CHAPTER 3: COMPUTER AND MOBILE DEVICE

Computers and Mobile Devices

Types of computers include:

ü  Desktop and mobile computers

ü  Servers and terminals

ü  Smartphones, digital cameras, e-book readers and portable media players

ü  Game devices

ü  Embedded computers

Desktops and Mobile Computers

Ø A personal computer (PC) is a computer 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

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

Ø 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

Ø 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

Ø A tablet is a thin, lightweight mobile computer that has a touch screen

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

Servers

ü  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

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

Supercomputers

²  A supercomputer is the fastest, most powerful computer — and the most expensive

Server vs Supercomputer

SERVER	SUPERCOMPUTER
Serves bits and bytes of data that enter and leave the server	Regular hardware combined in enormous proportions
Web servers-processing requests from surfers and sending them back data	Contain so many processors
Web browsers - assemble that data to generate Web pages	Predict the weather, build airplanes, model the brain and simulate the way the planet works.
Server send files in a network.	Sequoia Blue Gene/Q supercomputer processing 504 billion events per second(2013) ≈1 million desktop computers.

Terminals

Ø  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

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

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

Cloud Computing

ü  Cloud computing refers to an environment of servers that house and provide access to resources users access through the Internet

Mobile Devices

²  A smartphone is an Internet-capable phone that usually also includes a calendar, an appointment book, an address book, a calculator, a notepad, games, browser, and numerous other apps

²  A digital camera is a mobile device that allows users to take photos and store the photographed images digitally

²  A portable media player, sometimes called a personal media player, is a mobile device on which you can store, organize, and play or view digital media

²  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

Game Devices

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

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

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

Embedded Computers

ü  An embedded computer is a special-purpose computer that functions as a component in a larger product

- Consumer electronics

- Home automation devices

- Automobiles

- Process controllers and robotics

- Computer devices and office machines

Ports and Connections

²  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

²  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

²  Instead of connecting computers and mobile devices to peripheral devices with a cable, some peripheral devices use wireless communications technologies

- Bluetooth

- Wi-Fi

- NFC

Protecting Hardware

Ø  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

Health Concerns of Using Technology

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

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

ü  Ergonomics is an applied science devoted to incorporating comfort, efficiency, and safety into the design of items in the workplace

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