Thursday, November 20, 2014

Operating Systems

1. An Operating System is a type of software
True, an OS runs the computer and tells the software and hardware of a computer what to do

2. Operating Systems control the loading of software applications onto a computer
True, if the CPU has too many software applications, the OS will choose whichever one to load first

3. All Operating Systems offer user preferences allowing you to customize your computer
True, OS offer customizable options

4. An Operating System prioritizes the tasks that a CPU does
True, if the CPU has too many tasks, the OS will choose which is important

5. The following devices have an OS: Apple Ipod, Dell Laptop, and a Nintendo Wii.
True, the Nintendo Wii does have an OS

Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Communicating on the Internet

Email Clients and Servers
Emails use client/server technology. Whether you use software made solely for email (such as Outlook) or a web-based service (such as Gmail) the client is what lets you perform the tasks like reading or sending emails and downloading attachments. The email client also communicates with email servers. When using programs like Outlook, you must give them information that allows it to connect to the email server that you use. Once it has the information, it streamlines the process, making it easier and simpler for you.

How Email is Delivered over the Internet
Once the message is sent, the email client connects to a Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) server for the email domain (the part of the email after @). The email client tells the server who the emails from and sent to who. The SMTP asks the DNS server to ask for the IP address of the domain in question. The SMTP connects to the domain and gives the message to its SMTP server. POP3 and IMAP are two types of incoming-mail servers. When receiving a message from POP3, you download it from the server onto the computer. When getting a message from IMAP servers, the email stays on the server until you delete it. You can access the message from any computer.

How Instant Messaging Works
(IM) Instant Messaging has been around since the early 1990s. Its an alternative chat room online. Today, you can send and receive files, create chat rooms, and send messages from your phone as well. The client sends the server your IP address and any information about your contacts.

Monday, November 10, 2014

How the Internet Works

1. What is the Internet? 

The internet is the world's largest WAN. Made up of millions of smaller networks, users can find everything online such as web pages, email, IM, FTP sites, online games, and more. Rooted in the early 1960s, the Internet was limited only to the government. It was first thought of by ARPA, advanced research project agency. The Internet was first used by the three computers, two in California, one in Boston.

2. What is a protocol?

Rules for how computers in a network communicate with each other are called network protocols. They control or enable the connection, communication, and data transfer between two computer endpoints. HTTP, hypertext transfer protocol, at the beginning of every URL is an example of a protocol the computer uses. There is also FTP, file transfer protocol, and TCP transmission control protocol. Internet Protocol (IP) is the rules used to send and receive messages using the Internet.


3. What is DNS?

Domain Name Service. It translates addresses/domain names into the IP address to locate computer services online. DNS is like a phone book. It looks up a host name and returns an IP address, also vice versa. DNS servers only have limited information and if it doesn't have information on the requested domain, it looks to other DNS's servers

Thursday, October 23, 2014

Peripherals notes

Unit 2, Lesson 6 - learning about peripherals

Peripherals are devices used for computer input and output; mouse, monitor, keyboard, USB, printer, etc.

Keyboards report each key press to a software program that interprets the keystrokes as binary digits. A keyboard also gives commands to computer operating systems.

Most mice use either optical or laser technology, there is also USB wireless optical mice and trackball mice.

Monitors are output devices, such as an LCD or CRT monitor

High-definition monitors have better resolution. A pixel (picture element) is the smallest colored dot that is displayed on the screen, so more pixels means more details. A standard resolution is 1280 x 720 pixels (width by height). High-def monitors have 1920 by 1080 pixels

Printers and scanners add value to systems. Many types of printers: inkjet, thermal, impact, laser

Many different drives: 3 1/2 inch floppy drive, CD-ROM drive, DVD drive, Blu-ray drive

External drives give users more storage options (external hard drive, DVD drive with laser light, USB drive

Tower cases have expansion bays. They usually have at least one bay for an optical drive such as DVD or Blu-ray. Different sizes and types of drives can all be loaded into the same tower case.

Dream computer needs -
keyboard
mouse
monitor
printer
scanner
storage drives
game controllers/joysticks

Monday, October 20, 2014

Computer Parts

HARDWARE
  • motherboard
  • CPU (Central Processing Unit)
  • fan
  • disk drive (HDD or SDD)
  • USB ports
  • RAM (Random Access Memory)
  • ROM (Read Only Memory)
  • Graphics card
  • Video/sound card
  • Power cables
  • North bridge/South bridge
  • computer case
  • power supply
SOFTWARE
  • operating system (windows linux pc os)
  • browsers (internet explorer google chrome)
  • Microsoft Office (business software)
  • drivers for certain peripherals
  • anti-virus software
PERIPHERALS
  • keyboard
  • mouse
  • monitor
  • speakers
  • controller
  • printer
  • fax machine
  • projectors
  • CD
  • microphone
  • USB
  • external hard drive
  • scanner
  • headsets
  • webcam
  • gamepad/joysticks
  • biometric devices
FUNCTIONS
  • navigate/surf the internet
  • stores and saves documents/pictures etc.
  • process data
  • shopping
  • communication
  • gaming
  • banking (online transactions)

Monday, October 13, 2014

Aluminum Foil Deflector Beanie Zapatopi

This webpage about AFDB (Aluminum Foil Deflector Beanie) is authentic and valid because it contains a lot of credibility. The author is shown at the bottom, Lyle Zapato, and he includes his own contact information. The website has no grammatical or spelling errors. The purpose of the webpage is to inform people about the deflector and to persuade them to buy and/or make it. The webpage isn't up to date, last update was 2008, but it provides the date information. And lastly, the information Zapato gives is seemingly accurate and provides a lot of information about the beanie.

ID Theft FaceOff

The three nationwide consumer reporting companies are Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Consumer reporting agencies are companies that collect info from various sources and provide consumer credit info on individual consumers for variety of uses.