Chapter 1 Processors
The coding that makes up for all of the programming on a computer is the Binary Code System. It consists of a seven digit code made of 1s, for opening a circuit, and 0s, for closing a circuit.
The coding that makes up the programs you see and use on the computer, is called BASIC. It is a code for using short hand for commands that the program will do.
There are many types of processors depending on the company that makes the computer. Intel processors are made with double threading which is for more power. Like in a car, the cars is modified for more horsepower so it can haul more weight. The same is done with the processor. It is made to have more power to run more applications. Thus making a faster processor.
Other processor companies, like Apple, use the same coding but have different software. It uses the company’s software, instead of windows.
Chapter 2 Handhelds
Handheld devices are smaller sized computers made to fit in the palm of your hand. They usually have the same programs as a regular computer, but in a small form. Some of the handheld companies include Hewitt Packard, PalmOne, Dell, Nokia, Microsoft, etc. handhelds help to keep the productivity of a person or company going. Some of the programs and features of a handheld are as followed:
Bluetooth
Wi-Fi
Documents
Media player
Music
Games
Photos
movies
Calculator
Web
Calendar
Contacts
Notes
E-mail
Task list
IM (Instant Message
The features that were listed before are only included on some devices. The type of device you buy depends on the type of tasks you need the device to do. Most handheld devices can be found online and at a electronics store and also at a office supply store.
How to use your device: First lets start with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. Bluetooth can be accessed by clicking on the Bluetooth icon on the menu of the device. And, if it’s a Palm OS, all you have to do is on the Graffiti Pad, make a diagonal line on the left part of the pad. Then click on the Bluetooth icon that appears at the bottom of the screen.
Wi-Fi can be accessed the same way. Remember: that not all Palm Operating Systems (Palm OS) are compatible with Wi-Fi.
Documents, a very useful feature, is also found on the menu. When you have opened this program, you must wait on most systems unless it is the highest grade, because, just like in a regular desktop or laptop computer, the processor takes a minute to boot up the information stored in the file. Not following this can result in that oh-so-annoying-reboot-process that 99% of all systems have.
And you will know when it is done because some type of “loading” or clock will appear or be at a specific place on the screen. Next you can select the document you want. Or create a new by clicking new document. Then you can use and edit the document. Some devices even allow documents to be sent wirelessly to a printer.
Most of the same features that are found on a larger computer can also be found on your device. The problem is getting to them. Most of the time, not all the features can be found on the screen. Then you must go to File>Customize toolbar and select all the features to be on the toolbar at the top or bottom of the screen
Chapter 3 Memory
There are many different types of memory. There are flash, hard, ROM, RAM, and micro memory. First, lets talk about flash memory. Flash memory is commonly used for transferring files from one computer to another. It is found in the form of a small stick like device that plugs into a USB port.
The next type of memory is hard. This memory is the main memory on the computer. It usually has a large amount of memory to store many files.
This memory can be recalled at any time by accessing it through the my computer icon on your computer and clicking on the designated icon for your drive.
The next type of memory is ROM memory. This acronym stands for Read-Only Memory. This kind of memory is all the programs on the computer. They can be accessed, but they can’t be modified.
The brother of ROM memory is RAM. No it is not an animal, it stands for Random Access Memory. This is the memory that is used when you open up an application. When you open a program, you are using RAM because the processors need memory to run the open program. The amount of RAM memory you have controls the speed of your computer. More memory, fast, less memory, slower.
The final type of memory that I will explain is micro memory. Micro memory is simple. It is just a small version of the flash drive. It is commonly found on cameras, handhelds, and mobile devices. You can buy one of these cards at just about any store with electronic devices.
We all know of the current war in Iraq, Operation Iraqi Freedom, but do we know about wars that may happen in the future? Today’s military uses the latest technology. Even though the military is always improving and advancing their technology, lives are being lost because of the troops not getting the technology fast enough. For instance, the body armor used by the troops, the current armor in Iraq has been reported to not withstand AK-47 rounds and RPG-7 fire (www.discoverer.prod.sirs.com/).
So, how safe do you feel today? Some people would say yes, some would say they do not feel safe. The people saying yes are thinking about safety as in accidents and domestic violence. The people saying no are probably thinking about 10 or 20 years from now, when technology is more advanced and warfare being more advanced. What will the enemy be using? One weapon that the pentagon is worried about is the probability of biological warfare, or, in plainer words, disease spreading bombs. And no its not the common cold or the flu. However, something with more kick, more lethal and incurable. Like cancer.
The way the bombs that do this is by releasing radioactive isotopes, that will emit ionizing radiation (alpha, beta, and gamma). The non-lethal (as in normal radiation, i.e. sun) amount of radiation is 300 to 400 millirems. The bomb will have much more than that. Although the more people affected by the bomb, the less the dosage of radioactive material, the biggest problem will be panic. And the clean up. The clean up is a problem because you really can’t get isotopes off of a New York City skyscraper. Thus, the building comes down. Leaving the bill at about a trillion dollars. Yes that’s $1,000,000,000,000. Lots of zeros. And who pays for it. The white house doesn’t. the pentagon doesn’t. the enemy doesn’t, (even though they should). The person who really pays for it is you. Taxes, taxes, taxes.
So we now know what could happen in the U.S., but what is going on in Iraq? All the technology in Iraq is up to date. Then why are hundreds still dyeing? It all points towards armor. Our metal plated armor is the best you can get, but it isn’t working that way. AK-47 fire can pierce it like a knife through butter. So what has the pentagon done? New, thicker plated metal armor is being made, although no word is out on when it will be sent to Iraq (www.discoverer.prod.sirs.com/).
Now that we have the technology for defense, now its time for offense. An offense so precise, the enemy wont know what hit them. JDAMS have revolutionized the bombs that are on fighter jets. They are guided by three satellites that pinpoint its exact altitude, latitude, and longitude. Put that together and you have a bomb accurate up to a couple meters. Now that we have accuracy, we need speed to out run the enemy. The solution: Scramjets.
These "super" jets have the power of hitting mach 3 while manned, and mach 10 when unmanned. Mach 10 is approximately 8,000 miles per hour, which is 10 times the speed of sound. Even though these jets have only hit mach 10 for a couple seconds, this opens hundreds of new doors for scientists (www.discoverer.prod.sirs.com/)
Now you must be thinking about what war will be like in the future. Well, the first thing is avoiding it in the first place. But, as we all know, that is not always possible, like on September 11, 2001. But one of the best technologies is computer. However, small and more powerful computers are what the military is wanting. The military wants all soldiers on a battle network so their location and status can be read from base. This will help by putting the troops in the best place tactically possible, with the help of sensors that will be sent out to track different things (tanks, convoys, enemy troop). There are many more features that will be put into these computers, like GPS systems for mapping out the battlefield and for air strikes.
Another astounding technology is Nano Technology. Nano technology is very complicated and little can be done with it right now. But scientist are hoping that in many, many, many years, nanobots will be programmed to be "assemblers". These assemblers would be able to construct anything out of dirt. All it needs are molecules and atoms. But this technology is decades or even centuries away. But nanotechnology is still being used. Scientists have been taking very small, as in a couple billionths of a nanometer, amounts of metals and have been observing them. One thing we have found out from this technology is that in very small amounts, gold is actually red.
Another great revolution in technology, the autonomous vehicle. Don’t know about it, its simple, an array of sensors are mounted around the vehicle. It reads the info around it and processes it so it can drive itself. So far a couple vehicles have been made to go over almost any terrain, except water. These vehicles will help to transport supplies to troops. Other vehicles will attck enemies and carry wounded soldiers (www.popsci.com)
So do you feel any safer? I think you should because the U.S. has always been relatively safe for the Americans. Although we will never be safe from war, even though we have the ultimate weapon (atomic bombs) there will always be something that can disrupt the peace on Earth. So as you can see, although less lives will probably be lost, danger will always be there, which is why we must always be developing new technologies to keep the world safe.