Discovering Computers

Enhanced Edition ©2017

Tools, Apps, Devices, and the Impact of Technology

Chapter 3
Computers and
Mobile Devices
Objectives Overview

Describe the characteristics Differentiate among POS

Describe the characteristics
and uses of laptops, tablets, terminals, ATMs, and self-
and types of servers
desktops, and all-in-ones service kiosks

Describe the characteristics

and uses of smartphones,
Describe cloud computing digital cameras, portable
and identify its uses and digital media players,
e-book readers, and
wearable devices

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for Detailed Objectives or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website,
Objectives Overview

Differentiate a port from a

connector, identify various
Describe the characteristics
Identify uses of embedded ports and connectors, and
of and ways to interact with
computers differentiate among
game devices
Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and NFC
wireless device connections

Discuss ways to prevent

Identify safeguards against health-related injuries and
hardware theft and disorders caused from
vandalism and hardware technology use, and
failure describe ways to design a
workplace ergonomically

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for Detailed Objectives or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website,
Computers and Mobile Devices

• Types of computers and mobile devices include:

Smartphones, digital
cameras, e-book
Laptops, tablets, and
Servers and terminals readers, portable and
desktops
digital media players
and wearable devices

Game devices Embedded computers

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or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Mobile Computers and Desktops

• A mobile computer is a portable personal

computer, designed so that a user easily can carry
it from place to place
• A personal computer (PC) is a mobile computer or
desktop that can perform all of its input,
processing, output, and storage activities by itself
and is intended to be used by one person at a
time

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Mobile Computers and Desktops

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or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Figure 3-1
Mobile Computers and Desktops

• A laptop, also called a notebook computer, is a

thin, lightweight mobile computer with a screen
in its lid and a keyboard in its base

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Figure 3-3
Mobile Computers and Desktops

• A tablet is a thin, lighter-weight mobile computer

that has a touch screen

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Figure 3-4
Mobile Computers and Desktops

• A handheld computer is a computer small enough

to fit in one hand

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Figure 3-6
Mobile Computers and Desktops

• A desktop, or desktop computer, is a personal

computer designed to be in a stationary location,
where all of its components fit on or under a desk
or table

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Figure 3-7
Servers

• A server is a computer dedicated to providing one

or more services to other computers or devices on
a network
– Rack server
– Blade server
– Tower server

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Figure 3-8
Servers

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Table 3-1
Servers

• Virtualization is the practice of sharing or pooling

computing resources, such as servers and storage
devices
– Server virtualization uses software to enable a physical
server to emulate the hardware and computing
capabilities of one or more servers, known as virtual
servers
• A server farm is a network of several servers
together in a single location
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Servers

• A mainframe is a large, expensive, powerful server

that can handle hundreds or thousands of
connected users simultaneously

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Figure 3-9
Terminals

• A terminal is a computer, usually with limited processing

power, that enables users to send data to and/or receive
information from a server, or host computer
• A thin client is a terminal that looks like a desktop but has
limited capabilities and components
• Most retail stores use a POS terminal to record purchases,
process credit or debit cards, and update inventory

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Figure 3-10
Terminals

• An ATM (automated teller machine) is a self-

service banking terminal that connects to a host
computer through a network

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Figure 3-11
Terminals

• A self-service kiosk is a freestanding terminal that

usually has a touch screen for user interaction

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Table 3-2
Supercomputers

• A supercomputer is the fastest, most powerful

computer – and the most expensive
– Capable of processing many trillions of instructions in
a single second

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Figure 3-13
Cloud Computing

• Cloud computing refers to an environment that

provides resources and services accessed via the
Internet

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Figure 3-14
Mobile Devices

• A smartphone is an Internet-capable phone that

usually also includes a calendar, an address book,
a calculator, a notepad, games, browser, and
numerous other apps
• Many smartphones have touch screens. Instead of
or in addition to an on-screen keyboard, some
have a built-in mini keyboard on the front of the
phone or a keyboard that slides in and out from
behind the phone
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Mobile Devices

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or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Figure 3-15
Mobile Devices

Short Message Multimedia Message

Service (SMS) Service (MMS)
• Mobile to mobile • Mobile to mobile
• Mobile to email • Mobile to email
• Mobile to provider
• Web to mobile

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Mobile Devices

• A digital camera is a mobile device that allows users to

take photos and store the photographed images digitally
– Smart digital camera
– Point-and-shoot camera
– SLR camera

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Figure 3-16
Mobile Devices

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Figure 3-17
Mobile Devices

• Resolution is the number of horizontal and

vertical pixels in a display

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Figure 3-18
Mobile Devices

• A portable media player is a mobile device on

which you can store, organize, and play or view
digital media

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Figure 3-19
Mobile Devices

• A digital media player or streaming media player

is a device, typically used in a home, that streams
digital media from a computer or network to a
television, projector, or some other entertainment
device

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or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Figure 3-20
Mobile Devices

• An e-book reader (short

for electronic book
reader), or e-reader, is a
mobile device that is
used primarily for
reading e-books and
other digital
publications

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or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website,
Figure 3-21
Mobile Devices

• A wearable device or wearable is a small, mobile

computing device designed to be worn by a
consumer

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or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Figure 3-22
Game Devices

• A game console is a mobile computing device

designed for single-player or multiplayer video
games
• A handheld game device is a small mobile device
that contains a screen, speakers, controls, and
game console all in one unit
• Game controllers include gamepads, joysticks and
wheels, dance pads, and a variety of motion-
sensing controllers

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Game Devices

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Figure 3-23
Embedded Computers

• An embedded computer is a special-purpose

computer that functions as a component in a
larger product
Home
Consumer
automation Automobiles
electronics
devices

Process Computer
controllers and devices and
robotics office machines

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Embedded Computers

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Figure 3-24
Putting It All Together

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Table 3-3
Ports and Connections

• A port is the point at which a peripheral device attaches

to or communicates with a computer or mobile device so
that the peripheral device can send data to or receive
information from the computer or mobile device

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or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Figure 3-25
Ports and Connections

• A connector joins a cable to a port. A connector at

one end of a cable attaches to a port on the
computer or mobile device, and a connector at
the other end of the cable attaches to a port on
the peripheral device

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or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Ports and Connections

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or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Table 3-4
Ports and Connections

• A USB port, short for universal serial bus port, can

connect up to 127 different peripheral devices
together with a single connector
• Instead of connecting peripheral devices directly
to ports on a mobile computer, some mobile users
prefer the flexibility of port replicators and
docking stations

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or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Ports and Connections

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Figure 3-26
Ports and Connections

• Instead of connecting computers and mobile

devices to peripheral devices with a cable, some
peripheral devices use wireless communications
technologies

Bluetooth Wi-Fi NFC

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Protecting Hardware

• To help reduce the chances of theft, companies

and schools use a variety of security measures
– Physical access controls
– Alarm system
– Physical security devices
– Security or device-tracking app
– Require identification

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Figure 3-27
Protecting Hardware

• Hardware can fail for a variety of reasons: aging

hardware; random events such as electrical power
problems; and even errors in programs or apps
– Undervoltage
– Overvoltage or power surge

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Protecting Hardware

• A surge protector, also

called a surge
suppressor, uses
electrical components
to provide a stable
current flow and
minimize the chances of
an overvoltage reaching
the computer and other
electronic equipment

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or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website,
Figure 3-28
Protecting Hardware

• An uninterruptible
power supply (UPS) is a
device that contains
surge protection circuits
and one or more
batteries that can
provide power during a
temporary or
permanent loss of
power

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or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website,
Figure 3-29
Health Concerns of Using Technology

• A repetitive strain injury (RSI) is an injury or disorder

of the muscles, nerves, tendons, ligaments, and joints
• Computer vision syndrome (CVS) is a technology-
related health condition that affects eyesight
• Ergonomics is an applied science devoted to
incorporating comfort, efficiency, and safety into the
design of items in the workplace
• Technology addiction occurs when the technology
consumes someone’s entire social life
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Health Concerns of Using Technology

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or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Figure 3-32
Summary

Characteristics of and Servers, supercomputers, point-

purchasing guidelines for of-sale terminals, ATMs, self-
laptops, tablets, desktops, service kiosks, e-book readers,
Ports and connections
smartphones, digital cameras, wearable devices, game
and portable and digital media devices, embedded computers,
players and cloud computing

Health concerns of using

Ways to protect hardware technology and preventative
measures

© 2017 Cengage Learning®. May not be scanned, copied

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or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website,
 Discovering Computers
Enhanced Edition ©2017
Tools, Apps, Devices, and the Impact of Technology

Chapter 3
Computers and
Mobile Devices
Chapter 3 Complete