CHAPTER 1 COMPUTERS AND DIGITAL BASICSSection A:All Things Digital 4
The Digital Revolution 4
Convergence 8
Digital Society 10
QuickCheck A 13
Section B:Digital Devices 14
Computer Basics 14
Personal Computers,Servers,Mainframes,and Supercomputers 16
PDAs,Smart Phones,and Portable Media Players 19
Microcontrollers 20
QuickCheck B 21
Section C:Digital Data Representation 22
Data Representation Basics 22
Representing Numbers,Text,and Pictures 23
Quantifying Bits and Bytes 26
Circuits and Chips 27
QuickCheck C 28
Section D:Digital Processing 29
Programs and Instruction Sets 29
Processor Logic 31
QuickCheck D 33
Section E:Password Security 34
Authentication Protocols 34
Password Hacks 36
Secure Passwords 38
QuickCheck E 41
CHAPTER 2 COMPUTER HARDWARESection A:Personal Computer Basics 44
Personal Computer Systems 44
Desktop and Portable Computers 46
Home,Game,and Small Business Systems 48
Buying Computer System Components 50
QuickCheck A 54
Section B:Microprocessors and Memory 55
Microprocessor Basics 55
Today's Microprocessors 58
Random Access Memory 59
Read-Only Memory 61
EEPROM 62
QuickCheck B 63
Section C:Storage Devices 64
Storage Basics 64
Magnetic Disk and Tape Technology 66
CD,DVD,and Blu-ray Technology 69
Solid State Storage 72
Storage Wrapup 74
QuickCheck C 75
Section D:Input and Output Devices 76
Basic input Devices 76
Display Devices 78
Printers 80
Installing Peripheral Devices 82
QuickCheck D 85
Section E:Hardware Security 86
Anti-Theft Devices 86
Surge Protection and Battery Backup 87
Basic Maintenance 89
Troubleshooting and Repair 91
QuickCheck E 93
CHAPTER 3 COMPUTER SOFTWARESection A:Software Basics 96
Software Categories 96
Application Software 97
Utility Software 98
Device Drivers 100
QuickCheck A 100
Section B:Popular Applications 101
Document Production Software 101
Spreadsheet Software 106
"Number Crunching" Software 109
Database Software 110
Graphics Software 113
Music Software 115
Video Editing and DVD Authoring Software 116
Educational and Reference Software 116
Entertainment Software 117
Business Software 118
QuickCheck B 118
Section C:Buying Software 119
Consumer Basics 119
Software Copyrights and Licenses 122
QuickCheck C 127
Section D:Installing Software and Upgrades 128
Installation Basics 128
Installing Local Applications 130
Installing Portable Software and Web Apps 134
Software Updates 135
Uninstalling Software 136
QuickCheck D 137
Section E:Security Software 138
Security Software Basics 138
Security Suites 142
Antivirus Modules 143
QuickCheck E 145
CHAPTER 4 OPERATING SYSTEMS AND FILE MANAGEMENTSection A:Operating System Basics 148
Operating System Activities 148
User Interfaces 153
The Boot Process 156
QuickCheck A 157
Section B:Today's Operating Systems 158
Microsoft Windows 158
Mac OS 161
UNIX and Linux 165
DOS 166
Handheld Operating Systems 166
QuickCheck B 167
Section C:File Basics 168
File Names and Extensions 168
File Directories and Folders 169
File Formats 171
QuickCheck C 175
Section D:File Management 176
Application-based File Management 176
File Management Utilities 178
File Management Metaphors 179
Windows Explorer 180
File Management Tips 181
Physical File Storage 182
QuickCheck D 185
Section E:Backup Security 186
Backup Basics 186
File Copies and Synchronization 188
System Synchronization 190
File and System Backup 191
Bare-Metal Restore and Virtual Machines 194
QuickCheck E 195
CHAPTER 5 LANS AND WLANSSection A:Network Building Blocks 198
Network Classifications 198
LAN Standards 199
Network Devices 200
Clients,Servers,and Peers 201
Physical Topology 202
Network Links 203
Communications Protocols 204
QuickCheck A 207
Section B:Wired Networks 208
Wired Network Basics 208
HomePNA and Powerline Networks 209
Ethernet 210
Ethernet Equipment 212
Ethernet Setup 214
QuickCheck B 216
Section C:Wireless Networks 217
Wireless Basics 217
Bluetooth 219
Wi-Fi 220
Wi-Fi Equipment 220
Wi-Fi Setup 222
QuickCheck C 225
Section D:Using LANs 226
LAN Advantages and Challenges 226
Sharing Files 228
Sharing Printers 230
LAN Parties 232
Troubleshooting 232
QuickCheck D 233
Section E:Security Through Encryption 234
Wi-Fi Security 234
Encryption 237
QuickCheck E 239
CHAPTER 6 THE INTERNETSection A:Internet Technology 242
Background 242
Internet Infrastructure 243
Internet Protocols,Addresses,and Domains 245
Connection Speed 249
QuickCheck A 251
Section B:Fixed Internet Access 252
Dial-up Connections 252
DSL,ISDN,and Dedicated Lines 254
Cable Internet Service 256
Satellite Internet Service 258
Fixed Wireless Service 260
Fixed Internet Connection Roundup 261
QuickCheck B 261
Section C:Portable and Mobile Internet Access 262
Internet to Go 262
Wi-Fi Hotspots 263
Portable and Mobile WiMAX 264
Portable Satellite Service 265
Cellular Data Services 266
QuickCheck C 269
Section D:Internet Services 270
Real-Time Messaging 270
Voice Over IP 272
Grid Computing 274
FTP 276
File Sharing 277
QuickCheck D 279
Section E:Internet Security 280
Intrusion Attempts 280
Securing Ports 282
Routers and NAT 283
Virtual Private Networks 285
QuickCheck E 285
CHAPTER 7 THE WEB AND E-MAILSection A:Web Technology 288
Web Basics 288
HTML 290
HTTP 292
Web Browsers 293
Cookies 295
Web Page Authoring 297
HTML Scripts 299
QuickCheck A 301
Section B:Search Engines 302
Search Engine Basics 302
Formulating Searches 306
Citing Web-based Source Material 310
QuickCheck B 311
Section C:E-commerce 312
E-commerce Basics 312
Online Shopping 314
Online Auctions 316
Online Payment 317
QuickCheck C 319
Section D:E-mail 320
E-mail Overview 320
Netiquette 324
E-mail Technology 325
QuickCheck D 327
Section E:Web and E-mail Security 328
Cookie Exploits 328
Spam 331
Phishing 333
Fake Sites 333
QuickCheck E 335
CHAPTER 8 DIGITAL MEDIASection A:Digital Sound 338
Digital Audio Basics 338
Portable Audio Players 341
MIDI Music 342
Speech Recognition and Synthesis 344
QuickCheck A 345
Section B:Bitmap Graphics 346
Bitmap Basics 346
Scanners and Cameras 347
Image Resolution 349
Color Depth and Palettes 352
Image Compression 355
Bitmap Graphics Formats 358
QuickCheck B 359
Section C:Vector and 3-D Graphics 360
Vector Graphics Basics 360
Vector-to-Bitmap Conversion 363
Vector Graphics on the Web 364
3-D Graphics 365
QuickCheck C 367
Section D:Digital Video 368
Digital Video Basics 368
Producing Video Footage 369
Video Transfer 370
Video Editing 372
Video Output 373
Desktop,PDA,and Web Video 375
DVD-Video 377
QuickCheck D 379
Section E:Digital Rights Management 380
DRM Basics 380
Signal Scrambling and Digital Watermarks 381
CD Copy Protection 382
DVD and Blue-ray DRM 383
DRM for Digital Downloads 385
QuickCheck E 387
CHAPTER 9 THE COMPUTER INDUSTRY:HISTORY,CAREERS,AND ETHICSSection A:Computer History 390
Manual Calculators 390
Mechanical Calculators 391
Computer Prototypes 391
Generations of Computers 391
Personal Computers 398
QuickCheck A 400
Section B:The Computer and IT Industries 401
Industry Overview 401
Economic Factors 404
Product Development 406
Market Share 408
Marketing Channels 410
Industry Regulation 412
QuickCheck B 413
Section C:Careers for Computer Professionals 414
Jobs and Salaries 414
Education and Certification 418
Job Hunting Basics 421
Resumes and Web Portfolios 422
Job Listings 424
QuickCheck C 426
Section D:Professional Ethics 427
Ethics Basics 427
IT Ethics 429
Ethical Decision Making 433
Whistleblowing 436
QuickCheck D 437
Section E:Work Area Safety and Ergonomics 438
Radiation Risks 438
Repetitive Stress Injuries 440
Eye Strain 442
Back Pain 444
Sedentary Lifestyle 444
QuickCheck E 445
CHAPTER 10 INFORMATION SYSTEMS ANALYSIS AND DESIGNSection A:Information Systems 448
Information Systems in Organizations 448
Transaction Processing Systems 451
Management Information Systems 453
Decision Support Systems 454
Expert Systems and Neural Networks 456
QuickCheck A 457
Section B:Systems Analysis 458
System Development Life Cycle 458
Planning Phase 459
Analysis Phase 463
Documentation Tools 464
QuickCheck B 467
Section C:System Design 468
Design Phase 468
Evaluation and Selection 471
Application Specifications 473
QuickCheck C 474
Section D:Implementation and Maintenance 475
Implementation Phase 475
Development and Testing 475
Documentation and Training 477
Conversion and Cutover 477
Maintenance Phase 479
QuickCheck D 481
Section E:Corporate Data Security 482
Information System Data Vulnerabilities 482
Information System Data Security 484
Corporate Identity Theft 486
QuickCheck E 487
CHAPTER 11 DATABASESSection A:File and Database Concepts 490
Database Basics 490
Database Models 494
QuickCheck A 501
Section B:Data Management Tools 502
Data Management Software 502
Database Management Systems 505
Databases and the Web 507
XML 510
QuickCheck B 512
Section C:Database Design 513
Defining Fields 513
Normalization 517
Organizing Records 519
Designing the Interface 520
Designing Report Templates 522
Loading Data 524
QuickCheck C 524
Section D:SQL 525
SQL Basics 525
Adding Records 527
Searching for Information 528
Updating Fields 530
Joining Tables 531
QuickCheck D 532
Section E:Database Security 533
Database Vulnerabilities 533
Database Security Measures 534
Database Security Regulations 536
What Individuals Can Do 538
QuickCheck E 539
CHAPTER 12 COMPUTER PROGRAMMINGSECTION A:PROGRAMMING BASICS 542
Computer Programming and Software Engineering 542
Programming Languages and Paradigms 544
Program Planning 548
Program Coding 550
Program Testing and Documentation 553
Programming Tools 554
QuickCheck A 556
Section B:Procedural Programming 557
Algorithms 557
Expressing an Algorithm 560
Sequence,Selection,and Repetition Controls 563
Procedural Languages and Applications 568
QuickCheck B 569
Section C:Object-Oriented Programming 570
Objects and Classes 570
Inheritance 572
Methods and Messages 573
Object-Oriented Program Structure 577
Object-Oriented Languages and Applications 579
QuickCheck C 580
Section D:Declarative Programming 581
The Declarative Paradigm 581
Prolog Facts 582
Prolog Rules 586
Input Capabilities 588
Declarative Languages and Applications 590
QuickCheck D 590
Section E:Secure Programming 591
Black Hat Exploits 591
Secure Software Development 593
Mitigation 596
QuickCheck E 597
QUICKCHECK ANSWERS 598
GLOSSARY 602