Computer Technology

Software

The software can be loaded onto the microcomputer using a CD-ROM (Compact Disc-Read-Only Memory) or a floppy disk. Floppy disks (often called floppies or diskettes) are portable and most commonly seen today in a 3½-inch rigid encasement. Much of the multimedia software used with computers in the early 21st century requires more than the 1.44 megabytes (MB) of data available on a single floppy disk; a single CD-ROM has the storage capacity of more than 500 floppy disks, or approximately 650 MB. Since the mid 1990s, many computers come equipped with DVD (Digital Versatile Disc or Digital Video Disc) players. A DVD is a type of optical disk technology similar to the CD-ROM; it holds a minimum of 4.7 gigabytes (GB) of data, enough for a full-length movie. DVDs are commonly used as a medium for digital representation of movies and other multimedia presentations that combine sound with graphics (Jupitermedia Corporation, 2004).

Hardware

In the United States, the most popular educational computer systems are supplied by either Apple Computer (Mac) or by the many makers of computers that are based on Intel Corporation's microprocessors (Windows) (Poole, 1997). Operating systems provide a software platform on top of which other programs, called application programs, can run. Most software produced today is compatible with both Windows and Mac operating systems; to date, the sharing of software and data between these platforms has improved, but it is still not flawless (Schwartz & Beichner, 1999).

More recently, other computer devices such as handheld computers (also called personal digital assistants [PDAs]) have made an impact on student learning. Handheld devices are rapidly becoming a common technology in schools. The Palm, Handspring, and other handheld devices share the [Page 103]same operating system, the Palm OS. Because they are inexpensive when compared to laptop computers, many schools are finding that a mixture of desktop, laptop, and handheld devices can be used to meet a variety of educational needs (Lamb, 2004).

Internet

The Internet is a network of computer networks that stretches around the globe connecting millions of computers together. The Internet forms a network in which any computer can communicate with any other computer as long as they are both connected to the Internet. The Internet and the World Wide Web are two separate but related things. The World Wide Web is a way of accessing information over the Internet. It is an information-sharing model that is built on top of the Internet. The Web also uses browsers, such as Internet Explorer or Netscape, to access Web documents, called Web pages, that are linked to each other via hyperlinks. (Jupitermedia Corporation, 2004). The Internet is commonly accessible through school networks that are wired together, known as a LAN (Local Area Network). In some instances, wireless technology allows computers and handheld devices to access the Internet using radio waves.

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