Technology Topics

Programming languages are really important in the world of technology. They let us give instructions to computers in a way we can understand. This connects to what we learned in class because programming is the starting point for creating websites, apps, and software. Without it, we wouldn’t have most of the tech we use every day. Programming also has a strong connection to computer history. In the past, people had to write code using just 1s and 0s, which was super hard. Over time, easier languages like Python, Java, and C++ were made. These help people write code that the computer can still understand but is much simpler to use (GeeksforGeeks, 2024). The code we write depends on computer hardware. The CPU, memory, and storage all work together to run programs. If the hardware isn’t strong enough, the program might run slow or not work right. So, the better the hardware, the better the program runs. Programming languages also have different ways of running code. Some, like C++, use co...

I   used the ping and traceroute commands to see how data travels across the internet. These tools helped me understand how long it takes for information to move between my computer and websites in different parts of the world. When I pinged Google.com, all four packets were sent and received with no loss. The times were between 28 ms and 65 ms, with an average of 39 ms. This showed that Google’s servers are quick and easy to reach. But when I pinged Yahoo Australia ( au.yahoo.com Links to an external site. ), all four requests failed. This means either the server blocks ping requests or there’s a network problem somewhere in the path. Next, I used the traceroute command to trace the path the data took to each website. For Google, it only took 8 hops to reach the server, and the times were pretty fast. For Yahoo Australia, it took more hops, and many of them timed out. Even though it eventually reached the website, the many “Request timed out” messages showed that some servers alon...

  I’ve worked in the auto insurance industry for over a decade, and I’ve seen how much computers have changed the way we work. In sales, we rely on computer systems to quickly give quotes, compare different coverage options, and help customers find the best fit. We also use them to keep track of customer information, manage leads, and follow up. It’s hard to imagine doing any of this without the help of a computer. One of the biggest advantages is how computers power our rating systems. These tools use data like driving history, age, and location to figure out a customer’s rate almost instantly (TechTarget, 2024). Computers also make underwriting easier by helping evaluate risk and determining whether someone qualifies for a policy. Networking tools give us fast access to DMV records, claim reports, and other important data, which helps speed things up and reduces mistakes. Being computer literate is really important in this field. Most of our tools are digital, and they’re always ...

Today, computers and the internet are a big part of everyday life. We use them for school, work, shopping, and banking, which makes it important to keep our systems and personal information safe. Network security helps protect our devices and data from cyber threats. In this paper, I will focus on two common threats which are computer viruses and phishing (including smishing).  I’ll explain why systems are vulnerable to these attacks, what kind of damage they can cause, and how to protect against them.   A computer virus is a type of harmful software (also called malware) that can spread from one computer to another. It usually attaches itself to files or programs and can cause all kinds of problems once it’s inside a system. Viruses can slow down a computer, delete files, or even make the system crash. They often get in through infected email attachments or unsafe downloads. Computer systems become vulnerable to viruses when users don’t keep their antivirus ...

I chose to learn more about programming languages and computer applications because these topics stood out to me and both seem very important in the field of information technology. Since I’m just getting started with IT, I think learning about these two areas will help me build a strong foundation and give me the confidence to keep moving forward in my studies and career goals.   I picked programming languages first because I’ve always been interested in how websites, apps, and computer systems are created. Programming is how we tell computers what to do, and it’s behind almost everything we use in technology today. Even though I don’t plan to become a full-time programmer, I think it would still help me a lot to understand the basics. Learning how programming works will help me understand more about the systems I might be working with in the future. One question I want to explore is: What is the best programming language for someone new to IT to learn first? I’ve heard a lot ...

Working on the “Documenting a Day” assignment helped me understand how different types of software can be used to complete a variety of tasks. I used a word processor, a spreadsheet, and a presentation application, and each one had a specific purpose that helped me complete the assignment more efficiently. As I worked through each part, I realized that while all three applications were useful, Excel stood out as the one I could use most often in my daily life.   To start, I used Microsoft Word to create a journal entry. Word processors are great for writing because they let you easily edit text, fix grammar, and format your work to look clean and organized. I liked how I could go back and change what I wrote without having to start over. Word is simple to use and very helpful for writing essays or assignments. However, it’s not the best tool if you need to do math or show data visually.   Next, I used Microsoft Excel to calculate the time I spent on different activitie...

My experience with using Scratch was challenging at first, primarily because it was all new to me. As I began connecting the blocks, I quickly realized that some of the earlier blocks had lost their functionality. This led to some confusion and frustration, as I found myself starting over and dealing with pieces scattered all over the workspace. However, I recalled reading about the importance of mapping out the program sequence. To address this, I took a separate sheet of paper and made notes regarding various blocks and their functions. This approach proved to be beneficial, as it helped me gain a clearer understanding of how to organize my program and effectively guide the cat to perform different actions. Through this process, I learned that programming is not just about coding but also about logical thinking and planning. Scratch simplifies this by using visual blocks, but it still requires a good understanding of how everything fits together. As I created my program, I focused ...