DISCOVERING COMPUTERS: TOOLS, APPS, DEVICES, AND
THE IMPACT OF TECHNOLOGY
CHAPTER ONE: DIGITAL LITERACY
END OF CHAPTER SOLUTIONS
Study Guide
Answers to Study Guide questions are below.
1. Digital literacy involves having a current knowledge and understanding of computers, mobile
devices, the web, and related technologies.
2. A computer is an electronic device, operating under the control of instructions stored in its own
memory, that can accept data (input), process the data according to specified rules, produce
information (output), and store the information for future use. A user is anyone who interacts with
a computer or mobile device, or utilizes the information it generates.
3. 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. A mobile computer is
a portable personal computer, designed so that a user can carry it from place to place. Laptops are
also called notebook computers.
4. A tablet is a thin, lighter-weight mobile computer that has a touch screen. A popular style of
tablet is the slate, which does not contain a physical keyboard. Like laptops, tablets run on batteries
or a power supply or both; however, batteries in a tablet typically last longer than those in laptops.
Touch screen gestures include: tap, double-tap, press and hold, drag or slide, swipe, stretch, and
pinch.
5. 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. On many desktops, the screen is housed
in a display device (or simply display) that is separate from a tower, which is a case that contains
the processing circuitry. Another type of desktop called an all-in-one does not contain a tower and
instead uses the same case to house the display and the processing circuitry. The term, desktop,
also sometimes is used to refer to an on-screen work area on desktops, tablets, and laptops.
,6. A server is a computer dedicated to providing one or more services to other computers or
devices on a network. Services provided by servers include storing content and controlling access
to hardware, software, and other resources on a network.
7. The mobile devices discussed in this chapter can be categorized as computers because they
operate under the control of instructions stored in their own memory, can accept data, process the
data according to specified rules, produce or display information, and store the information for
future use.
8. A smartphone is an Internet-capable phone that usually also includes a calendar, an address
book, a calculator, a notepad, games, and several other apps. Smartphones typically communicate
wirelessly with other devices or computers. With most smartphone models, you also can listen to
music, take photos, and record videos. Many smartphones have touch screens.
9. A voice mail message is a short audio recording sent to or from a smartphone or other mobile
device. A text message is a short note, typically fewer than 300 characters, sent to or from a
smartphone or other mobile device. A picture message is a photo or other image, sometimes along
with sound and text, sent to or from a smartphone or other mobile device. A video message is a
short video clip, usually about 30 seconds, sent to or from a smartphone or other mobile device.
10. A digital camera is a device that allows you to take photos and store the photographed images
digitally. A portable media player is a mobile device on which you can store, organize, and play or
view digital media. An e-book reader is a mobile device that is used primarily for reading e-books. A
wearable device or wearable is a small, mobile computing consumer device designed to be worn.
Wearable devices include activity trackers, smartwatches, and smartglasses. A game console is a
mobile computing device designed for single-player or multiplayer video games.
11. Many smartphones and tablets enable you to take and store photos; store, organize, and play or
view your digital media; read e-books; and play games. This trend of computers and devices with
technologies that overlap, called digital device convergence, means that consumers may need fewer
devices for the functionality that they require.
12. New home builders and existing homeowners are integrating features that automate a wide
variety of tasks, save time and money, and enhance the overall at-home environment. Uses include:
remotes that turn light fixtures on and off, and motion sensors turn on lights when a car or a visitor
approaches the driveway or walkway; programmable thermostats that adjust to seasonal needs
and can be set to control temperatures in individual rooms; smart appliances, such as dishwashers,
can be programmed to run at nonpeak electrical times and refrigerators can track expiration dates
and create shopping lists; security systems can detect break-ins at doors and heat from fires, and
they can send text and email messages to alert a homeowner when someone has entered or left the
home. Surveillance cameras keep a watchful eye on the premises and interior rooms.
13. Data is a collection of unprocessed items, which can include text, numbers, images, audio, and
video. Information conveys meaning to users. Your name, address, term, course names, course
sections, course grades, and course credits all represent data that is processed to generate your
semester grade report. Other information on the grade report includes results of calculations such
as total semester hours, grade point average, and total credits.
,14. An input device is any hardware component that allows you to enter data and instructions into
a computer or mobile device. Common input methods include: keyboards, pointing devices, voice
and video input, and scanners. An output device is any hardware component that conveys
information from a computer or mobile device to one or more people. Common output methods
include: printers, displays, speakers, earbuds, and headphones.
15. A pointing device is an input device that allows a user to control a small symbol on a screen,
called the pointer. Desktops typically use a mouse as their pointing device, and laptops use a
touchpad.
16. A microphone is an input device that enables you to speak into a computer or mobile device. A
headset contains both a microphone and a speaker. A webcam is a digital video camera that allows
you to capture video and usually audio input for your computer or mobile device.
17. Memory consists of electronic components that store instructions waiting to be executed and
the data needed by those instructions. Although some forms of memory are permanent, most
memory keeps data and instructions temporarily, which means its contents are erased when the
computer is shut off. Storage, by contrast, holds data, instructions, and information for future use.
18. A computer keeps data, instructions, and information on storage media. Examples include: hard
disks, solid-state drives, USB flash drives, memory cards, and optical discs.
19. Cloud storage is an Internet service that provides remote storage to computer users. Types of
services offered by cloud storage providers vary. Some provide storage for specific types of media,
such as photos, whereas others store any content and provide backup services.
20. Use a backup program to copy the contents of your entire hard drive to a separate device.
Regularly copy music, photos, videos, documents, and other important items to an external hard
drive, a USB flash drive, or a DVD. Subscribe to a cloud storage provider. Schedule your files to be
backed up regularly. Backup plans for mobile devices are less specific. Apps for backing up your
smartphone or tablet’s content are available. You also can back up a mobile device to your
computer’s hard drive using synchronization software. Some mobile device manufacturers provide
cloud storage solutions.
21. The Internet is a worldwide collection of computer networks that connects millions of
businesses, government agencies, educational institutions, and individuals. Some uses of the
Internet include: email, instant messaging, VoIP, and FTP.
22. The Internet provides more than three billion home and business users around the world access
to a variety of services. The World Wide Web is one of the widely used services of the Internet.
23. The web consists of a worldwide collection of electronic documents. Each electronic document
on the web is called a webpage.
24. A browser is software that enables users with an Internet connection to access and view
webpages on a computer or mobile device. A search engine is software that finds websites,
webpages, images, videos, news, maps, and other information related to a specific topic.
25. An online social network, also called a social networking site, is a website that encourages
members in its online community to share their interests, ideas, stories, photos, music, and videos
with other registered users.
, 26. With Facebook, you share messages, interests, activities, events, photos, and other personal
information — called posts — with family and friends. You also can ‘like’ pages of celebrities,
companies, products, etc.. With Twitter, you ‘follow’ people, companies, and organizations in which
you have an interest to stay current with the daily activities of those you are following via their
Tweets. On LinkedIn, you share professional interests, education, and employment history, and add
colleagues or coworkers to your list of contacts.
27. Services of the Internet that facilitate communications include: email, messaging services, VoIP,
and FTP.
28. Malware is software that acts without a user’s knowledge and deliberately alters the computer’s
or mobile device’s operations. Protect your computer by following these practices: use virus
protection software; use a firewall; be suspicious of all unsolicited email and text messages;
disconnect your computer from the Internet; download software with caution; close spyware
windows; before using any removable media, scan it for malware; keep current with the latest
updates for your computer software; and back up regularly.
29. Users use online social networks to share their photos, videos, journals, music, and other
personal information publicly. Risks include sharing information that would allow others to identify
or locate you, and disclosing identification numbers, user names, passwords, or other personal
security details. To create a strong password: avoid using personal information; use at least eight
characters; use a variety of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, punctuation marks, and
symbols; change your password frequently; do not use the same password for all websites you
access; use a passphrase; avoid common number or letter sequences; memorize all of your
passwords, or store them securely using a password management app on your computer or mobile
device; use online tools to evaluate password strength.
30. Prolonged or improper computer and mobile device use can lead to injuries or disorders of the
hands, wrists, elbows, eyes, neck, and back. With the growing use of earbuds and headphones, some
users are experiencing hearing loss. Two behavioral health risks are technology addiction and
technology overload. Technology addiction occurs when someone becomes obsessed with using
technology. Individuals suffering from technology overload feel distressed when deprived of
computers and mobile devices.
31. Strategies that support green computing include recycling, using energy efficient hardware and
energy saving features, regulating manufacturing processes, extending the life of computers, and
immediately donating or properly disposing of replaced computers.
32. Software consists of a series of related instructions, organized for a common purpose, that tells
the computer what tasks to perform and how to perform them. Software also is called a program.
33. An operating system is a set of programs that coordinates all the activities among computer or
mobile device hardware. It provides a means for users to communicate with the computer or
mobile device and other software. Many of today’s computers and mobile devices use a version of
Microsoft’s Windows, Apple’s Mac OS, Apple’s iOS, or Google’s Android.
34. A desktop app is an application stored on a computer. A web app is an application stored on a
web server that you access through a browser. A mobile app is an application you download from a
mobile device’s app store or other location on the Internet to a smartphone or other mobile device.
THE IMPACT OF TECHNOLOGY
CHAPTER ONE: DIGITAL LITERACY
END OF CHAPTER SOLUTIONS
Study Guide
Answers to Study Guide questions are below.
1. Digital literacy involves having a current knowledge and understanding of computers, mobile
devices, the web, and related technologies.
2. A computer is an electronic device, operating under the control of instructions stored in its own
memory, that can accept data (input), process the data according to specified rules, produce
information (output), and store the information for future use. A user is anyone who interacts with
a computer or mobile device, or utilizes the information it generates.
3. 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. A mobile computer is
a portable personal computer, designed so that a user can carry it from place to place. Laptops are
also called notebook computers.
4. A tablet is a thin, lighter-weight mobile computer that has a touch screen. A popular style of
tablet is the slate, which does not contain a physical keyboard. Like laptops, tablets run on batteries
or a power supply or both; however, batteries in a tablet typically last longer than those in laptops.
Touch screen gestures include: tap, double-tap, press and hold, drag or slide, swipe, stretch, and
pinch.
5. 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. On many desktops, the screen is housed
in a display device (or simply display) that is separate from a tower, which is a case that contains
the processing circuitry. Another type of desktop called an all-in-one does not contain a tower and
instead uses the same case to house the display and the processing circuitry. The term, desktop,
also sometimes is used to refer to an on-screen work area on desktops, tablets, and laptops.
,6. A server is a computer dedicated to providing one or more services to other computers or
devices on a network. Services provided by servers include storing content and controlling access
to hardware, software, and other resources on a network.
7. The mobile devices discussed in this chapter can be categorized as computers because they
operate under the control of instructions stored in their own memory, can accept data, process the
data according to specified rules, produce or display information, and store the information for
future use.
8. A smartphone is an Internet-capable phone that usually also includes a calendar, an address
book, a calculator, a notepad, games, and several other apps. Smartphones typically communicate
wirelessly with other devices or computers. With most smartphone models, you also can listen to
music, take photos, and record videos. Many smartphones have touch screens.
9. A voice mail message is a short audio recording sent to or from a smartphone or other mobile
device. A text message is a short note, typically fewer than 300 characters, sent to or from a
smartphone or other mobile device. A picture message is a photo or other image, sometimes along
with sound and text, sent to or from a smartphone or other mobile device. A video message is a
short video clip, usually about 30 seconds, sent to or from a smartphone or other mobile device.
10. A digital camera is a device that allows you to take photos and store the photographed images
digitally. A portable media player is a mobile device on which you can store, organize, and play or
view digital media. An e-book reader is a mobile device that is used primarily for reading e-books. A
wearable device or wearable is a small, mobile computing consumer device designed to be worn.
Wearable devices include activity trackers, smartwatches, and smartglasses. A game console is a
mobile computing device designed for single-player or multiplayer video games.
11. Many smartphones and tablets enable you to take and store photos; store, organize, and play or
view your digital media; read e-books; and play games. This trend of computers and devices with
technologies that overlap, called digital device convergence, means that consumers may need fewer
devices for the functionality that they require.
12. New home builders and existing homeowners are integrating features that automate a wide
variety of tasks, save time and money, and enhance the overall at-home environment. Uses include:
remotes that turn light fixtures on and off, and motion sensors turn on lights when a car or a visitor
approaches the driveway or walkway; programmable thermostats that adjust to seasonal needs
and can be set to control temperatures in individual rooms; smart appliances, such as dishwashers,
can be programmed to run at nonpeak electrical times and refrigerators can track expiration dates
and create shopping lists; security systems can detect break-ins at doors and heat from fires, and
they can send text and email messages to alert a homeowner when someone has entered or left the
home. Surveillance cameras keep a watchful eye on the premises and interior rooms.
13. Data is a collection of unprocessed items, which can include text, numbers, images, audio, and
video. Information conveys meaning to users. Your name, address, term, course names, course
sections, course grades, and course credits all represent data that is processed to generate your
semester grade report. Other information on the grade report includes results of calculations such
as total semester hours, grade point average, and total credits.
,14. An input device is any hardware component that allows you to enter data and instructions into
a computer or mobile device. Common input methods include: keyboards, pointing devices, voice
and video input, and scanners. An output device is any hardware component that conveys
information from a computer or mobile device to one or more people. Common output methods
include: printers, displays, speakers, earbuds, and headphones.
15. A pointing device is an input device that allows a user to control a small symbol on a screen,
called the pointer. Desktops typically use a mouse as their pointing device, and laptops use a
touchpad.
16. A microphone is an input device that enables you to speak into a computer or mobile device. A
headset contains both a microphone and a speaker. A webcam is a digital video camera that allows
you to capture video and usually audio input for your computer or mobile device.
17. Memory consists of electronic components that store instructions waiting to be executed and
the data needed by those instructions. Although some forms of memory are permanent, most
memory keeps data and instructions temporarily, which means its contents are erased when the
computer is shut off. Storage, by contrast, holds data, instructions, and information for future use.
18. A computer keeps data, instructions, and information on storage media. Examples include: hard
disks, solid-state drives, USB flash drives, memory cards, and optical discs.
19. Cloud storage is an Internet service that provides remote storage to computer users. Types of
services offered by cloud storage providers vary. Some provide storage for specific types of media,
such as photos, whereas others store any content and provide backup services.
20. Use a backup program to copy the contents of your entire hard drive to a separate device.
Regularly copy music, photos, videos, documents, and other important items to an external hard
drive, a USB flash drive, or a DVD. Subscribe to a cloud storage provider. Schedule your files to be
backed up regularly. Backup plans for mobile devices are less specific. Apps for backing up your
smartphone or tablet’s content are available. You also can back up a mobile device to your
computer’s hard drive using synchronization software. Some mobile device manufacturers provide
cloud storage solutions.
21. The Internet is a worldwide collection of computer networks that connects millions of
businesses, government agencies, educational institutions, and individuals. Some uses of the
Internet include: email, instant messaging, VoIP, and FTP.
22. The Internet provides more than three billion home and business users around the world access
to a variety of services. The World Wide Web is one of the widely used services of the Internet.
23. The web consists of a worldwide collection of electronic documents. Each electronic document
on the web is called a webpage.
24. A browser is software that enables users with an Internet connection to access and view
webpages on a computer or mobile device. A search engine is software that finds websites,
webpages, images, videos, news, maps, and other information related to a specific topic.
25. An online social network, also called a social networking site, is a website that encourages
members in its online community to share their interests, ideas, stories, photos, music, and videos
with other registered users.
, 26. With Facebook, you share messages, interests, activities, events, photos, and other personal
information — called posts — with family and friends. You also can ‘like’ pages of celebrities,
companies, products, etc.. With Twitter, you ‘follow’ people, companies, and organizations in which
you have an interest to stay current with the daily activities of those you are following via their
Tweets. On LinkedIn, you share professional interests, education, and employment history, and add
colleagues or coworkers to your list of contacts.
27. Services of the Internet that facilitate communications include: email, messaging services, VoIP,
and FTP.
28. Malware is software that acts without a user’s knowledge and deliberately alters the computer’s
or mobile device’s operations. Protect your computer by following these practices: use virus
protection software; use a firewall; be suspicious of all unsolicited email and text messages;
disconnect your computer from the Internet; download software with caution; close spyware
windows; before using any removable media, scan it for malware; keep current with the latest
updates for your computer software; and back up regularly.
29. Users use online social networks to share their photos, videos, journals, music, and other
personal information publicly. Risks include sharing information that would allow others to identify
or locate you, and disclosing identification numbers, user names, passwords, or other personal
security details. To create a strong password: avoid using personal information; use at least eight
characters; use a variety of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, punctuation marks, and
symbols; change your password frequently; do not use the same password for all websites you
access; use a passphrase; avoid common number or letter sequences; memorize all of your
passwords, or store them securely using a password management app on your computer or mobile
device; use online tools to evaluate password strength.
30. Prolonged or improper computer and mobile device use can lead to injuries or disorders of the
hands, wrists, elbows, eyes, neck, and back. With the growing use of earbuds and headphones, some
users are experiencing hearing loss. Two behavioral health risks are technology addiction and
technology overload. Technology addiction occurs when someone becomes obsessed with using
technology. Individuals suffering from technology overload feel distressed when deprived of
computers and mobile devices.
31. Strategies that support green computing include recycling, using energy efficient hardware and
energy saving features, regulating manufacturing processes, extending the life of computers, and
immediately donating or properly disposing of replaced computers.
32. Software consists of a series of related instructions, organized for a common purpose, that tells
the computer what tasks to perform and how to perform them. Software also is called a program.
33. An operating system is a set of programs that coordinates all the activities among computer or
mobile device hardware. It provides a means for users to communicate with the computer or
mobile device and other software. Many of today’s computers and mobile devices use a version of
Microsoft’s Windows, Apple’s Mac OS, Apple’s iOS, or Google’s Android.
34. A desktop app is an application stored on a computer. A web app is an application stored on a
web server that you access through a browser. A mobile app is an application you download from a
mobile device’s app store or other location on the Internet to a smartphone or other mobile device.
