Digital proficiency includes knowing how to navigate to find reliable digital tools and solutions for specific situations. It also includes knowing how to use a variety of technology tools.
Digital Devices
A digital device is any device that relies on a computer to operate. Today’s computers are not only powerful, but can also be tiny and are often easily built into other products (embedded).
Computer
Computers take data, or information, that you (the user) provide, in the form of input. The computer follows your instructions to process that data. This generates a result, or output, that can be kept as digital data in a computer’s storage.
Computer operate according to the input-process-output model.
Embedded computers are computers built on other objects, this means that you interact with them indirectly. Examples of embedded computers include those inside scanners, bar code readers, parking meters, heart rate monitors, ATM, etc.
Personal computers are designed for individual use, and are still popular in both home and business settings.
Digital Devices
A digital device is any device that relies on a computer to operate. Today’s computers are not only powerful, but can also be tiny and are often easily built into other products (embedded).
Computer
Computers take data, or information, that you (the user) provide, in the form of input. The computer follows your instructions to process that data. This generates a result, or output, that can be kept as digital data in a computer’s storage.
Computer operate according to the input-process-output model.
Embedded computers are computers built on other objects, this means that you interact with them indirectly. Examples of embedded computers include those inside scanners, bar code readers, parking meters, heart rate monitors, ATM, etc.
Personal computers are designed for individual use, and are still popular in both home and business settings.
Desktop computers are designed to be used at a desk and are not easily portable.
Many personal computers today, however, are designed to be easily portable. Usually known as “laptops” or “notebooks,” these devices are small and lightweight.
Other types of portable computers are;
1. Tablets are portable computers designed to be used primarily with touchscreen input. This means that their display screens are made to capture input directly from the touch of your finger.
2. Hybrid notebook-tablet computers have both keyboards and touchscreen input. Some screens are detachable and can function like a tablet without the physical keyboard.
3. Netbooks are used mostly for accessing the internet and internet applications. Data and applications are mostly stored on the cloud.
4. Smartphones also have computing capabilities, such as internet access, in addition to calling and text-messaging functions.
Servers
Servers are often represented in the media as large and powerful computers, but in reality they can be smaller than a cell phone. One thing distinguishes a server from a personal computer: It provides data (usually over a network) to several computers rather than getting input from or providing output for a single user.
Most large-scale servers are now hosted in dedicated data centres that have specialised power-management and cooling systems. Another term for data centres like these is the cloud. Data stored in the cloud can be accessed by multiple people at once from any device connected to the internet.
Computer Hardware
Other types of portable computers are;
1. Tablets are portable computers designed to be used primarily with touchscreen input. This means that their display screens are made to capture input directly from the touch of your finger.
2. Hybrid notebook-tablet computers have both keyboards and touchscreen input. Some screens are detachable and can function like a tablet without the physical keyboard.
3. Netbooks are used mostly for accessing the internet and internet applications. Data and applications are mostly stored on the cloud.
4. Smartphones also have computing capabilities, such as internet access, in addition to calling and text-messaging functions.
Servers
Servers are often represented in the media as large and powerful computers, but in reality they can be smaller than a cell phone. One thing distinguishes a server from a personal computer: It provides data (usually over a network) to several computers rather than getting input from or providing output for a single user.
Most large-scale servers are now hosted in dedicated data centres that have specialised power-management and cooling systems. Another term for data centres like these is the cloud. Data stored in the cloud can be accessed by multiple people at once from any device connected to the internet.
Computer Hardware
Hardware is made up of parts—the physical components of a computer that you can touch. Most hardware is easy to identify. Examples of hardware include the computer’s screen, the mouse, and the keyboard, along with the computer’s processor and hard drive.
Some types of hardware, like the keyboard and mouse, generate input data when you type, tap, or click them. The processor takes the data it receives from your typing and clicking and turns it into output data. This data can then be sent to an output device, such as a screen for display or a hard drive for storage.
A computer’s hardware consists of physical components, like the screen or a hard drive, while the software is internal; the software is a set of instructions, like the operating system or an individual program that tells the computer what to do.
Computer Software
There are two main types of software: system software, which includes operating systems such as Microsoft Windows and macOS, and application software, which includes programs like Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
A computer’s hardware consists of physical components, like the screen or a hard drive, while the software is internal; the software is a set of instructions, like the operating system or an individual program that tells the computer what to do.
Computer Software
There are two main types of software: system software, which includes operating systems such as Microsoft Windows and macOS, and application software, which includes programs like Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
