Chapter 9 Reading Questions, 3/21/11

1. Key terms:

Packet-switching: A standard technique used to send information over the internet.A message is broken into packets that travel independently from network to network towards their common destination, where they are united.
open standards: not owned by any company
IP address: a string of 4 numbers separated by periods or dots that serves as an address for computers on the internet.
Static IP address: an address that is permanent
Dynamic IP address: address used for computers that are temporarily connected to the net, such as with dial up connection.
Next Generation Internet: refers to Internet Protocol Version 6. It solves the problem of address shortages and other improvements
multicasting: is a more efficient way for the same information to be transmitted to multiple Internet connected devices
DNS - Domain name system: A system that translates a computers numerical address into an easier to remember string of names separated by dots
domains:class of internet addresses indicated by suffixes such as .com, .org. gov.

2.Why is it hard to determine how big the Internet is?
There are many reasons why it is hard to determine how big the internet is. One, It is growing to fast
two, it is decentralized, and three It doesn't have hard boundaries.

3. Why are TCP/IP protocols so important to the functioning of the internet? What does it do?
It allows cross network communication for almost any type of computer or network by functioning as a language.

4. How does the type of Internet connection influence the things you can do on the Internet?
Internet connection and how you use it is all about speed. If you are frustrated with its slowness, then you will not use it for a very long time, as opposed to someone with fast internet who can do what he wants in no time at all.

Discussion Question: 3-16-11

Suppose you have an important message to send to a friend in another city, and you can use the telephone, email, real-time teleconference, fax, or overnight mail service. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each. See if you can think of a situation for each of the five options in which that particular option is the most appropriate choice.

All 5 of these systems used to send messages have their advantages and disadvantages. A telephone would be used when you need to tell somebody a list of things that would take too much time typing from an email. An email would be used when you want to quickly tell somebody something. A time teleconference would be used when the things you want to tell are very important, so you would want to see them. Fax is, like email, used for quick messaging and overnight mail service is used to send physical items. Disadvantages are mainly consisted of time issues, and portability.

Reading Questions Page 224-232 Part 2

1. Define Key terms
database: a collection of info stored in an organized form in a computer
table: a collection of related information
record: information related to one person, product, or event
field: A discrete chunk of info in a record
field type: the type of information a field can hold
numeric field: field that only contains numbers
date field: field that only contains date values
query: information request
select: Looking for all records that match a set of criteria
import data: to receive data in the form of text files created with word processors, spreadsheets, or other database.
query language: language used for query which is more precise than English

6) What are the advantages of personal information management softwares over paper notebook organizers? What are the disadvantages?

The advantages are that it is super fast and portable, as well as organized. There are also bonus benefits such as calendars. A disadvantage is that files can be lost due to viruses, but the advantages heavily outweigh the disadvantages.

8) How can a database be designed to reduce the likelihood of data entry errors?

Data cleansing eliminates any error that the data might have

11) Why are computers important in discussions of invasion of privacy?

Data mining techniques can be used to extract information about anyone without their knowledge/permission.

Discussion Question, 3-9-11

What have you done this week that directly or indirectly involved a database? How would your week have been different in a world without databases?

This week my involvement with databases have been mostly indirect, for in the use of them I had not explicitly recognize them as databases. This was particularly due to the fact that the databases I used during the week are part of my daily life routine. Without databases it would be extremely difficult, nearly impossible, for me to get through my day. Specifically, with my use of Google and Windows XP. Google is one of the biggest, most known databases that people use daily and I used Windows XP for managing my files and folders.

Reading Questions Page 224-232

2. What is the difference between a file manager and a database-manager system? How are they similar?

The similarity between the two is that they both manage files. The difference between the two is that a file manager allows for one user to work with only one file at a time, while a DBMS can manipulate data in a large collection of file cross referencing between files as needed. DBMS is used for complex jobs; file manager for simple tasks.

3. Describe a simple database.

A simple database is composed with and consists of tables that records data stored in specific types of fields.

4. What is a query? Give examples of the kinds of questions that might be answered with a query.

A query is an information request in database terminology. It searches specific records- for example, the average salary of a professional football player.

7. What does it mean to sort a data file?

Sorting a data file means arranging it in a specific way- this way can be done numerically or alphabetically.

Chapter 6: Graphics, Digital Media, and Multimedia

The term Graphics means artwork: photographs or other visual representations in a printed publication. Digital Media are usually electronic media's that work on digital codes. Multimedia is transmission that combine media of communication (text and graphics and sound etc.)


Objectives
-Compare and contrast several types of computer graphics programs used by artists, photographers, designers, and others.
-Explain how computers are changing the way professionals and amateurs work with video, animation, audio, and music.
-Describe several ways that computers are used to create multimedia materials in the arts, entertainment, education, and business.
-Explain the relationship between hypermedia and multimedia, describing applications of each.
-Describe several present and future applications for multimedia technology.

Tim Berners-Lee Weaves the Web for Everybody
-Born in London in 1955
-Wanted to create an open-ended distributed hypertext system with no boundaries, so scientists everywhere could link their work together
-Invented the World Wide Web and gave it to all
-Now works at MIT
-Heads the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C)

Focus on Computer Graphics
Painting: Bitmapped Graphics
Painting software:
-Paints pixels on the screen with a
pointing device
-Pointer movements are translated
into lines and patterns on the screen
-Stores an image at 300
dots per inch or higher

-Pixels: In digital imaging, a pixel (or picture element) is a single point in a raster image
-Palette: a palette is either a given, finite set of colors for the management of digital images (that is, a color palette), or a small on-screen graphical element for choosing from a limited set of choices, not necessarily colors (such as a tools palette).
-Bitmapped graphics (or raster graphics): Any visual matter containing pixels that has a bit depth of one.
-Color depth: the number of bits that are in each pixel
Resolution: resolution refers to the density of the pixels

Blog Question:What is the defenition for Bitmap Graphics?


Answer:Any visual matter containing pixels that has a bit depth of one. In other words, the pixel is either 100 percent black or 100 percent white.


Image Processing: Photographic Editing by Computer
-Allows the user to manipulate photographs and other high-resolution images with tools such as Adobe Photoshop
-Far more powerful than traditional photo-retouching techniques
-Can distort and combine photos as demonstrated in the tabloids
-Can create fabricated images that show no evidence of tampering

Blog Question: What is the benefit of photo management software?

Answer: It easily allows you to simplify and automate common tasks associated with capturing, organizing, editing, and sharing digital images.

Blog Question: What is the definition and difference of object-oriented or vector graphics?

Answer: There is no difference. They are the use of geometrical primitives such as points, lines, curves, and shapes or polygon(s), which are all based on mathematical equations, to represent images in computer graphics.

Article on adobe illustrator and macromedia freehand:
http://blogs.adobe.com/jnack/2007/05/freehand_no_longer_updated_moving_to_illus.html


Blog Question: What is the difference between drawing and painting?
Drawing is a form of visual expression and is one of the major forms within the visual arts. Painting,is the practice of applying color to a surface (support) such as paper, canvas, wood, glass, lacquer or concrete.

Computer Aided Design (CAD) software:

-Allows engineers, designers, and architects to create

designs on screen for products ranging from computer

chips to public buildings

-Can test product prototypes

-Cheaper, faster, and more accurate than traditional

design-by-hand techniques

Rules of Thumb: Making Powerful Presentations:

Remember your goal.

Remember your audience.

Outline your ideas.

Be stingy with words.

Keep it simple.

Use a consistent design.

Be smart with art.

Keep each slide focused.

Tell them what you’re going to tell them, then tell them, then tell them what you told them.

Format	Description
WAV, AIFF	Standard formats for uncompressed audio for Windows and the Mac OS, respectively. Both formats are supported on Windows, Mac OS, and Linux. Both create large files. Both are lossless – a CD track encoded with WAV or AIFF sounds identical to the original.
MP3	A popular format for transmitting audio on the Internet. A CD track converted to MP3 format can be 1/10 the size of the original – or smaller – but still sound very similar.
WMA	An alternative to MP3 developed by Microsoft for Windows. WMA compression can result in smaller files of higher fidelity. WMA files may be protected by DRM.
AAC	Apple’s alternative to MP3 and WMA is used primarily by iTunes and iTunes Music Store. AAC compression is sonically superior to MP3 compression. AAC files may be protected by DRM.
OGG	Similar to WMA and AAC in sound quality and compression, OGG Vorbis is open source and freely available – not controlled by any company.

Blog Question: What is the difference between & def: Graphics, Digital Media, and Multimedia

Hypertext refers to information linked in non-sequential ways.

Hypermedia combines text, numbers, graphics, animation, sound effects, music, and other media in hyperlinked documents.

-Useful for on-line help files

Ø-Lets the user jump between documents all over the Internet

Virtual reality combines virtual worlds with networking.

-It places multiple participants in a virtual space.

-People see representations of each other, sometimes called avatars.

-Most avatars today are cartoonish, but they convey a sense of presence and emotion

Tele-immersion:

-Uses multiple cameras and high-speed networks to create a videoconferencing environment in which multiple remote users can interact with each other and with computer-generated objects

-Combines the display and interaction techniques of virtual reality with new vision technologies that allow participants to move around in shared virtual spaces, all the while maintaining their unique points of view

Augmented reality (AR):

-The use of computer displays that add virtual information to a person’s sensory perceptions

Computer graphics today encompass more than quantitative charts and graphs generated by spreadsheets.

Computers today aren’t limited to working with static images; they’re widely used to create and edit documents in media that change over time or in response to user interaction.

The interactive nature of the personal computer makes it possible to create nonlinear documents that enable users to take individual paths through information.

Chapter 5: Productivity Applications

Doug Engelbart Explores Hyperspace
- One of the pioneers of the computer hardware and software
- In 1968, he demonstrated his Augment system:
> Mouse
> Video Display Setting
> Mixed text and graphics, windowing
> Outlining
> Shared-Screen Video Conferencing
> Computer Conferincing
> Groupware
> Hypermedia

The Wordsmith's Toolbox

- Working with a word processer involves several steps
> Entering text
> Editing text
> Formatting the document
> Proofreading the document
> Saving the document on disk
> Printing the document

Entering, Editing, and Formatting Text

Entering Text

> Text is displayed on the screen stored in the computer's RAM
> Save your work periodically because RAM is not permanent memory

Editing Text

> Navigate to different parts of a document
> Insert or delete text at any point
> Move and copy text
> Search and replace words or phrases

- Formatting paragraphs involves:
Margin settings
Line spacing
Indents
Tabs
Justification

- Formatting the document
Stylesheets
Headers and footers
Multiple variable-width columns
Graphics
Automatic editing features
Hidden comments
Table of contents and indexes
Coaching and help features
(sometimes called wizards)
Conversion to HTML for Web publishing

-Rules of Thumb: Word Processing Is Not Typing
Use the Return or Enter key only when you must.
Word wrap moves text to the next line.
Use tabs and margin guides, not the spacebar, to align columns.
WYSIWYG is a matter of degree.
Text that looks perfectly aligned onscreen may not line up on paper.

Don’t underline.
Use italics and boldface for emphasis; italicize book and journal titles.
Use only one space after a period.
Proportionally-spaced fonts look better without double spaces.
Take advantage of special characters.
Bullets (•), em dashes (—), and curly or smart quotes (“ ”) make your work look more professional.

Outliners and Idea Processors are effective at:
Arranging information into levels
Rearranging ideas and levels
Hiding and revealing levels of detail as needed


Digital References
Dictionaries, quotation books, encyclopedias, atlases, almanacs, and other references are now available in digital form.
The biggest advantage of the electronic form is speed.
The biggest drawback is that quick and easy copying might tempt writers to plagiarize.

Synonym Finders
A computerized thesaurus can provide instantaneous feedback for synonyms

- Spelling Checkers
Compare words in your document with words in a disk-based dictionary
Words might be flagged, but you make the decision to ignore or change the spelling.
Grammar and Style Checkers
Analyze each word in context, checking for errors of content
Check spelling
Point out possible errors and suggest improvements
Analyze prose complexity using measurements such as sentence length and paragraph length

- Form Letter Generators
Mail merge capabilities produce personalized form letters.
Create a database with names.
Create a form letter.
Merge the database with the form letter to create a personalized letter.
You can incorporate custom paragraphs based on the recipient’s personal data.
Each letter looks as if it were individually written.

- Collaborative Writing Tools
Groupware: software designed to be used by a workgroup
Provides for collaborative writing and editing
Tracks changes and identifies them by the originator’s name
Compares document versions and highlights differences in documents

- Processing handwritten words
Processing words with software that can reliably recognize human speech
Anticipating a writer’s needs, acting as an electronic editor or co-author

- What Is Desktop Publishing?
The process of producing a book, magazine, or other publication includes several steps:
Writing text
Editing text

- Producing drawings, photographs, and other graphics to accompany the text
Designing a basic format for the publication
Typesetting text
Arranging text and graphics on pages
Typesetting and printing pages
Binding pages into a finished publication

With modern desktop publishing technology (DTP), the production process can be accomplished with sophisticated tools that are affordable and easy to use.
A desktop publishing system generally includes:
One or more Macs or PCs
A scanner
Transforms photographs and hand-drawn images into computer-readable documents
A high-resolution printer
Software