1. Spring, 2014 Instructor: Shu-Yen Wan

2. By Pete Cashmore, CNN on February 21, 2012 7:56 a.m. EST (CNN)-- Apple released Mountain Lion to developers last week, a new operating system that will make your desktop computer work more like your phone than ever before. The trend is clear: The desktop operating system will merge with the mobile OS in the coming years. The question is: Why? Let's start with the trend itself. First off, Apple is integrating cloud services much more deeply in Mountain Lion than any previous operating system. That means your music, photos, calendars, contacts, emails and more can now stay in sync across your phone, tablet and Mac. Apple has also unified your messages across your devices: The Message app (formerly iMessages) will replace iChat on the Mac. That's not all: Mountain Lion also gets a notification center that works just like the notifications you receive on your phone. Games Center is coming to the Mac as well, allowing you to play games against your friends who own iPhones and iPads. 2

3. Apps like Reminders, Notes and Contacts are also all getting desktop versions – and of course these sync with your mobile devices so your data is always up to date. Most notable of all: Apple is now pushing software updates through the Mac App Store, hinting that the App Store may become the only way to get software on your Mac in the future. So what are the advantages of your desktop computer merging with your phone's functionality? And are there any downsides?  Simplicity  The main reason Apple wants to make Macs work like the iPhone and iPad is simple. Or rather, simplicity. Despite decades of innovation and the invention of the graphical user interface, computers remain too confusing and complex for the majority of people.  While more powerful software with complex functionality will continue to exist for highly technical users, most consumers want a device that's easy to use and intuitive.  The rise of the iPad and iPhone prove that there's huge demand for such simplicity, and that desktops too will need to become more streamlined.  The downside of simplicity? Simple systems are often less "open" and provide less freedom to try new things: Tasks are either easy to complete (because the developers thought of that use case) or not possible at all. 3

4.  Security  Mobile operating systems could potentially be more secure than their desktop counterparts. In particular, if Apple makes the App Store the only way to download apps to your Mac, it would become more difficult for users to install malware (since Apple manually approves every app in the store).  What's more, mobile features like tracking the location of your devices or wiping them remotely will make consumer desktops more secure.  There are downsides to app stores, however.  Not only would devices become less open – the makers of operating systems become gatekeepers – but you could argue that Apple and its rivals simply want to force the use of app stores so that they make more money for themselves. 4

5.  Syncing  Perhaps the most obvious benefit of making desktops work more like phones is unity between all your devices.  With a similar (or single) operating system on all your gadgets, syncing apps, contacts and calendars between them all becomes effortless.  There's a downside for users, however: Competing operating systems tend not to work well together, and using one operating system across all devices means uses are "locked in" more than ever before.  So there you have it: Your desktop computer is becoming more and more like your phone -- and in fact the line between the two will one day disappear.  If you think it's just Apple's devices that are headed toward a simpler operating system, however, you'd be mistaken – Apple is merely in the news because Mountain Lion became available to developers last week.  In fact, Microsoft's Windows 8 takes its cues from Windows Phone, meaning that the two major desktop operating systems will mimic your mobile devices very soon. 5

6.  English is important  All of us know ever since we were kids – parents and teachers’ sayings, better job acquisition, higher payroll expectation  Scientific English is important as a computer and information professional  The article we read, the terminology we use, the potential people we meet are mostly English involved  However, English is hardly a convenient language for us  We “try” very hard to avoid practicing English  Escape from the scene when “speaking English” comes to us  Use Chinese version of the textbook  Little desire to make more improvement 6

7.  The objective of the course is to equip the students with fundamental terminology and English vocabulary in information technology, which may enhance their competence in studies of various information management topics.  Besides lectures, this course will be supplemented with numerous listening, viewing of information technology clips from various sources, reading of information management related articles, and in-class discussions that will be the man vehicles to develop the students’ English proficiency for information management.  The course will, for most part, be conveyed in English. The students are required to communicate in English in class. 7

8.  Textbook  Infotech: English for Computer Users (Student’s Book), 4 th Ed., Cambridge University Press, The Edinburgh Building, Cambridge, UK. (2008) ( 華泰文化 )  TA: Kai-Lun Tu ( 凃凱倫 ) and Wan-Ting Chen ( 王君玲 )  Course FTP: ftp://163.25.117.117/sywan/Scientific English for IM  Grading policy  In-class assignments/homework/class presentation: 40%  In-class participation: 20%  Mid-term: 20%  Final Exam: 20% 8

9.  Social Interactivity Capabilities  Problem Solving Capabilities  System Implementation Capabilities  Information Management Capabilities  Inter-disciplinary Learning 9 CP Course Social Interactivity Problem Solving System Implementation Information Management Inter-disciplinary Learning SE4IM1.0

10. (For each unit)  Listening  Reading  Speaking  Writing  Language Work  Vocabulary 10

11.  Module 1: Computers today  Module 2: Input / Output devices  Module 3: Storage devices  Module 4: Basic software  Module 5: Faces of the internet  Module 6: Creative software  Module 7: Programming / Jobs in ICT  Module 8: Computers tomorrow 11

12.  Unit 1: Living in a digital age  Unit 2: Computer essentials  Unit 3: Inside the system  Unit 4: Buying a computer 12

13.  Unit 5: Type, click and talk!  Unit 6: Capture your favorite image  Unit 7: Display screens and ergonomics  Unit 8: Choosing a printer  Unit 9: Devices for the disabled 13

14.  Unit 10: Magnetic storage  Unit 11: Optical storage  Unit 12: Flash memory 14

15.  Unit 13: The operating system (OS)  Unit 14: Word processing (WP)  Unit 15: Spreadsheets and databases 15

16.  Unit 16: The internet and e-mail  Unit 17: The web  Unit 18: Chat and conferencing  Unit 19: Internet security 16

17.  Unit 20: Graphics and design  Unit 21: Desktop publishing  Unit 22: Multimedia  Unit 23: Web design 17

18.  ICT: Information Communications Technology  Unit 24: Program design and computer languages  Unit 25: Java TM  Unit 26: Jobs in ICT 18

19.  Unit 27: Communication systems  Unit 28: Networks  Unit 29: Video games  Unit 30: New technologies 19

20.  4- or 5-people groups  Group members can have different grades, depending on how an individual performs when interacting with the instructor.  Each group is required to raise his/her hand at least once on class. Bonus will be awarded according to the student’s English proficiency, willing to share ideas, bold enough to take the challenges the instructor proposes, etc. 20

21.  Class representative to order textbook  華泰文化 - 莊學智 (0933-120-167 or 02-21621217 ext. 152)  ISBN: 978-0-521-70299-7  Grouping  When we come back.. 21

22.  Due on March 5 th, 2014  Turn in your group and member description in A4-sized pages, electronically.  Each group must have its own name, mascot, and a group photo  Each member has its own CV (Curriculum Vitae) of at least one page.  Sample CV…  Submit your homework via e-mail to the TA 22

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