Week 4: Muddy COding & DEcoding

The information presented in the "Multimedia-Audio" lecture was new to me. The only topics that I was pretty familiar with were MP3 files and software that enables you to create audio content. I was never aware of technicalities that go into producing and recording audio. The "core concept" of audio content that I had a difficult time grasping was CODEC. In order to understand the logistics of audio it is critical for you to familiar with CODEC.

The process of "coding" (analog-->digital) and "decoding" (digital-->analog) was so "muddy" to me, and I retrieved a better understanding of it when I did further research.

CODEC is basically the support system for audio. It allows us to play the audio and also edit a certain audio file into a different format. To put it into more familiar terms, I thought of CODEC as a foreign language translator. You have a sentence in Japaneses that you can't read, and obviously cannot speak the sentence out loud. You then take the sentence and enter it into the foreign language translator. This would represent the "coding" or "CO" of CODEC. The translator then translates the sentence into English (or whatever language you are familiar with) and reads it out loud. This represents the "decoding" or "DEC" part of CODEC.

This is "Meez" Avatar

This is an Avatar version of me that I created at www.meez.com! I actually had an enjoyable time creating it. This activity reminded me of the game "The Sims" that I used to be addicted to when I was younger! Meez's Web site was easy to navigate and self-explanatory. I had a good time browsing the several outfits that I could wear. Looking at all of the clothes definitely reminded me of the movie Clueless when Cher was browsing her closet electronically on her computer.

Maybe I will go see the movie Avatar now...

Week 3: Muddy Internet vs. WWW

Before watching the lectures and reading the textbook I have to admit I thought of the Internet and the World Wide Web as being the same exact thing. On Monday I would say "Hey I'm going to go browse the Internet" and on, let's say Thursday, I would be "browsing the World Wide Web." Did I think there was a difference? No way. Was I most recently surprised to find that the Internet and the World Wide Web are completely different? Absolutely.

To be honest, after reading the textbook and watching the lectures...I still didn't get it. It took some time of me delving into some Web sites on the "World Wide Web" in order for me to actually understand the difference between these two fascinating vehicles.

After doing some "surfing" on the WWW I was enlightened to find such information:

The Internet is the core of the Web. It's a collective name of all the devices that consist the global network. It's the interconnection of computer networks around the world...the physical connection of paths between two or more computers.

On the other hand, the World Wide Web lives "on top of" the Internet. The Web is "like an attractive parasite that requires the Net for survival." Although the WWW might be the most popular method of using the Internet, there are other characteristics. These include:

• E-mail
• Chat rooms
• Instant messaging
  
• VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol)

In conclusion, without the Internet there would be no World Wide Web...or e-mail...or chat rooms, etc.

After browsing many WEB SITES (available because of the INTERNET) I was able to understand the difference between the Internet and the World Wide Web.



You can find more information on the following Web sites:
http://www.differencebetween.net/technology/difference-between-internet-and-world-wide-web/ http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/the-difference-between-the-world-wide-web-and-the-.html

Week 2: Clear Components of a Computer

Have you ever thought about what really makes a computer what it really is? One may allow such variables (electric, electronic and mechanical components) of a computer to overwhelm them when they are trying to figure out how such an amazing machine works, but it's quite clear. We can compare a computer to a math equation. The sum of all of the variables equate to the final product. Just as how 1+2=3...

Input devices+Output devices+System unit+Storage devices+Communications devices= Computer!

Input devices can be simply thought of a hardware device that sends information to the computer. Think of them as tools that allow you to give information to the computer. Information that goes IN the computer. Some examples are: the keyboard, mouse, digital camera, scanner, microphone etc.

Output devices can be thought of as the opposite of input devices. They are tools that we use to retrieve information from the computer...information that is sent OUT. Some examples include: the monitor (it is giving OUT information and displaying it so we can view it), speakers, printers, disk drives etc.

The system unit is the core of the computer system. Computers rely on the electronic components of the system unit in order to process, interpret and carry out functions. The motherboard is the main circuit board of the system unit. The motherboard consists of:

• Processor (also called a central processing unit or CPU)- interprets and carries out the basic instructions that operate a computer. Think of it as the "brain" of the computer.
  

• Memory- random access memory (RAM) temporarily stores information that the CPU uses while the computer is on.

Storage devices are just that...devices in the computer that store data. Such data are stored on storage media (CDs, DVDs, hard disks, USB flash drives) and a storage device records or retrieves items to and from storage media. Storage devices function as a a source of input because they transfer items from storage to memory. To put this into perspective, a perfect example would be one from the book. A DVD drive (storage device) accepts a DVD (storage media).

Communications devices allow computers to send and receive data, instructions, and information to and from one or more computers. Think of them as a "middle man." These devices allow you to access, or "communicate" with other computers. Such communication is facilitated through cables, telephone lines, cellular radio networks, satellites, and other transmission media.

And voila! ...we have a computer :)

For further information regarding components of computers, visit this Web site:
http://www.bedford.lib.nh.us/Basics.htm

Week 1: Clear Computer Literacy

To be literate nowadays is nothing out of the ordinary. It's expected. You can read?...high-five?!
As time and technology has progressed, not only is being literate expected, but computer literacy is becoming just as expected from society.

By definition, according to the textbook Discovering Computers 2009, computer literacy "also known is digital literacy, involves having a current knowledge and understanding of computers and their uses."

Beholding the trait of being computer literate is an essential skill in today's society. Computers are a critical component of what makes the world go round. Computer literacy is not just confined to being able to manage a personal computer. You interact with multiple computers on a daily basis ranging from:

• mobile phones
  
• microwave ovens
  
• car navigation systems
  
• ATMs
  
• alarm systems
  
• calculators
  
• watches
  
• airplanes
  
• video games
  
• traffic lights

Being computer literate is a critical skill that is almost necessary for all jobs. Today's employers are not looking for individuals that are only familiar with Microsoft Word and Excel, they are looking for individuals who are able to understand and perform a variety of functions on a computer that may include updating company listings on the Internet, filling prescriptions, making telephone calls, managing client relationships...as well as simple tasks such as looking up the weather report, finding directions to a specific location or downloading an educational tutorial.

We are interacting with computers when we do not even realize it. As technology advances, the demand for computer literacy increases. Computer literacy is not a trait that makes someone stand out from the rest of the crowd anymore, it is a necessity in order to provide and fuel the technological advancements of today's society.

Enjoy this YouTube link titled "The Case For Computer Literacy" that explains why computer literacy is extremely important for today's day and age. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-KqDXHB__M