Underlying Technology of Computing Devices and the Internet

Although this textbook does not completely fulfill this outcome, the materials included in this Computing and Society section give you a place to begin your discussions.

Outcome

Explore the underlying technology of computing devices and the internet, and their impacts on society.

Indicators For This Outcome

  • Investigate how computing devices function and how the internet allows connected devices to communicate.

  • Research the history of computing devices and the internet, including key milestones and contributors.

  • Identify the units used to measure computing specifications such as data storage capacity, processing speed and transmission speed.

  • Describe the role of typical hardware (e.g., CPU, wireless card, RAM, graphics card, SIM card, hard drive and motherboard) found within computing devices.

  • Examine the role of technologies (e.g., packets and routing) and protocols (e.g., DNS, IP addresses, HTTP and FTP) that support information transfer on the internet.

  • Explore the societal impacts of ubiquitous internet access, cloud computing and connected devices.

  • Explore implications of advances in computing performance.

  • Discuss limitations of current technologies and predict possible directions of future technologies.

  • Explore the interactions between humans and computing devices.

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