There's More Then Turning it On!

I enjoyed “Computer Systems: How They Work”. Since I have always been a boot it up and start working type of person, it was refreshing to learn about what’s inside a computer as well as about the Linux operating systems. I would have felt better if I had been able to boot up from the live disc! I also liked the show “Triumph of the Nerds”. I have always known about Bill Gates but to learn about the history of computers and those remarkable men who had the vision and carried it out was a positive experience for me. For the last few years I have been disappointed by the lack of drive and discipline in so many of my students. This would be a good clip to show them and perhaps get them inspired to be all that they can be. The component piece was interesting and I look forward to reading my mate’s presentations. I believe many take the computer and how it works and what it’s made up of for granted. And the disaster recovery piece was truly eye-opening. I really didn’t know what companies had to go through to protect their data. Learning the steps we as individual pc users should go through to protect our data will save us future hardship. Yes, this was a worthwhile class and I wouldn’t change anything!

OH NO!!!!!

What would I do if my pc failed? Well, my pc did fail and because of that, I learned a valuable lesson---back-up—back-up—back-up! My life wasn’t affected by the crash, but my job was. I had many valuable lesson plans, worksheets, student grades, student surveys, great links……….I had to redo those as I needed them—many never got redone. Since I purchased most of my software on discs, I could easily reload that. The other thing I lost that I can’t replace is many pictures from my trip to Italy. Guess I'll have to make a trip back there! I am careful now—I have good anti-virus software and I have backed up all my files. The neat part is that this backup was originally done on CDs—after taking Louis’s class, I have also backed them up in Dropbox. My equipment is all plugged into surge bars. So, for now I feel kind of safe—but machines are machines and cyberspace can be filled with many unfriendly aliens. You never know what will happen.

Floating on the Clouds?

Had I not enrolled in this Masters program, I would know nothing about online word processors, spreadsheets, and presentation programs, online storage, online bookmarking, online graphic programs, etc. I bring this up because that means that there is a good part of the population who still knows nothing about these tools. Of course maybe I’m underestimating that good part of the population---but I don’t think so. Here we go again with how technology changes oh so fast! It would seem that the future of desktop computing will be simple computers using a linux operating system and online software. But I think it will be some time before this will be the trend of the population at large. You see, just as the average person catches on to some new computer trend, a new one comes around. The whole thing can be mind-boggling, time consuming, frustrating. And then there are those who like to hold their flash drive close, who have little faith in their files remaining safe and secure if stored solely online, who want to feel in control of their computer system and all that it entails. Changes are definitely coming but at this time it’s hard to predict their impact on society’s computer users as a whole.