Technology Skills for Life, Career, and Academic Success

DIGITAL LIFE IN THE 21ST CENTURY We are surrounded by digital communication tools—DigiTools Use DigiTools to communicate digitally Digital communication skills are essential for career and academic success Chapter 1

Micro-Intelligence DigiTools 3e In this Lesson You Will: 1. Locate your computer’s brains, and learn to identify types of computers. 2. Explore the digital communications model. 3. Explore ways to keep your information secure. 4. Learn about acceptable use policies. DigiTools 3e Chapter 1

4 categories of computers Digital Brains Hardware Physical parts of digital devices 4 categories of computers Multimedia Portable Handheld Specialized Chapter 1

Microprocessor or “microchip” Digital Brains Microprocessor or “microchip” Small circuit board that controls all processing or “thinking” inside a computer Chapter 1

Digital Communications Model Message Consists of any information, ideas, thoughts, or creativity you want to share Input methods Include keyboard, speech recognition, handwriting recognition, digital camera, scanner, or digital download Chapter 1

Digital Communications Model Output Can be anything someone hears, sees, reads, or experiences Web page, e-mail message, phone conversation, printed report, multimedia show, digital photo, or movie Chapter 1

Passwords for Your Protection Information Technology (IT) specialists (Network Administrators) Manage and protect network accounts from both accidental mistakes and deliberate abuse Chapter 1

Passwords for Your Protection Series of letters and/or numbers that users enter to gain access to their network account Protect your data from unauthorized use by others Chapter 1

Passwords for Your Protection Should not be obvious At least 8 characters in length Combination of letters and numbers Remember your password Do not share with anyone!! Chapter 1

Passwords for Your Protection Hackers Unauthorized users who steal confidential data Computer virus Program that can quickly destroy data May cause a computer or network to stop working properly Can run without the user’s knowledge Chapter 1

Acceptable Use Policies (AUP) Rules to guide users in the use of corporate or academic computers and networks Chapter 1

Acceptable Use Policies (AUP) Chapter 1

Operating System Know-How In this Lesson You Will: 1. Explore your computer inside and out. 2. Use your operating system to control your computer. 3. Explore the power of Control Panels. 4. Find your peripheral devices. DigiTools 3e Chapter 1

Your Computer, Inside and Out Central processing unit (CPU) Contains the microprocessor Found on special circuit boards called motherboards Motherboards Connect CPUs to other important internal components inside computer Chapter 1

Take Control with Your OS Operating system (OS) Essential software link between you and your computer’s hardware Talks to internal/external components of PC Two types Proprietary: owned with licenses necessary Open source: shared by developers Chapter 1

Take Control with Your OS User interface (UI) Parts of OS you see and interact with Usually graphical (GUI) Use icons: small pictures Windows, Linux, Macintosh OS Chapter 1

Do Not Default to the Ordinary Microsoft provides default settings for Windows interface Changes are made in Control Panels Powerful apps, or mini-applications Can change the way your computer works, looks, and responds to your commands Chapter 1

Peripherals Powerful Peripherals Components or devices that connect to a PC Examples: printers, Wacom handwriting tablets, speech recognition headsets, projectors, and scanners Chapter 1

Application Know-How DigiTools 3e In this Lesson You Will: 1. Start and close valuable, free applications that come with your Windows software. 2. Open applications in Windows. 3. Minimize, maximize, restore down and resize application Windows. 4. Use Tab and Alt + Tab and scroll through multiple open windows. 5. Use the Windows search tool to find and open applications in windows. DigiTools 3e Chapter 1

EXTRAORDINARY WINDOWS APPLICATIONS Specialized software programs Also called programs or software Applications open in rectangles, called windows Chapter 1

Searching for Apps and Control Panels Windows allows for quick searches for files, folders, Control Panels and applications Programs found based on keyword Control Panel applications found based on keyword Keyword search box Chapter 1

Library, Folder, and File management Know-How In this Lesson You Will: 1. View your storage media in different ways. 2. Learn about file and folder data storage. 3. Create, save, and store files and folders. 4. Open, rename, and save data files. 5. Manage your files by renaming, copying, moving, and deleting them. DigiTools 3e Chapter 1

Storage Media or storage devices Hard drives Compact discs for CD-RW or Digital Versatile Disk for DVD-RW drives USB or thumb drives Online (cloud) storage Chapter 1

About Files and Folders Applications create files File Collection of saved information (data) Folders Storing places (containers for files) Subfolders Folder within a folder Chapter 1

Opening, Renaming, and Saving Data Files Windows uses very similar commands for managing both files and folders Chapter 1