COMPUTERS AND MOBILE DEVICES

Objectives Overview :

1. Describe the characteristicsand uses of laptops, tablets,desktops, and all-in-ones.

2. Describe the characteristicsand types of servers.

3. Describe the characteristicsand types of servers.

4. Describe cloud computingand identify its uses.

5. Describe the characteristicsand uses of smartphones,digital cameras, portableand digital media players, e-book readers, andwearable devices.

6. Describe the characteristicsof and ways to interact with game devices.

7. Identify uses of embedded computers.

8. Differentiate a port from connector, identify various ports and connectors, and differentiate among Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and NFC wireless device connections.

9. Identify safeguards against hardware theft and vandalism and hardware failure.

10. Discuss ways to prevent health-related injuries and disorders caused from technology use, and describe ways to design a workplace ergonomically.

• Types of computers and mobile devices include:

1. Laptops, tablets, and desktops.

2. Servers and terminals.

3. Smartphones, digital cameras, e-book readers, portable and digital media players and wearable devices.

4. Game devices.

5. Embedded computers.

• A mobile computer is a portable personal computer, designed so that a user easily can carry it from place to place.

• A personal computer (PC) is a mobile computer or desktop that can perform all of its input, processing, output, and storage activities by itself and is intended to be used by one person at a time.

• A laptop, also called a notebook computer, is a thin, lightweight mobile computer with a screen in its lid and a keyboard in its base.

• A handheld computer is a computer small enough to fit in one hand.

• A desktop, or desktop computer, is a personal computer designed to be in a stationary location, where all of its components fit on or under a desk or table.

SERVERS

• A server is a computer dedicated to providing one or more services to other computers or devices on a network.

    - Rack server

    - Blade server

    - Tower server

• Virtualization is the practice of sharing or pooling computing resources, such as servers and storage devices.

    - Server virtualization uses software to enable a physical server to emulate the hardware and computing capabilities of one or more servers, known as virtual servers.

• A server farm is a network of several servers together in a single location.

• A mainframe is a large, expensive, powerful server that can handle hundreds or thousands of connected users simultaneously.

TERMINALS

• A terminal is a computer, usually with limited processing power, that enables users to send data to and/or receive information from a server, or host computer.

• A thin client is a terminal that looks like a desktop but has limited capabilities and components.

• Most retail stores use a POS terminal to record purchases, process credit or debit cards, and update inventory.

• An ATM (automated teller machine) is a self-service banking terminal that connects to a host computer through a network.

• A self-service kiosk is a freestanding terminal that usually has a touch screen for user interaction.

SUPERCOMPUTERS

• A supercomputer is the fastest, most powerful computer – and the most expensive.

    - Capable of processing many trillions of instructions in a single second.

CLOUD COMPUTING

• Cloud computing refers to an environment that provides resources and services accessed via the Internet.

MOBILE DEVICES

• A smartphone is an Internet-capable phone that usually also includes a calendar, an address book, a calculator, a notepad, games, browser, and numerous other apps.

• Many smartphones have touch screens. Instead of or in addition to an on-screen keyboard, some have a built-in mini keyboard on the front of the phone or a keyboard that slides in and out from behind the phone.

• A digital camera is a mobile device that allows users to take photos and store the photographed images digitally.

– Smart digital camera

– Point-and-shoot camera

– SLR camera

• Resolution is the number of horizontal and vertical pixels in a display.

• A portable media player is a mobile device on which you can store, organize, and play or view digital media.

• A digital media player or streaming media player is a device, typically used in a home, that streams digital media from a computer or network to a television, projector, or some other entertainment

device.

• An e-book reader (short for electronic book reader), or e-reader, is a mobile device that is used primarily for reading e-books and other digital publications.

• A wearable device or wearable is a small, mobile computing device designed to be worn by a

consumer.

GAME DEVICES

• A game console is a mobile computing device designed for single-player or multiplayer video

games.

• A handheld game device is a small mobile device that contains a screen, speakers, controls, and game console all in one unit.

• Game controllers include gamepads, joysticks and wheels, dance pads, and a variety of motion-

sensing controllers.

EMBEDDED COMPUTERS

• An embedded computer is a special-purpose computer that functions as a component in a

larger product.

 PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER

PORTS AND CONNECTIONS

• A port is the point at which a peripheral device attaches to or communicates with a computer or mobile device so that the peripheral device can send data to or receive information from the computer or mobile device.

• A connector joins a cable to a port. A connector at one end of a cable attaches to a port on the computer or mobile device, and a connector at the other end of the cable attaches to a port on the peripheral device.

• A USB port, short for universal serial bus port, can connect up to 127 different peripheral devices

together with a single connector.

• Instead of connecting peripheral devices directly to ports on a mobile computer, some mobile users prefer the flexibility of port replicators and docking stations.

• Instead of connecting computers and mobile devices to peripheral devices with a cable, some peripheral devices use wireless communications technologies.

PROTECTING HARDWARE

• To help reduce the chances of theft, companies and schools use a variety of security measures

    - Physical access controls

    - Alarm system

    - Physical security devices

    - Security or device-tracking app

    - Require identification

• Hardware can fail for a variety of reasons: aging hardware; random events such as electrical power

problems; and even errors in programs or apps

    - Undervoltage

    - Overvoltage or power surge

• A surge protector, also called a surge suppressor, uses electrical components to provide a stable current flow and minimize the chances of an overvoltage reaching the computer and other electronic equipment.

• An uninterruptible power supply (UPS) is a device that contains surge protection circuits and one or more batteries that can provide power during a temporary or permanent loss of power.

HEALTH CONCERNS OF USING TECHNOLOGY

• A repetitive strain injury (RSI) is an injury or disorder of the muscles, nerves, tendons, ligaments, and joints.

• Computer vision syndrome (CVS) is a technology-related health condition that affects eyesight.

• Ergonomics is an applied science devoted to incorporating comfort, efficiency, and safety into the

design of items in the workplace.

• Technology addiction occurs when the technology consumes someone’s entire social life.

SUMMARY

1. Characteristics of and purchasing guidelines for laptops, tablets, desktops, smartphones, digital cameras, and portable and digital media players.

2. Servers, supercomputers, point-of-sale terminals, ATMs, self-service kiosks, e-book readers, wearable devices, game devices, embedded computers, and cloud computing.

3. Ports and connections.

4. Ways to protect hardware.

5. Health concerns of using technology and preventative measures.