98. PERSONAL COMPUTING MODULE. 8. Communicating: Word Processing, Desktop Publishing, Electronic Publishing, and Presenting. Personal Computing With Popular Productivity Packages. Word Processing: The Most Popular PC Application. Desktop Publishing: Freedom of the Press. Publishing Without Paper. Presentation Software. 9. Organizing and Gathering Information: Spreadsheet, Database, and Browsers. Data Management in Practice: Bits to Databases. Spreadsheet: The Magic Matrix. Database: A Dynamic Data Tool. Browsers: The Information Tool. 10. Graphics and Multimedia: Tickling Our Senses. Adding Pizzazz. Graphics: Creating and Working With Images. Multimedia: Teaching the Computer To Sing and Dance. Software Suites: All In One Package. Focus on IT: The Smart Shopper: Personal Computing Buyer's Guide. MIS MODULE. 11. Information Systems: The MIS, DSS, and EIS. An End to Business as Usual. Information and Decision Making. All About Information Systems. Data Processing Systems. Management Information Systems. Decision Support Systems. Expert Systems. Software Agents: Working for Us. Focus on IT: Robots and Robotics. 12. Developing Business Information Systems. The System Life Cycle. Application Development Concepts. Computer-Aided Software Engineering: The Case Tool Kit. Prototyping: Creating a Model of the Target System. System Conversion and Implementation: Making the Transition. ISSUES MODULE. 13 Computers In Society: Today. The Information Technology Paradox. Working In the Information Society. The Work Place: Ergonomics and Green Computing. The Question of Ethics. Computer and System Security. Focus on IT: PC Applications Galore. 14. Computers In Society: Tomorrow. The Virtual Frontier. The Wake Up Call. Down the Road: The Information Superhighway. Your Challenge.