Ethics

• Definition: Ethics is the set of moral values or principles that govern the conduct of an individual or group
• Is ethics relevant for Information Technology?
• Let’s revisit the discussion question from slide 1-7
• How important is ethics if all your personal information, health information, AND virtual money is stored on computers? 
• Would YOU trust a physician who downloaded his/her  term papers from the Internet?

Convergence, Portability, & Personalization

When computers and communications combine we get:

• Convergence: the combination of
• Computers with various devices
• TVs with internet access, cell phones with digital cameras
• Portability
• Personalization
• Collaboration: software that allows
• People to share anything instantly
• People to enhance the information as they forward it

Future of Information Technology

Building Your Own PC

Software

I. System Software (Operating System)

• helps the computer perform essential operating tasks and enables the application software to run Must be installed before application software 
• Operating System (OS) options for the PC 
• Linux,Windows,Unix 
• Operating System (OS) options for the Mac 
• Mac OS 

II. Application Software

• enables you to perform specific tasks—solve problems, perform work Install after the OS 
• Application depends on OS, for example 
• Linux applications won’t work on Windows 
• Windows applications won’t work on Linux

Servers

• The word server describes how the computer is used, not the type or size of computer 
• Are central computers 
• May be any of the 4 larger computer types. 
• “Server” describes a function 
•  Hold data (databases) and programs 
• Connect to and supply services for clients
•  Clients are other computers like PCs, workstations, other devices

Understanding Your Own Computer