Use of Computers

After reading Dr. Alan Bundys web page, I realized of all the ways we rely on computers in this
day and age. Computers and the technology today allow people to receive any type of
information in the world right at their fingertips. With all the written information that is in libraries, it
seems as though people just skip right over that and head straight for the computer. Itðs as
thought they feel that the computer does all the work for them and finds all the information that
they need.

Ever since I was in elementary school I was introduced to working with computers. If it was from
writing a paper, playing computer games, or using the many resources on the Internet, the
computer has always been on my beckoning call. I could never imagine not being able to use the
computer and its many possibilities to find information. I was taught at first to be able to find
books in the library and to find information out of books, but this was when the Internet was not as
popular. Today the very first thing that I would go to help me with a report is the Internet and the
computer. Itðs as thought I donðt really remember how to use the library to find a resource I need
because I am so used to the computer.

I feel that children today are brought up to much on relying on the Internet and the computer. I
think that it would have been more useful if I were taught when I was younger to rely on using
resources from the library or by looking it up in books. Even though the Internet was not as big as
it is now when I was younger, children should be taught to use books and other resources
besides the computer. Itðs as though all they use for their information is the computer.
By teaching childrenjust to depend on the use of computers, it makes them lack skills in
penmanship, since they use the computer to write all their papers and reports. It also does not
allow them to develop skills in revising and spelling because the computer has all those programs
all ready in it. It can bring down a childðs vocabulary and spelling level. By children just
depending on computers also can affect the way that children learn. It gives them everything right
in front of them so they never have to actually go out and obtain things on their own. I would think
that it would make children lazier and even more spoiled. Imagine having things right in front of
you your entire life and then having to go out and do something on your own. It would make
children feel like they are lost and they would probably have no idea what to do.

Computers have become too much of a reliable resource. Even though they are able to give you
almost any type of information that you are looking for, there is a certain point where it is better to
know how to use a book or go to the library. Itðs not a good idea to only have kids rely on
computers form a very young age because thatðs the only thing they learn how to do. I feel that it
deprives children of the different opportunities in the world and all the different learning
experiences that they can experience.
Computers and the Internet

For most of my high school career, I have used the Internet for my research. My method relied on
printing out the material, highlighting the important sections and trying to interpret these sections
into my own words to incorporate this research into my papers. I feel that the Internet has made it
harder for students to use research in their work.

Copy and paste are two of the best tools in the computer. When you do take information, there is
no typing at all. With two clicks of a mouse, you could have a complete term paper after only a
few minutes of searching. The temptation is there and with the increased academic pressures at
college, many students succumb. The web is always available. In the middle of January, you
don’t have to bundle up to go to the library all you have to do is type in a few “search” words and
instantly you have all the information at your fingertips. Resources, when readily available, often
get abused. This is the case with the Internet.

Most college students feel that they are invincible. Who would be able to catch them cheating?
No one. They go ahead and do it. Any person who cheats and gets away with it may feel a “high”
of some sort. This might tempt them to try it again. The student then does it and gets caught. The
ramifications could throw their life into shambles. What about a job or getting into another
college? If a stricter cheating, copying and plagiarizing policy were in effect from middle
school on, I believe that the problem may be cut in half. College may be the first place where a
student is under a lot of stress to produce for him/herself and their families. If that student were
confident in the writing and researching abilities, then they would have less of a chance to “crack”
and plagiarize. Tough and earlier enforcement of plagiarizing consequences would help to cut
back on the student’s temptation to plagiarize.

Many people don't know about copyright laws. Therefore no one understands the term
“copyrighted” According to Open Spaces magazine, “the core purpose of copyright laws as
expressly stated in the constitution is: to promote the process of knowledge and learning.”
Reading this statement the first time causes the reader to think that this law was enacted to help
spread ideas by giving credit where credit is due. This basic thought of “promoting knowledge and
learning” is a good because some people feed off of other's ideas. Someone’s scientific discovery
might rise my own curiosity to begin my own study. With the passage of the Digital Millennium
Copyright Act, the public has limited “access to copyrighted works and the non copyrighted
elements of those works, thereby threatening the ultimate aim of the copyright, the promotion of
progress and learning.” Now when I become interested in a study on AIDS, I may not be able to
access the copyrighted study and therefore can’t complete my study.

In conclusion, plagiarism is a big issue in college that could be resolved if tougher policies were
implemented in middle school. Secondly Copyright laws need to be published in plain English
where everyone would see them. This would hopefully end all the copyright infringement lawsuits
and allow all people to enjoy other’s works.
When you mention the word "technology," most people think about computers. Virtually every
facet of our lives has some computerized component. The appliances in our homes have
microprocessors built into them, as do our televisions. Even our cars have a computer. But the
computer that everyone thinks of first is typically the personal computer, or PC.

A PC is a general purpose tool built around a microprocessor. It has lots of different parts --
memory, a hard disk, a modem, etc. -- that work together. "General purpose" means that you can
do many different things with a PC. You can use it to type documents, send e-mail, browse the
Web and play games.

In this article, we will talk about PCs in the general sense and all the different parts that go into
them. You will learn about the various components and how they work together in a basic
operating session. You'll also find out what the future may hold for these machines.

Let's take a look at the main components of a typical desktop computer.

* Central processing unit (CPU) - The microprocessor "brain" of the computer system is called the
central processing unit. Everything that a computer does is overseen by the CPU.

* Memory - This is very fast storage used to hold data. It has to be fast because it connects
directly to the microprocessor. There are several specific types of memory in a computer:
o Random-access memory (RAM) - Used to temporarily store information that the computer is
currently working with
o Read-only memory (ROM) - A permanent type of memory storage used by the computer for
important data that does not change
o Basic input/output system (BIOS) - A type of ROM that is used by the computer to establish
basic communication when the computer is first turned on
o Caching - The storing of frequently used data in extremely fast RAM that connects directly to
the CPU
o Virtual memory - Space on a hard disk used to temporarily store data and swap it in and out of
RAM as needed

# otherboard - This is the main circuit board that all of the other internal components connect to.
The CPU and memory are usually on the motherboard. Other systems may be found directly on
the motherboard or connected to it through a secondary connection. For example, a sound card
can be built into the motherboard or connected through PCI.

# Power supply - An electrical transformer regulates the electricity used by the computer.

# Hard disk - This is large-capacity permanent storage used to hold information such as programs
and documents.

# Operating system - This is the basic software that allows the user to interface with the
computer.

# Integrated Drive Electronics (IDE) Controller - This is the primary interface for the hard drive,
CD-ROM and floppy disk drive.

# Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) Bus - The most common way to connect additional
components to the computer, PCI uses a series of slots on the motherboard that PCI cards plug
into.

# SCSI - Pronounced "scuzzy," the small computer system interface is a method of adding
additional devices, such as hard drives or scanners, to the computer.

# AGP - Accelerated Graphics Port is a very high-speed connection used by the graphics card to
interface with the computer.

# Sound card - This is used by the computer to record and play audio by converting analog sound
into digital information and back again.

# Graphics card - This translates image data from the computer into a format that can be
displayed by the monitor.