Beginning of a fresh semester.

Chapter 1Basic Introduction to Computers

August 28, 2016. Monday.

Today was my first day of class, a start of a new semester. We had a really nice teacher for this particular subject, her name is Ms.Wan Irma. Ms.Wan wanted us to write a blog on each of her classes. To me I find this idea fairly interesting. Firstly, it's because I have never blogged before, it is always fun trying out new things and learning methods.  And second, I think it's something none other lecturers would've suggest, it is something different. Although this would be my first ever blog to be written, I really look forward to it and hoping to learn more about blogging in the future. 

During class, Ms.Wan briefed us about the overall course outline as well as the teaching plan for this current  semester. Besides that, she also have began teaching topic 1 of our syllabus. In this topic that we have went through together today, I have learnt more about the digital world that we currently live in. The fact that computers are everywhere.

"What is a computer?" asked Ms.Wan today. Then it struck me, because computers are so common today everybody basically have one computer of their own. But then what defines a computer, how would you put it in a way as an solid explanation. I totally had no idea at all. But after Ms.Wan went through the lesson with us, only I had finally understand. A computer is actually defined as an electronic device, operating under the control of instructions stored on its own memory. This is what i have found out today in class. 

The components of a computer varies, it contains many electric, electronic, and mechanical components know as hardware. Hardware consists of many device, such as an input and an output device, a system unit, storage device, and lastly a communications device. All of this put together creates a functional computer. 

Moreover, Ms.Wan had also discuss about the advantages and disadvantages of using computers. Advantages include the speed, or in other words the efficiency, of completing task such as complicated calculations and many more. The reliability of it. The consistency of the program. And lastly the storage and the communications a computer provides us with. Speaking of which, there are many disadvantages as well. Some of them includes health risk, such as the radiation from a computer. Violation of privacy and public safety, such as the dangers from the social media. And also the impact of labor force and on the environment. 

In today's class, I've also learnt the art of green computing. Which it basically involves reducing the electricity consumed and environmental waste generated when using a computer. Strategies of such may include, recycling, regulating manufacturing processes, extending the life of computers, and donating or properly disposing of replaced computers. 

We had also discussed about the networks and internet. For example, a network is a collection of computers and devices connected together, often wirelessly, via communications devices and transmission media. On the other hand, the internet is a worldwide collection of networks that connects millions of business, government agencies, educational institutions, and individual.  People today uses the internet for a variety of reasons, such as to communicate, to do research and to access information, to do online banking and investments, to download videos, and many many more.