Dct chapter 1

Glencoe Digital Communication Tools

Digital Communication Tools in Our Lives Digital Communication Tools in Our Lives

Chapter Contents

Lesson 1.1 New Ways to Enter Text with Digital Tools (pg. 5)

Lesson 1.2 Operating Systems, Hardware, and Software (pg. 10)

Lesson 1.3 Storage and File Management (pg. 15)

Lesson 1.4 Input and Output Devices (pg. 20)

Lesson 1.5 External Storage Devices (pg. 23)

Lesson 1.6 Digital Skills in the 21st Century Workplace (pg. 28)

Chapter Assessment

11pg. 3-34

Copyright © by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.



You Will Learn To

Identify alternate ways to enter text into a computer other than with a keyboard

Describe digital technologies

Identify computer system components

Demonstrate file management techniques

Explain the importance of having technology skills

Describe uses for an e-portfolio

Plan your own e-portfolio

11pg. 3-34



1.1 New Ways to Enter Text with Digital Tools

Technology Skills Are ImportantGood technology skills will help you: Work

Play

Communicate

11

Files from PDAs can be shared with Tablet PCs or desktop computers.

pg. 5-9



New Input ToolsThree new technologies for entering text and commands into a computer are: Handwriting on handheld computers (PDAs)—

using a stylus

Speech recognition—using a microphone and special software

Handwriting on Tablet PCs—using a digital pen

11

software A set of instructions, also called a program or application, that tells a computer how to perform tasks.

pg. 5-91.1 New Ways to Enter Text with Digital Tools


Digital Communication Tools in Our Lives Digital Communication Tools in Our Lives 11

pg. 5-91.1 New Ways to Enter Text with Digital Tools

List three new input technologies for entering data into computers.

Do you think it is still important to know how to use a keyboard? Why or why not?

digicom.glencoe.com Lesson 1.1, Rubric



1.2 Operating Systems, Hardware, and Software

SoftwareComputer software can help these tasks: Browsing the Internet

Writing a report

Designing a newsletter

Preparing a budget

11

Software should be installed through the Control Panel.

Once hardware is installed, it can be used with any software program.

pg. 10-14



Operating SystemThe most important software on a computer is the operating system, or OS.

Examples of operating systems for handheld computers are: Windows CE

Palm OS

11pg. 10-14

operating system Software that controls all of the other software programs and allows the computer to perform basic tasks.





HardwareHardware includes all the physical parts of a computer, such as: Screen, mouse, and keyboard (outside the computer)

Motherboard, central processing unit, and memory chips

(inside the computer)

Digital InformationAll information stored on computers is in digital format.

11pg. 10-14

hardware All of the physical parts of a computer.

digital Information that is represented as individual pieces of data using the numbers 1 and 0, rather than as a continuous stream.



1.2 Operating Systems, Hardware, and Software 11

hard drive The built-in storage device inside a computer.

Storing InformationA computer’s main storage device is the hard drive, which stores the following: Operating system

Applications

Files that are used often

pg. 10-14



1.2 Operating Systems, Hardware, and Software 11

pg. 10-14

What software programs are you familiar with?

List the types of tasks you do with these programs.

Which of these programs do you consider the most essential to you?




1.3 Storage and File Management

Managing DataComputer folders: Organize files, as cardboard folders organize

papers in a file cabinet

Can be created on a hard drive, floppy disk, or other storage device

Are named

11pg. 15-19



1.3 Storage and File Management

File ExtensionsA file extension: Identifies the kind of file for the user

Instructs the computer to launch the appropriate program when you open the file

Examples of file extensions are: .doc (word processing)

.jpg, .bmp, .gif (graphics)

.html (Web page)

11pg. 15-19

When a software program is installed, it creates its own folder on the hard drive. This is called a program folder.



1.3 Storage and File Management 11

pg. 15-19

Why is it important to create folders for storing files?

Give two examples of file extensions.




Proofread for Successful Communication

11pg. 1921st CENTURY CONNECTION

Do you want to make a great impression with your writing? Proofreading, or reviewing, your writing will catch errors.

Quick tips for proofreading your writing: Use the computer’s spelling and grammar checker

Print your first draft and proofread on paper

Use the proofreading checklists, page 19:

Basic tips

Check your facts, grammar, spelling, and punctuation



Question

What kinds of errors do you think a word processing application’s spell checker might miss?

Possible answers include: Use of the wrong word, such as effect (a result or

influence) for affect (to influence or change)

Phonetic misspellings, such as cot for caught

Accidentally added letters that make a real butincorrect word, such as when in becomes inn

Switched or substituted letters that produce correctly spelled words, such as tow for two and typo for type




1.4 Input and Output Devices

Digital DevicesPopular digital devices include: Cameras

Phones

MP3 players

Scanners

These devices are compatible with computers, because they send, receive, or store digital information.

11pg. 20-22

Digital input devices such as cameras, touch screens, and trackballs can be used with a variety of software programs.



1.4 Input and Output Devices11

pg. 20-22

Input and Output DevicesThe flow of information between you and your computer occurs through: Input devices, such as a keyboard

Output devices, such as a printer

input Information that is entered into a computer.

output Information that a computer produces or processes.



1.4 Input and Output Devices

Specialized DevicesSome input and output devices are designed for specific purposes.

Examples are: Joystick (input)

LCD projector (output)

11pg. 20-22



1.4 Input and Output Devices11

pg. 20-22

Which kind of information would you enter into a computer?

Which kind of information would the computer give you?




1.5 External Storage Devices

External Storage DevicesYou might store files on an external storage device in order to: Take the files with you

Back up the files

An example of an external storage device is a USB flash drive.

11pg. 23-27

external storage device A storage device that can be easily removed from a computer and is often small and portable.

USB flash drives can save any type of file from any program. They save files more quickly than a CD-RW drive.




Storage CapacityStorage capacity is the amount of data a storage device can hold. It is usually measured in megabytes (MB) and gigabytes (GB):

11pg. 23-27




Optical Storage DevicesYour computer’s hard drive stores information magnetically.

Other devices store information optically: CD-ROM (compact disc with read-only memory)

CD-R (recordable compact disc)

CD-RW (rewritable compact disc)

DVD (digital video disc)

11pg. 23-27

read-only memory (ROM) Memory that holds data that can be read by a digital device but cannot be changed or deleted.



1.5 External Storage Devices11

pg. 23-27

Why are external storage devices useful?

Name two external storage devices.

digicom.glencoe.com Lesson1.5, Rubric



1.6 Digital Skills in the 21st Century Workplace

High-Tech Job HuntingYou can use computers and the Internet to: Search for a job

Apply online

E-mail your résumé

Create an electronic portfolio

11pg. 28-31



1.6 Digital Skills in the 21st Century Workplace

E-PortfoliosAs you work through this course, you will build an electronic portfolio, or e-portfolio. Be sure to: Include a table of contents

Proofread and edit your work

Be creative and professional

To showcase your best work to a prospective employer: E-mail your e-portfolio

Publish your e-portfolio on your own Web site

Save your e-portfolio on a CD

11pg. 28-31

e-portfolio A collection of the best documents and projects you have created and saved in an electronic format



1.6 Digital Skills in the 21st Century Workplace 11

pg. 28-31

What would you put in your e-portfolio to showcase your talents?

Some ideas are: Illustrations

Writing samples

Computer projects

With software such as Microsoft PowerPoint, you can deliver your e-portfolio as a multimedia presentation in front of an audience.




Career Clusters

The U.S. Department of Education has defined 16 career clusters, which are groups of related occupations and industries:




Question

Match each career cluster on the left with its sample occupation on the right.


1 Education and Training

2 Finance

3 Hospitality and Tourism

4 Law and Public Safety

A Banker

B Judge

C Librarian

D Travel agent

The correct answers are:1 Education and Training / C Librarian2 Finance / A Banker3 Hospitality and Tourism / D Travel agent4 Law and Public Safety / B Judge



Chapter AssessmentChapter Assessment11

Question 1

What is computer hardware? (Lesson 1.2)

Answers may include: Hardware includes all of the physical parts of

a computer.

Some of these parts are visible from the outside of the computer, such as the screen, mouse, and keyboard.

Other hardware components are located inside the computer, including the motherboard, CPU, video card, and memory chips.


Question 2

How would you use technology skills to hunt for a job? (Lesson 1.6)

Answers may include: You can use the Internet to search for jobs that

interest you and match your skills, to:

Apply for jobs online

E-mail your résumé to potential employers

You can also create an e-portfolio to show potential employers your best documents and projects.




Question 3

Brainstorm about the fastest-growing occupations that use new technology skills. How do these generate new job openings?

Answers may include:Advances in technology in the fields of medicine, meteorology, business management, or information technology.

To learn which fields using new technologies are currently growing the fastest, search the Internet using keywords fastest-growing occupations or fastest-growing job trends.

Think about how new technologies might create a demand for skilled workers in new positions.




Impact of Digital Communication ToolsImpact of Digital Communication Tools

For more resources on this unit, go to the Online Learning Center at http://www.digicom.glencoe.com.

Unit Resources11

Dct chapter 1

Technology

digital skills

digital technologies

digital toolspg

digital format

file managementpg

examples of operating

new ways

kind of file