For introductory courses in computer concepts, digital literacy, or computer literacy, often including instruction in Microsoft Office. Explore, discover, and experience technology with the completely revised and visually enhanced Technology in Action - the book that uses technology to teach technology! The Tenth Edition of Technology in Action is an extensive revision that brings the content fully in line with 21st century technology and students. The content has been updated and revised, the structure has been finely tuned, Part breaks added at logical stopping points in each chapter, and Windows 8 coverage is included.    Access code provided to access premium media on companion website, including Active Heldesks, SoundBytes, and Videos.

Table of Contents:
Contents Chapter 1 Using Technology to Change the World How Will You Put Technology in Action? Technology on the World Stage Political Issues Other Global Issues Technology and Our Society Technology Impacts How We Think Technology Impacts How We Connect Technology Impacts How We Consume Try This: Skyping Around the World How Will Technology Improve Your Life? Technology at Home Technology and Your Career Retail: Working in a Data Mine Arts: Ink, Paints, and a Laptop? Education: Teaching and Learning Law Enforcement: Put Down That Mouse–You’re Under Arrest! Medicine: The Chip Within DIG DEEPER: Making Reality Even More Real Science: Simulating Reality Psychology: You Should Smile Now   Chapter 2 Looking at Computers: Understanding the Parts Understanding Digital Components Understanding Your Computer Computers Are Data Processing Devices Bits and Bytes: The Language of Computers Types of Computers Input Devices Keyboards Mice and Other Pointing Devices Touch Screens Image Input DIG DEEPER: How Touch Screens Work Sound Input Ethics in IT: What Is Ethical Computing? Output Devices Monitors Printers Sound Output Try This: What’s Inside My Computer? Processing, Storage, and Connectivity Processing and Memory on the Motherboard Memory Processing Storing Data and Information Hard Drives Flash Storage Optical Storage Connecting Peripherals to the Computer High-Speed and Data Transfer Ports Connectivity and Multimedia Ports Adding Ports: Expansion Cards and Hubs Power Controls Setting It All Up TRENDS in IT: Innovations in Printing   Chapter 3 Using the Internet: Making the Most of the Web’s Resources Working and Playing on the Web The Internet and How It Works The Origin of the Internet How the Internet Works Communicating and Collaborating on the Web Social Networking E-Mail Instant Messaging Wikis Blogs Podcasts and Webcasts Web Entertainment Conducting Business Over the Internet: E-commerce E-commerce Safeguards Try This: Create a SkyDrive Account and Store and Share Your Files in the Cloud Using the Web Effectively Accessing and Moving Around the Web   Web Browsers   URLs, Protocols, and Domain Names   Hyperlinks and Beyond   Favorites, Live Bookmarks, and Tagging   DIG DEEPER: Discovering the Semantic Web   TRENDS in IT: Doing Business on a Shoestring–Thanks to the Internet Searching the Web Effectively Using Search Engines Effectively Evaluating Websites Ethics in IT: Plagiarism and Copyright Violation: What Can You Borrow from the Internet? Technology in Focus The History of the Personal Computer   Chapter 4 Application Software: Programs That Let You Work and Play Programs That Let You Work The Nuts and Bolts of Software TRENDS in IT: Mobile Commerce: What Have You Bought with Your Phone Lately? Productivity and Business Software Buying Productivity Software Word Processing Software Spreadsheet Software Presentation Software Database Software Note-Taking Software Personal Information Manager Software Microsoft Office Productivity Software Features Personal Financial Software Small Business Software Software for Large and Specialized Businesses Try This: Citing Website Sources Programs That Let You Play Multimedia and Entertainment Software Digital Image- and Video-Editing Software Digital Audio Software Media Management Software DIG DEEPER: How Cloud Computing Works Gaming Software Educational and Reference Software Drawing Software Managing Your Software Getting Software Software Licenses Getting the Right Software for Your System Installing and Uninstalling Software Ethics in IT: Can I Borrow Software That I Don’t Own?   Chapter 5 System Software: The Operating System, Utility Programs, and File Management Understanding System Software Operating System Fundamentals Real-Time Operating Systems Operating Systems for Networks, Servers, and Mainframes Operating Systems for Mobile Devices Operating Systems for Personal Computers What the Operating System Does The User Interface Processor Management Memory and Storage Management Ethics in IT: Sugar: The Sweet OS for Every Child Hardware and Peripheral Device Management Software Application Coordination The Boot Process: Starting Your Computer Step 1: Activating BIOS Step 2: Performing the Power-On Self-Test Step 3: Loading the OS Step 4: Checking Further Configurations and Customizations 1 Handling Errors in the Boot Process Try This: Adding Icons to the Start Screen in Windows 8 Using System Software The Windows Interface TRENDS in IT: Open Source Software: Why Isn’t Everyone Using Linux? Organizing Your Computer: File Management Organizing Your Files Viewing and Sorting Files and Folders Naming Files Working with Files Utility Programs Display Utilities The Programs and Features Utility File Compression Utilities System Maintenance Utilities System Restore and Backup Utilities DIG DEEPER: How Disk Defragmenter Utilities Work Accessibility Utilities Technology in Focus Information Technology Ethics   Chapter 6 Understanding and Assessing Hardware: Evaluating Your System Evaluating Key Subsystems Your Ideal Computer Evaluating the CPU Subsystem How the CPU Works CPU Factors Measuring the CPU Evaluating the Memory Subsystem The RAM in Your System Adding RAM Evaluating the Storage Subsystem Mechanical Hard Drives Solid State Drives DIG DEEPER: How a Mechanical Hard Drive Works Optical Drives Your Storage Capacity and Needs Try This: Measure Your System Performance Evaluating Other Subsystems and Making a Decision Evaluating the Video Subsystem Video Cards TRENDS in IT: Thunderbolt: The New Standard for Data Transfer Evaluating the Audio Subsystem Evaluating System Reliability Making a Final Decision Getting Rid of Your Old Computer Ethics in IT: Free Hardware for All   Chapter 7 Networking: Connecting Computing Devices How Networks Function Networking Fundamentals Network Architectures Network Architectures Defined by Distance Network Architectures Defined by Levels of Administration Ethernet Protocols Network Components Transmission Media Basic Network Hardware Network Software Connecting to the Internet Wired Broadband Internet Connections Wireless Internet Access Dial-Up Connections Try This: Testing Your Wired and Wireless Internet Connection Speeds Your Home Network Installing and Configuring Home Networks Planning Your Home Network Connecting Devices to a Router Network-Attached Storage Devices TRENDS in IT: Where Should You Store Your Files? The Cloud Is Calling!   Home Network Servers Digital Entertainment Devices on a Network Specialized Home-Networking Devices Configuring Software for Your Home Network Troubleshooting Wireless Network Problems Ethics in IT: Sharing Your Internet Connection with Your Neighbors: Legal? Ethical? Safe? Securing Wireless Networks Technology in Focus Under the Hood   Chapter 8 Digital Devices and Media: Managing a Digital Lifestyle Mobile Devices Digital Convergence Telephony: Smartphones and Beyond Smartphone Basics Smartphone Components How Cell Phone Technology Works Synchronizing Text Messaging Mobile Internet Smartphone Security VoIP Smartphone GPS TRENDS in IT: NFC Chips: Do You Have a Digital Wallet? Tablets, Netbooks, and Ultrabooks Tablets   Netbooks Ultrabooks Making a Choice Try This: Creating and Publishing a Movie The Digital Information Age Digital Defined Digital Media Digital Publishing Digital Music DIG DEEPER: The Shift to Digital Music: A Bumpy Ride Digital Photography Digital Video Ethics in IT: Managing Your Copyrights: Copyleft Might Simplify Your Life   Chapter 9 Securing Your System: Protecting Your Digital Data and Devices Major Threats to Your Digital Asset Cybercrime and Identity Theft Computer Viruses Catching a Virus Boot-Sector Viruses Logic Bombs and Time Bombs Worms Script and Macro Viruses E-Mail Viruses Encryption Viruses Additional Virus Classifications Virus Symptoms Preventing Virus Infections Antivirus Software Software Updates Understanding Hackers Problems Hackers Can Cause Trojan Horses and Rootkits Denial-of-Service Attacks How Hackers Gain Computer Access Restricting Access to Your Digital Assets Firewalls Types of Firewalls How Firewalls Work Knowing Your Computer Is Secure Password Protection and Password Management Creating Passwords Managing Your Passwords Anonymous Web Surfing: Hiding from Prying Eyes Biometric Authentication Devices Try This: Testing Your Network Security Protecting Your Digital Property from Yourself Managing Online Annoyances Malware: Adware and Spyware Ethics in IT: You’re Being Watched … But Are You Aware You’re Being Watched? Spam Cookies DIG DEEPER: Computer Forensics: How It Works Keeping Your Data Safe Protecting Your Personal Information Backing Up Your Data Social Engineering Phishing and Pharming Scareware TRENDS in IT: Computers in Society: Spear Phishing: The Bane of Data Breaches Protecting Your Physical Computing Assets Environmental Factors Power Surges Deterring Theft Keep Them Safe: Alarms Keeping Mobile Device Data Secure Software Alerts and Data Wipes Technology in Focus Careers in IT   Chapter 10 Behind the Scenes: Software Programming Understanding Software Programming The Importance of Programming The Life Cycle of an Information System 4 The System Development Life Cycle Ethics in IT: When Software Runs Awry The Life Cycle of a Program Describing the Problem: The Problem Statement Making a Plan: Algorithm Development Developing the Algorithm: Decision Making and Design Top-Down Design Object-Oriented Analysis Coding: Speaking the Language of the Computer DIG DEEPER: The Building Blocks of Programming Languages: Syntax, Keywords, Data Types, and Operators Compilation Coding Tools: Integrated Development Environments Debugging: Getting Rid of Errors Testing and Documentation: Finishing the Project Try This: Programming with Corona   Programming Languages Many Languages for Many Projects Selecting the Right Language Exploring Programming Languages Visual Basic C and C++ Java and C# Objective C HTML JavaScript and VBScript ASP, JSP, and PHP Flash, AJAX, and XML Mobile Applications TRENDS in IT: Emerging Technologies: Unite All Your Video Game Design Tools The Next Great Language   Chapter 11 Behind the Scenes: Databases and Information Systems Database Basics Database Building Blocks Databases versus Lists Advantages of Using Databases Database Management Systems Database Terminology Planning and Creating the Database Using Primary Keys Database Types Relational Databases Object-Oriented Databases Multidimensional Databases TRENDS in IT: Computers in Society: User-Populated Databases Database Functions Inputting Data Data Validation Viewing and Sorting Data Extracting or Querying Data DIG DEEPER: Structured Query Language (SQL) Outputting Data Try This: Using Excel’s Database Functions How Businesses Use Databases Data Warehousing and Storage Data Warehouses Populating Data Warehouses Data Staging Data Marts TRENDS in IT: Emerging Technologies: Can Your Business Partner Deliver the Goods? Enhanced Databases Can Help You Decide! Business Intelligence Systems Office Support Systems Transaction-Processing Systems Management Information Systems Decision Support Systems Enterprise Resource Planning Systems Data Mining Ethics in IT: Data, Data Everywhere–But Is It Protected?   Chapter 12 Behind the Scenes: Networking and Security in the Business World Client/Server Networks and Typologies Client/Server Network Basics Networking Advantages Comparing Client/Server and Peer-to-Peer Networks Types of Client/Server Networks Servers Authentication and File Servers Print Servers Application Servers Database Servers E-mail Servers Communications Servers Web Servers and Cloud Servers TRENDS in IT: Virtualization: Making Servers Work Harder Network Topologies Bus Topology Ring Topology Star Topology Comparing Topologies Try This: Sharing Folders on a Home Network Setting Up Business Networks Transmission Media Wired Transmission Media Twisted-Pair Cable Coaxial Cable Fiber-Optic Cable Wireless Media Options Comparing Transmission Media Network Adapters Network Navigation Devices MAC Addresses Switches and Bridges Routers DIG DEEPER: The OSI Model: Defining Protocol Standards Network Operating Systems Client/Server Network Security Authentication Access Privileges Physical Protection Measures Firewalls Ethics in IT: How Should Companies Handle Data Breaches?   Chapter 13 Behind the Scenes: How the Internet Works 548 Inner Workings of the Internet The Management of the Internet Internet Networking Internet Data Routes The Network Model of the Internet Data Transmission and Protocols Circuit Switching Packet Switching TCP/IP Internet Identity: IP Addresses and Domain Names IP Addresses DIG DEEPER: Connection-Oriented Versus Connectionless Protocols Domain Names Try This: Ping Me Coding and Communicating on the Internet HTML, XML, and Other Web Building Blocks HTML XML Web Browser Protocols Server-Side Applications Client-Side Applications Communications Over the Internet E-mail E-mail Security: Encryption Ethics in IT: Web Browsing: Not as Private as You May Think Instant Messaging TRENDS in IT: Crowdsourcing: Harnessing the Power of Social Networks Glossary Index