Description

For introductory courses in computer concepts or computer literacy often including instruction in Microsoft Office.

 

Engages students with a refreshing and easy to learn from style, while maintaining an encyclopedic approach and popular magazine-style format.

Today’s students want a practical “what it is” and “how it works” approach to computers and computing, with less explanation of “when and why.” Computers Are Your Future serves as a valuable computer technology reference tool without being overwhelming or intimidating.

Become a fan of Computers Are Your Future on Facebook!

Break through to improved results with MyITLab^® for Computers Are Your Future–a fully integrated learning system that includes Grader projects, training and assessment simulations, the Pearson eText, and all of the student and instructor resources in one place! MyITLab personalizes learning to help your students better prepare for class, quizzes, and exams–resulting in more dynamic experiences in the classroom and improved performance in the course.

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Note: You are purchasing a standalone product; MyITLab does not come packaged with this content. If you would like to purchase both the physical text and MyITLab, contact your Pearson representative.

MyITLab is not a self-paced technology and should only be purchased when required by an instructor.

Features

For introductory courses in computer concepts or computer literacy often including instruction in Microsoft Office.

 

 

Engages students with a refreshing and easy to learn from style, while maintaining an encyclopedic approach and popular magazine-style format.

Today’s students want a practical “what it is” and “how it works” approach to computers and computing, with less explanation of “when and why.” Computers Are Your Future serves as a valuable computer technology reference tool without being overwhelming or intimidating.

Break through to improved results with MyITLab^®

MyITLab for Skills for Success is an online homework, tutorial, and assessment program that truly engages students in learning. It helps students better prepare for class, quizzes, and exams—resulting in better performance in the course—and provides educators a dynamic set of tools for gauging individual and class progress. And, MyITLab comes from Pearson, your partner in providing the best digital learning experiences.

 

This fully integrated learning system includes application Grader projects for Word, Excel and PowerPoint, allowing your students to complete projects in a live application environment and submit their work for immediate grading and detailed feedback. Automated grading provides instant feedback on defined application projects, while open-ended projects encourage exploration and creativity.

 

Note: You are purchasing a standalone product; MyITLab does not come packaged with this content. If you would like to purchase both the physical text and MyITLab, contact your Pearson representative.

MyITLab is not a self-paced technology and should only be purchased when required by an instructor.

 

NEW! Videos - Short Flash animations were created to explain key concepts in many chapters.

 

NEW! Fast Forward boxes address emerging technologies relevant to each chapter.

 

NEW! How-to feature provides students with hands-on opportunities to use the information covered in the chapter.

 

Teamwork Exercises are included as an end-of-chapter activity to reinforce chapter concepts by requiring students to work in teams to conduct research and interviews and to create group papers and presentations.

 

NEW! Facebook page is now available for the text.

 

Green Tech Tips - Sidebars with tips, suggestions, and new ways to stay ecologically friendly.

o This is the first computer concepts book to incorporate this feature.

 

Ethics Boxes - Sidebars posing “What would you do?” questions to provoke discussions.

o Stimulate ethical discussions in class.

 

Visually stimulating Spotlight features—Emerging Technologies, Buying and Upgrading Your Computer System, and File Management.

o Highlights innovative thinking in each subject area with “bites” of computer content.

o NEW! Spotlight on Cloud Computing

 

Extensive end-of-chapter material.

o Provides students with substantial review including multiple choice, matching, fill-in, and short answer questions, as well as exercises and Web Research projects.

 

Companion Website: www.pearsonhighered.com/cayf

New to this Edition

General revisions

• Created short Flash animations to explain concepts in many chapters
• Added a Fast Forward element to each chapter that addresses emerging technologies.
• Added a How-to element to each chapter that provides the student with a hands-on opportunity to do something with the information that was covered in the chapter.
• Added Spotlight 5, “Cloud Computing”
• For spotlights, added key terms, multiple choice questions, and 50-75% new projects
• All new end of chapter assignments in chapters.
• Added more figures, tables, and bulleted lists to break up large blocks of text. [NOTE: This is more evident in some areas than in others.]
• Updated for Windows 7 and Office 2010
• Updated statistics and screen captures
• Deleted Spotlight 7, “Emerging Technologies”
• Moved content from Spotlight 4 on Office applications into Chapter 5, “Application Software: Tools for Productivity”
• Facebook page for the textbook

 

Chapter 1: Computers and You

• Revised storage devices section to increase the depth of coverage and clarity
• Added expanded coverage of social networking
• Added focus on collaboration, a key concept in today’s world
• Added more specific tips on creating an ergonomic work area

Spotlight 1: Ethics 

• Updated coverage of classroom electronic etiquette
• Added coverage of chat room etiquette
• Clarified game play and ethics interactions
• Updated piracy statistics and effects

Chapter 2: Inside the System Unit

• New Ethics feature
• Clarified the use of cache memory

Chapter 3: Input/Output and Storage

• Added coverage of intelligent keyboards and mini keyboards, such as those found on smartphones
• Added coverage of the click wheel
• Clarified the storage sections, which was more difficult to follow in 11e
• Added more coverage of disk cache

Spotlight 2: File Management

• Updated for Windows 7 and Office 2010

Chapter 4: System Software

• Clarified operating system functions
• Added explanation of energy conservation options (in a Green Tech Tip)
• Added detail about what the BIOS does
• Added coverage of interrupt vector tables
• Added coverage of Microsoft Server 2008 and list of other server operating systems
• Added coverage of the Android operating system and the iPhone OS

Spotlight 3: Buying and Upgrading Your Computer System

• Added more useful comparison of notebook, netbook, and desktop systems
• Added meaningful statistics about notebook theft
• Acknowledged Mac versions of Windows software, but noted they usually come out later

 Chapter 5: Application Software: Tools for Productivity

• Reorganized chapter
• Incorporated Office spotlight into this chapter
• Added introduction of Office 2010
• Added coverage of AVI
• Added coverage of Microsoft Visio
• Added coverage of Web authoring software

Spotlight 4: Web 2.0

• Described some additional social networking risks, including clickjacking
• Added coverage of Microsoft Web Apps for collaboration
• Expanded coverage of what Web 3.0 will entail

Chapter 6: The Internet and the World Wide Web

• Completely reorganized
• New objectives
• Added historical perspective
• Distinguish between Internet access providers and Internet service providers

Spotlight 5: Cloud Computing

• All spotlight covering cloud service categories, deployment methods, the advantages and disadvantages of cloud computing, and the future of cloud computing

Chapter 7: Networks: Communicating and Sharing Resources

• Added coverage of campus area network (CAN), personal area network (PAN) and metropolitan area network (MAN)
• Added coverage of wireless adapters and USB devices in networks
• Updated 802 wireless transmission standards
• Added discussion of hybrid networks
• Added guidelines for maintaining and supporting networks

 

Chapter 8: Wired and Wireless Communication

• Clarified the use of codecs
• Defined bandwidth needs for various computer uses
• Added coverage of a wiring closet
• Expanded coverage of fiber-optic cable
• Covered WiFi technology
• Compared WiFi and Bluetooth technologies
• Added 4G technology
• Expanded Internet telephony coverage
• Added coverage of Internet TV

Spotlight 6: Digital Life

• Updated devices and statistics
• Included coverage of the iPad, iPhone 4, and Droid

Chapter 9: Privacy, Crime, and Security

• Expanded coverage of the Electronic Frontier Foundation and its proposed rights for social network users
• Expanded coverage of security breaches
• Enhanced coverage of cookies and how to handle them
• Added coverage of the vulnerability of RFID technologies
• Added explanation and guidelines for creating strong passwords
• Added coverage of the predicted computer-related threats in the coming years
• Heavily revised content on viruses and virus protection
• Updated statistics on online sexual predators

Chapter 10: Careers and Certification

• Emphasized the importance of computer literacy in life and the job market
• Introduced the concept of keywords in job announcements and the use of application tracking systems and white formatting in the job market today
• Updated statistics and job growth predictions
• Added coverage of Web interviews, Web conferences, online workshops, and webinars
• Added coverage of personal values and attributes valued by employers

Chapter 11: Programming Languages and Program Development 

• Heavily revised section on programming and how it works
• Expanded and clarified object-oriented programming coverage
• Clarified middleware content
• Made XML coverage easier to understand

Chapter 12: Databases and Information Systems

• Added coverage of the steps to creating a database
• Enhanced coverage of multidimensional databases and MDX query language
• Expanded coverage of Web-database integration in cloud computing and cloud computing databases
• Revised functional divisions of companies as opposed to business units

Chapter 13: Systems Analysis and Design

• Differentiated between systems analysts and project managers
• Added and emphasized the importance of incorporating security into the SDLC
• Added discussion of tools to assist in the SDLC, for example Microsoft Project and Sharepoint
• Clarified and expanded the description of the waterfall model
• Expanded coverage of rapid application development (RAD) and Agile
• Added coverage of security initiatives

Chapter 14: Enterprise Computing

• Expanded coverage of success factors for business process re-engineering
• Differentiated between globalization and internationalization (glocalization)
• Differentiated between disaster recovery plans and business continuity plans
• Added the function of an Operational Support System for a business

 

 

 

 

 

Table of Contents

Chapter/Spotlight Complete (14 Chapters/6 Spotlights) 1 Computers and You Spotlight 1 Ethics 2 Inside the System Unit 3 Input/Output and Storage Spotlight 2 File Management 4 System Software Spotlight 3 Buying and Upgrading Your Home Computer System 5 Application Software: Tools for Productivity Spotlight 4 Web 2.0 6 The Internet & the World Wide Web Spotlight 5 Cloud Computing 7 Networks: Communicating and Sharing Resources 8 Wired and Wireless Communication Spotlight 6 Digital Life 9 Privacy, Crime, and Security 10 Careers and Certification 11 Programming Languages and Program Development 12 Databases and Information Systems 13 Systems Analysis and Design 14 Enterprise Computing