From the Authors

Times are changing, technology is changing, and this text is changing too. Do you think the students of today are different from yesterday? Mine are and I’ll wager that yours are as well. On the positive side, I am amazed how much effort students put toward things that interest them and things they are convinced are relevant to them. Their effort directed at learning application programs and exploring the Web seems at times limitless. On the other hand, it is difficult to engage them in other equally important topics such as personal privacy and technological advances.

I’ve changed the way I teach and this book reflects that. I no longer lecture my students about how important certain concepts like microprocessors, input devices, and utility programs are. Rather, I begin by engaging their interest by presenting practical tips related to the key concepts, by demonstrating interesting applications that are relevant to their lives, and by focusing on outputs rather than processes. Then, I discuss the concepts and processes.

Motivation and relevance are the keys. This text has several features specifically designed to engage students and to demonstrate the relevance of technology in their lives. These elements are combined with a thorough coverage of the concepts and sound pedagogical devices.

• Visual Chapter Openers Each chapter begins with a two-page Visual Chapter Opener with large graphics and brief text. The graphics present the structure and organization of the chapter. The text relates the graphics to topics that are covered in the chapter and discusses their importance. The objective of the visual chapter openers is to engage students and provide relevancy and motivation.



• On the Web Explorations Within nearly every chapter, two or more On the Web Explorations are presented as marginal elements. These explorations encourage students to connect to carefully selected Web sites that provide additional information on key topics. The objective of the Web Explorations is to encourage students to expand their knowledge by using Web resources.



• Tips Within nearly every chapter, Tips are provided that offer advice on a variety of chapter-related issues such as how to efficiently locate information on the Web, how to speed up computer operations, and how to protect against computer viruses. One objective of the Tips is to provide students with assistance on common technology-related problems or issues. The other objective is to motivate students by showing the relevance of concepts presented in the chapter to their everyday lives.



• Making IT Work for You Based on student surveys, 12 special interest topics have been identified. These topics include downloading music from the Internet, creating personal Web sites, and using the Internet to place free long-distance telephone calls. Each of these 12 special interest topics is presented in a two-page Making IT Work for You section within the relevant chapter. Additionally, seven are further supported by short video presentations by the author. One objective of the Making IT Work for You feature is to provide instructors with a flexible tool for in-class and Web-delivered demonstrations. The other objective is to engage students by presenting high-interest topics and demonstrations that directly relate to concept presented in the chapter.



• Visual Chapter Summaries Each chapter ends with a multipage visual chapter summary. Like the chapter openers, the summaries use graphics to present the structure of the chapter and text to provide specifics. Using a columnar arrangement, major concepts are represented by graphics followed by detailed text summaries. The objective of the visual chapter summaries is to provide a detailed summary of key concepts and terms in an engaging and meaningful way.



• Using Technology Every chapter has two Web-related end-of-chapter exercises that direct students to explore current popular uses of technology. In most cases, the first question requires the student to view one of the Making IT Work for You Web-delivered demonstrations and to respond to a series of related questions. The other question requires Web research. One object of the Using Technology feature is to provide support for instructors who want their students to view the demonstration on the Web rather than in class. The tool to engage and motivate students by providing assignments related to technology that directly relates to them.



• Expanding Your Knowledge Every chapter has two Web-related end-of-chapter exercises directing student to enhance their depth of knowledge on specific technologies introduced in the chapter. In most cases, the first question requires the students to use their free Interactive Companion CD-ROM and to respond to a series of related questions. The second question requires Web research into carefully selected topics. One object of the Expanding Your Knowledge feature is to provide support for instructors who want their students to effectively use the free Interactive CD-ROM. The other objective is to support instructors who want their students to obtain greater in-depth understanding of key technologies.



• Building Your Portfolio Every chapter has two Web-related end-of-chapter exercises directing students to prepare and to write a one or two-page paper on critical technology-related issues. The first question requires students to summarize and analyze select emerging technologies addressed in the chapter. The second question focuses on a critical chapter-related privacy, security, and/or ethical issue. Students are required to consider, evaluate, and formulate a position. One objective of the Building Your Portfolio feature is to support instructors who want their students to develop critical thinking and writing skills. Another objective is to provide support for instructors who want their students to create written document(s) recording their technology knowledge. A third objective is to provide support for instructors who want their students to recognize, understand, and analyze key privacy, security, and ethical issues relating to technology.



• Getting the Word Out Having all these features is one thing. Making the students aware of them is another. Like almost all textbooks, Chapter 1 of this textbook provides an overview and framework for the following chapters. Unlike other textbooks, this one also provides a discussion and overview of each of the above features. One objective of this approach is to support instructors who want to focus their students’ attention on any one or on a combination of features. The other objective is to motivate students by highlighting features that are visually interesting and relevant to their lives.