Sunday, March 27, 2011

Why does; locking the door; Locking the keyboard; Locking the workstation down and Shutting down the workstation help?

Lock The door
To prevent unauthourised access

Locking the Keyboard
Prevent people from being able to type, this stops them from writting, changing and deleting your infomation, passwords and personal details

Locking the workstation down

By doing this, you can prevent theft, Because; unless they steal the whole desk your desk is secured to the desk and can't be moved.

Shutting down the workstation
Requires to log back in, with a password, so it's safer.

Information from Mr wells and myself


- Paddy Foss

Sunday, March 20, 2011

Ensuring data integrity (Correct and Safe)

Back up techniques
  • Do it regulary. (King's College does it 3 times a day)
  • Must be done on a schedual (10am, 2pm, 5pm etc.)
Virus protection facility
  • A Fire Wall - Effectially it will block everything you have requested.
  • Virus protection - Anti virus. Can remove or hide visus' that have already made it onto your computer.
Frequency of Saving
  • Saving often - incase of a power cut, natural disaster etc.
UPS or Surge Protector
  • A device on a electrical power socket, to protect your computer from power spikes, (a surge) in the power.
  • UPS - Unenterrupted Power Supply (basically a VERY BIG BATTERY)
- Paddy Foss
infomation from Mr Wells and other members of the class.

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

"P2 NCEA Level 1 Computing...Threats to my computer?

Write a blog post outlining why the following technologies and events might be a threat to your saved files: 1. Unauthorised Access 2. Internet & Email 3. Viruses, Trojans & Spyware 4. Power Failure 5. Natural Disaster 6. Data Corruption 7. Peer to Peer Access.


1. Unauthorised Access:
This can harm your computer, because some one might access your computer without your permission, this is mostly done through hacking, either through phony websites or emails, that make you download unwanted files. That give you either a virus or gives the hacker access to your computer. Or quite simpley, you leave your computer, and some strangers come along and take your information, this is both illegal and unethical. This is a treat because, the hakers can take your information, delete your precious saved files, or even worse, put all your private infomation on the web.
This is not a huge threat to huge internet companies like Facebook, because there security systems are so complex and advanced, so it would be near impossible to "hack" into facebook, unless your just hacked into a persons profile, and made stupid status's etc, and send friends virus downloads via the chat option.


2. Internet and Email:
This is a threat because of number one. As these are the easiest ways to either "hack" your computer, install a virus onto the computer and steal your personal infomation/get to your saved files.


3.  Viruses, Trojans & Spyware
This is the cause of one and two. These are the "hackers" best friend. But installing these on your computer, though the ways stated above, it makes it very easy for hackers to steal, and access your personal infomation, bank details, passwords and saved files.


4. Power failure
This is a problem if your work is not saved or backed up. If it's saved you can easially retrieve it back when power is retored. But the next step in rescuing your files; is backing up. This is the best thing to do, just incase your computer is stolen, your software crashes, or the computer is washed away in a tsunami. But if haven't done any of these, you risk loosing all your information. 


5.Natural Disaster
Say if a tsunami came along, and swept away your computer, you would loose all your files, personal files and memories. Which is one of the worst things imaginable. Because if your like me, and have soooooo many photos of loved one and precious memories, you can't do anything about it... If you haven't backed up your data.
The solution. To back up all your data. This can be down, wither, online, on an internet cloud, which virtually stores your data, personally i prefer to do it physically on a portable HDD's.


6. Data corruption
OK, now it's getting more complex. Heres the Wikipedias defintion
"Data corruption refers to errors in computer data that occur during transmission, retrieval, or processing, introducing unintended changes to the original data. Computer storage and transmission systems use a number of measures to providedata integrity, or lack of errors. In general, when there is a data corruption, the file containing that data would be inaccessible, and the system or the related application will give an error."
This basically means that your computer is half way through doing a task, and then dies for a minute, but looses all the data becuase of that.
For example, if a Microsoft Word file is corrupted, when you try to open that file with MS Word, you will get an error message, and the file would not be opened


7. Peer to Peer access
This is the most simple form of "hacking"
Like friendly hacking, you don't do it to harm them or steel from them, you do it just to piss them off, and make it an inconvieniance for them.
Facebook for example. Say if they use your computer, and they leave their profile on, so you would go onto and post stupid status's etc. Nothing to major.


Infomation from Google / Wikipedia


- Paddy Foss

Monday, March 14, 2011

2781 File Structure

All my work is fully organised. Most my work is organised on my laptop.
I have 3 external folders on the desktop.

School
  ICT
      2780
  School Work 2010
  Tech
     Collage Tech
     Initial Design Brief
     Initial Design Brief 2
     Key Issues
     P.I.E.S analysis chart
     Tech Furniure.pdf
     Tech Interview
     Tech Work 2

Apps
   Games
   Apps

Videos
   Videos

And on my school account there folders are orgasnised below...

Personal
  Home
  Photos

School Work 2011
  NCEA
    ICT
       2780
          Chistchurch Earthquake - Twitter
          Computer studies Work - Computer hardware
          Operating OS.rtf
       2781
       18739
       18740
     Tech
           Inital design breif
           Key issues
           Tech furniture
           Client Interview

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

2780 Test

16/25

Here is what I got and here are 3 things I need to revise...

Read the question!

DISC DRIVE - Connects to the motherboard, and it permantly stores all the apps and data, once the system is turned off.

PRINTER - Connects throught USB port.

Operating system functions
File managment and Memory mangment

Multimedia Software
Edit movies/photos etc.

Monday, February 28, 2011

What should be considered as a sufficient environment for working on your computer

Space - There should be sufficient space for the user to move around and be comfortable

Housekeeping - Equipment should be kept clean and required maintenance done

Atmospheric Condition - The room should be at a good temperature and with fresh air

Noise - Both external and internal noise should be kept within reasonable levels

Lighting - Lighting should be sufficient and set up so as not to reflect off the screen

Décor - Should be pleasant and relaxing

Printer location - Away from the user to reduce noise and smell

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Health and Wellbeing - Ergonomics for computing.

Questions


Desk Dimensions;
Posture in Chair & Seating Height;

Feet Placement;
Position Of Monitor 

Keyboard & Mouse Relative To User;
Rest Peroids & Exercises.



This is a lot more important than you would've first expected, but is very important if you want to save for back, neck, and every other important bone in your body; in the long run...

  • It's best to have your back and your neck in line with your spine at 90 degrees, but restrain yourself from staying in this position for more than 10 minutes, as staying in that same position for a lond period of time, is just as bad as being hunched, to refrain, try having a break, a quick streatch every ten minutes or so.
  • The "right" seating height should put your head (eyes) in line with the monitor, and place your wrists/arms at 90 degrees to your back and neck. But to get the best outcome, is to have a specially designed ergonomic chair and keyboard, which automatically does all the work for you, leaving you with a straight back and neck. As for the keyboard, it puts your hands at a natural position.
  • Your knees should be at 90 degrees to your feet
Paddy Foss



Sunday, February 20, 2011

OS App relations. Do they relate? How do they relate?

The user uses the App to talk to the machine.

The app passes on messages to the OS

The OS talks to the hardware and also passes on the messages. "Hey do this, do that" to the outputs. I.e. Printer, mouse, keyboard etc.

The user says "print" to the app(s), thew app(s) says "print" to the app(s) and the printer says "print" to the printer

Printer problems for practical

Paper out - No paper in the paper tray, put paper into tray.
How do I fix it? - Pick up a pile of A4 sheets, and insert into printer tray
Paper jam - Open up printer and feed out paper. (Don't rip)
 How do I fix it? - Basic. Open up the printer, though the back latch on most conventional printers, and slowly and carefully weave you hand though and slide it out. 
Load A4 paper - In a multiple-paper printer (A3,A4 etc.) It needs more A4 paper in the tray.
How do I fix it? -  So easy. Basically the same as No.1. Just find the right place it's supposed to go, and place it in. :)

Printer offline - It is not connected to any computers/wireless (WiFi) devices. It's sleeping...
How do I fix it? - Not too tricky, but just go into file, then print, or command P. and sync with the printer.

Sounds quite simple in this context... Am I right? Hmmmmmm.

Information from myself and party from Mr Wells

-Paddy Foss

Thursday, February 17, 2011

How can Video games save the world?

Currently we spend 3 BILLION HOURS a week playing videos games. I heard that, and said. "What?????"
But apparently, if we want to conquor these "real life" problems, like. Poverty, Obesity and hunger. We need to play 21 BILLION HOURS a week!
I can't even manage to play even a few hours a week... :(
It sounds impossible, but according to her research to can easially be achieved?
Why I asked, and you probably do to?
Well, In countries that have easy access to video games. The average 21 year old, has already played upto 10,000 hours of gameplay. That the same ammount of time spent from year 4 - graduation of year 13!!
what this is all getting to, is that, if we can spend this much time gaming, even with school going on at the same time.
she also stated what every gamer tries telling their parents. "I am learning from this!"
But its true! You do learn from playing video games!
Like, problem solving, gain faster reflexes, and learning important life skills. Basically, you can never not achieve something in video games. And i guess it teaches us that nothing is impossible, as long as you keep at it.


information from TED talks

Paddy Foss

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Application software

Or Apps for short ;)


Word processing
is the creation of documents using a word processor. It can also refer to advanced shorthand techniques, sometimes used in specialized contexts with a specially modified typewriter. Like Microsoftword or Apple Pages. :)


Spreadsheet
spreadsheet is a computer application that simulates a paper, accounting worksheet. Is the virual piece of paper you see and type on on those appliacations


Database
A database is a system intended to organize, store, and retrieve large amounts of data easily.It's what our reports are done on...:O


Desktop publishing
The term "desktop publishing" is commonly used to describe page layout skills. However, the skills and software are not limited to paper and book publishing. Just more "advanced" spreadsheets.


Graphics
are visual presentations on some surface, such as a wall, canvas, computer screen, paper, or stone to brand, inform, illustrate, or entertain. Examples are photographsdrawingsLine Artgraphsdiagramstypographynumberssymbolsgeometric designs, mapsengineering drawings, or other images.


Communication
Social Networking. i.e. Facebook, Myspace.Where you can communicate between one another virually.


Multimedia
Multimedia is usually recorded and played, displayed or accessed by information content processing devices, such as computerized and electronic devices, but can also be part of a live performance. 


Web Browser
A web browser or Internet browser is a software application for retrieving, presenting, and traversing information resources on the World Wide Web. (www.) i.e. Safari, Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome.


Infomation from me and Wikipedia (www.wikipedia.com) and my brain.
-Paddy Foss

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Monday, February 14, 2011