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.

Features

• 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.
• Green Tech Tips - Sidebars with tips, suggestions, and new ways to stay ecologically friendly.
• Ethics Boxes - Sidebars posing “What would you do?” questions to provoke discussions.
• Visually stimulating Spotlight features—Emerging Technologies, Buying and Upgrading Your Computer System, and File Management.
• Highlights innovative thinking in each subject area with “bites” of computer content.
• Provides students with substantial review including multiple choice, matching, fill-in, and short answer questions, as well as exercises and Web Research projects.
  

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 disadv

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

Author

Catherine LaBerta is a Full Professor in the Computer Science/Mathematics Department at Erie Community College in Buffalo, NY. She is also an adjunct professor at SUNY-Buffalo. Catherine teaches courses that range from Intro to Computers to Programming in C++ to Web Development. Originally a math major, Catherine took additional courses in computers and programming and found a field that clicked for her. She enjoys the constant changes in the computer and related fields as it forces one to keep up and constantly learn. Not a total book worm, she loves skiing in Purgatory, CO, one of her favorite spots. She also enjoys boating—especially schooner trips off the coast of Maine— and will always be working on that golf game.