TU170: Computing Essentials

Transcription

1 TU170: Computing Essentials Session 2 Chapter 2 & 3 Prepared by Amal Naji Ahmad Khalaf The contents of this presentation have been prepared from the study book of the TU170 course, Computer essentials 2014 Chapter 2: The Internet, the Web, and Electronic Commerce The Internet is often referred to as the Information Superhighway because it connects millions of people and organizations across the globe. Unlike a typical highway, the Internet moves ideas, data, and information through networks. The Web provides an easy-to-use, intuitive multimedia interface to connect to the Internet. It has become an everyday tool for all of us to use. Competent end users need to be aware of the resources available on the Internet and the Web. 1

2 The Internet and the Web The Internet was launched in 1969 when the US developed national computer network called ARPANET. The Internet is the largest global network, connecting smaller networks worldwide. The World Wide Web or WWW was introduced in 1991 at CERN in Switzerland. Prior to the Web, the Internet was all text (no graphics, animation, sound or video). The web is a part of the Internet not the Internet: The Internet is the actual network made up of wires, cables, satellites and rules for exchanging information between computers. The Web is the multimedia interface to the resources available on the Internet. The Internet and the Web The most common Internet uses are: Communicating Exchange Discussion groups Online Shopping Look for the latest fashions, search for bargains and make purchases. Searching (for information) Access some of the world s largest libraries directly from home computer (Virtual libraries). Education or e-learning Take online classes Entertainment Find music, movies, magazines and computer games. 2

3 Access Common way to access the Internet is through a Commercial Internet Service Providers (ISP). The most widely used ISPs are the national and wireless service providers. Client-server network is comprised of users that are connected to a ISP via a variety of connecting technologies (dial-up, telephone connections, wireless modems, DSLs, etc ) Browsers Browsers are programs that provide access to Web resources. Browsers allow you to explore (or surf) the Web by easily moving from one web site to another. Four popular browsers are: Microsoft Internet Explorer. Mozilla Firefox. Apple Safari. Google Chrome. 3

4 Browsers For browsers to connect to resources, the address of the resource must be specified. This address is called Uniform Resource Locator (URL). All URLs have at least two parts Protocol: rules for exchanging data between computers (e.g. http, used for web traffic) Domain name: indicates the specific address where the resource is located. Top-level domains (TLDs) provide further information about the website. For example,.com indicates a commercial site. Browsers Once the browser has connected to a web site, a document file is sent to your computer. This document typically contains Hypertext Markup Language (HTML). The browser interprets the HTML codes and displays the document as a Web page. 4

5 Communication Communication is the most popular Internet activity. Popular types of Internet communication are: Electronic Mail ( ). Messaging. Social Networking. Blogs, Microblogs, Webcasts, Podcasts, wikis. is the transmission of electronic messages over the Internet. An message has three basic parts: Header (includes address, subject and attachment), message and signature. 5

6 address example: Spam is junk, unwanted or unsolicited . Computer viruses or destructive programs are often attached to spams. Spam blockers are programs that use a variety of approaches to identify and control spams. Spam blockers are also referred to as: Junk mail filters or anti-spam programs. 6

7 Messaging Types of messaging: Text messaging Instant Messaging Text messaging, also known as texting, is the process of sending a short electronic message, typically less than 160 characters, using a wireless network to another person who views the message on a mobile device such as a smartphone. Instant Messaging (IM) allows two or more people to contact each other via direct, live communication. Messaging Instant messaging programs also include: Video conferencing features File sharing Remote assistance Most widely used instant messaging services: AOL s Instant Messenger Microsoft s MSN Messenger Yahoo Messenger 7

8 Social Networking One of the fastest growing uses of the Internet is Social Networking. Social networking sites focus on connecting people and organizations that share a common interest or activity. These sites provide many tools that facilitate meeting, communicating, and sharing. Three of the best known are Facebook, Google+, and LinkedIn. Blogs, Microblogs, Webcasts, Podcasts, and Wikis In addition to social networking sites, there are other applications that help ordinary people communicate across the web including: Blogs Microblogs Webcasts Podcasts wikis. 8

9 Blogs, Microblogs, Webcasts, Podcasts, and Wikis Web log or log is a type of personal Web site where articles are regularly posted. Postings are time-stamped with the newest items first. Readers of these sites are allowed to comment. Some blogs are like online diaries with personal information; others focus on information, hobby or theme (good books, electronic devices, ). Several sites provide tools to create blogs like Blogger and WordPress. Blogs, Microblogs, Webcasts, Podcasts, and Wikis A microblog publishes short sentences that only take a few seconds to write, rather than long stories like a traditional blog. Microblogs are designed to keep friends and other contacts up-to-date on your interest and activities. The most popular microblog site is Twitter. 9

10 Blogs, Microblogs, Webcasts, Podcasts, and Wikis Both webcasts and podcasts deliver media content such as music and movies over the Internet to your computer. Webcasts use streaming technology in which audio and video files are continuously downloaded to your computer while you are listening to and/or viewing the file content. After a webcast has been completed, there are no files remaining on your computer. Podcasts do not use streaming technology. Before a podcast can be run, the media files have to be downloaded and saved to your computer. Blogs, Microblogs, Webcasts, Podcasts, and Wikis A wiki is a web site specially designed to allow visitors to fill in missing information or correct inaccuracies on it by directly editing the pages. Wikis support collaborative writing in which there isn t a single expert author, but rather a community of interested people. The most common example is Wikipedia. Wikipedia is an online encyclopedia written and edited by anyone who wants to contribute. 10

11 Search tools The Web provides incredible resources of information on any topic. Such a huge source of information requires tools to help locate information. Search tools include: Search engines. Specialized search engines. Search tools Search engines are specialized programs that assist you in locating information on the Web. To use a search website, you enter a keyword or phrase reflecting the information you want. The search engine compares your entry against its database and returns a list of hits, or sites that contain the keywords. Each hit includes a link to the referenced web page along with a brief discussion of the information contained at that location. 11

12 Search tools Specialized search engines focus on subjectspecific Web sites. Specialized sites can potentially save your time by narrowing your search. Search tools To evaluate the accuracy of information you find on the web, consider the following: Authority. Is the author an expert in the subject area? Is the site an official site for the information presented, or is the site an individual's personal website? Accuracy. Has the information been critically reviewed for correctness prior to posting on the web? Objectivity. Is the information factually reported or does the author have a bias Currency. Is the information up to date? Does the site specify the date when the site was updated? 12

13 Electronic Commerce Electronic Commerce (e-commerce) is the buying and selling of goods over the Internet. Like any other type of commerce, electronic commerce involves two parties: businesses and customers. There are three basic types of e-commerce: Business-to-consumer (B2C). Consumer-to-consumer (C2C). Business-to-business (B2B). Electronic Commerce Business-to-consumer (B2C) Involves the sale of a product or service to end users. Eliminates the wholesaler by allowing manufacturer to sell directly to customer. Consumer-to-consumer (C2C) Involves individuals selling to individuals. Takes the form of an electronic version of the classified ads or auctions. Business-to-business (B2B) Involves the sale of a product or service from one business to another. For example, a furniture manufacturer requires raw materials such as wood and paint. 13

14 Security The single greatest challenge for e-commerce is the development of fast, secure and reliable payment methods. Two basic payment options: Credit card: faster and more convenient than checks. Credit card fraud is a major concern for both buyers and sellers. Digital cash: currency for Internet purchases. Buyers purchases digital cash from a third party (a bank that specializes in electronic currency) by transferring funds from their banks and use it to purchase goods. Sellers convert the digital cash to traditional currency through the third party. Digital cash in more secure than credit cards.example: PayPal. Cloud Computing Cloud computing uses the Internet and the Web to shift many computer activities from the user s computers and other computers on the Internet. It frees end-users from owning, maintaining, and storing software programs and data. 14

15 Cloud Computing The basic components to cloud computing: Clients (end-users). The Internet. Service providers. Such as Google Apps, which provides free access to programs with capabilities similar to Microsoft s Word, Excel and PowerPoint. Ref: Access date: 3/5/2013 Web Utilities Web Utilities are specialized utility programs that make using the Internet and Web safer and easier. Some utilities are browser-related programs. Others are designed to protect children from dangerous and inappropriate websites materials. Plug-Ins. Filters. File Transfer Utilities. Internet Security Suites. 15

16 Plug-Ins Plug-Ins are programs that provide an enhanced browsing experience by enabling special file formats and multimedia elements. Some widely used plug-ins are shown in the table. Some of these utilities are included in many today s browsers and operating systems. Others must be installed. Filters Filters block access to selected sites. Filter programs allow parents and organizations to block out selected sites and set time limits. List of the best-known filters is shown in the table. 16

17 File Transfer Utilities File Transfer Utilities Programs that help you upload and download files to and from the Internet. Three popular types of file transfer are: File Transfer Protocol (FTP) and Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP) Web-based file transfer services. BitTorrent Internet Security Suites An Internet Security Suite is a collection of utility programs designed to maintain your security and privacy while you are on the Web. These programs control spam, protect against computer viruses, provide filters and much more. You could buy each program separately; however, the cost of the suit is typically much less. Two of the best-known Internet security suites are: McAfee. Symantec Norton. 17

18 Chapter 3: Application Software Not long ago, trained specialists were required to perform many of the operations you can now do with a microcomputer. Examples: secretaries, market analysts, graphic artists, Competent end users need to understand the capabilities of basic application software including: Word processors Spreadsheets Database management systems Presentation programs 35 Application software Application software is end user software that is used to accomplish a variety of tasks. Two categories of application software: General-Purpose Applications: include word processors, spreadsheets, database management systems and presentation graphics. Specialized applications: other programs that tend to be more narrowly focused and used in specific disciplines, such as web authoring programs, graphics programs, audio and video editors, multimedia authoring programs, 36 18

19 User Interface You control and interact with a program using a user interface. Graphical User Interface (GUI): is a user interface that uses icons selected by a mouse-controlled pointer. A window is simply a rectangle area that can contain a document, program or message. More than one window can be opened and displayed on the computer screen at one time. 37 User Interface Most software programs use a system of menus, toolbars, dialogue boxes and buttons. Menus present commands displayed in menu bars at the top of the screen. Dialogue box provide additional information or requests user input. Toolbars contain buttons for quick access commonly used commands. Standard Toolbar in Microsoft Office Excel

20 User Interface 39 User Interface Microsoft 2010 uses an interface introduced in office 2007 that includes: Ribbons replace menus and toolbars by organizing commonly used commands into a set of tabs. Tabs divide ribbons into major activity areas. Galleries display graphic representations of alternatives

21 User Interface 41 Common Features Some of the most common features in applications include: Spell checkers: look for misspelled words Alignment: either centers, right-aligns, or left-aligns numbers and characters Font and font sizes (perhaps use character effects): specifies the size and style of entered numbers and text Tables: presents numbers and text in table format Reports: provides a variety of different types and styles to report information 42 21

22 General-Purpose Applications Word Processors Word Processors allow you to create, edit, save and print text-based documents including memos, letters, faxes, flyers, brochures, reports, newsletters and Web pages. Examples on Word processing programs: Microsoft Word (the most widely used) Corel WordPerfect Apple Pages 44 22

23 Word Processor Features Entering features include: Word Wrap automatically moves the insertion point to the next line. Editing features include: Thesaurus provides synonyms, antonyms and related words. Find and replace locates (finds), removes, and inserts (replace) another word(s). Spelling and grammar checkers locate spelling and grammatical problems. 45 Word Processor Features Formatting features include: Font and font sizing. Character effects include bod, italic and colors. Styles feature enable applying predefined set of formatting to text in one step. Bulleted and numbered lists used to present sequences on topics or steps

24 Case: Creating a Flyer 47 Spreadsheets Spreadsheets programs organize, analyze and graph numeric data. Examples on Spreadsheet programs: Microsoft Excel (the most widely used) Corel Quattro Pro Apple iwork's Numbers 48 24

25 Spreadsheets Spreadsheets manipulate numeric data and create workbook files. Workbook files consist of one or more related worksheets. A worksheet or spreadsheet or sheet is a rectangular grid of rows and columns. Columns are identified by letters and rows are identified by numbers. A cell is created by the intersection of a row and column. A cell can contain text or numeric entries. Numeric entry can be a number or a formula. 49 Spreadsheets 50 25

26 Spreadsheets A formula is an instruction to calculate or process. Example: F15 contains the formula =E5-E13 Functions are prewritten formulas provided by the spreadsheet program that perform calculations such as adding. Example: E13 contains the function SUM(D8:D12), which adds the values in the range from D8 to D12. A range is a series of continuous cells. In this case, the range includes D8, D9, D10, D11 and D12. The sum of the values is displayed in cell E Spreadsheets Spreadsheets programs typically provide a variety of different types of functions including financial, mathematical, statistical and logical functions

27 Spreadsheets Analytical graphs or charts are visual representations of data in a spreadsheet. Charts can be created by selecting the cells containing the data to be charted and then selecting the type of chart to display. If you change one or more numbers in your spreadsheet, all related formulas will automatically recalculate and charts will be recreated. What-if Analysis is the process of observing the effect of changing one or more values. 53 Case: Creating a Sales Forecast 54 27

28 Case: Creating a chart 55 Database Management Systems (DBMS) A database is a collection of related data. Database Management Systems (DBMS) or database manager is a program that sets up or structures a database. It also provides tools to enter, edit and retrieve data from the database. Universities use databases to keep records of students, instructors and courses. Companies maintain employee databases. Microsoft Access is the most popular desktop database management software 56 28

29 Database Management Systems (DBMS) The relational database is the most widely used database structure. Data is organized into related tables. Each table is made up of rows called records and columns called fields. A DBMS provides tools to create and use databases. 57 Database Management Systems (DBMS) A Query is a question or a request for a specific data contained in a database. Forms are used to enter and edit records. Reports are printed output in a variety of forms

30 Presentation Graphics Presentation Graphics are programs that create visually interesting presentations. Combines variety of visual objects to present attractive, professional presentations. They are excellent tools to communicate a message and to persuade people. Examples on presentation programs: Microsoft PowerPoint Corel Presentations Apple Keynote 59 Presentation Graphics Presentation Graphics Features: Slides individual pages or screens on a presentation. Design templates professionally selected combination of color schemes, slide layout and special effect. Content Templates provide suggested content for each slide. Animation adds action to text and graphics. Transitions animate moving from one slide to the next

31 Specialized Applications Graphics Specialized applications are widely used within specific professions. These programs include graphics programs. Graphics programs examples: desktop publishing programs image editing programs illustration programs image galleries. 31

32 Graphics Desktop publishing programs, or page layout programs, allow you to mix text and graphics to create publications of professional quality. Used to create documents such as brochures, newsletters, newspapers, and textbooks. Examples: Adobe InDesign Microsoft Publisher QuarkXPress. Graphics Image editors, also known as photo editors, are specialized graphics programs for editing or modifying digital photographs. The photographs consist of thousands of dots or pixels that form images often referred to as bitmap or raster images. Image editors examples: Adobe Photoshop Corel Paint Shop Pro GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) Windows Live Photo Gallery. 32

33 Graphics illustration programs, also known as drawing programs, are used to create and edit vector images. While bitmap images use pixels to represent images, vector images use geometric shapes or objects. illustration programs are often used for graphic design, page layout, and creating sharp artistic images. illustration programs examples: Adobe Illustrator CorelDRAW Inkscape Graphics Image galleries are libraries of electronic images. These images are used for a wide variety of applications from illustrating textbooks to providing visual interest to presentations. Types of image galleries: stock photographs clip art. Stock photographs are photographs on a variety of subject material from people to landscapes. Clip art are graphic illustrations representing a wide range of topics. 33