L 13- Operating Systems

1. An operating system is a type of software. True
2. Operating systems control the loading of software applications onto a computer. True
3. All OS's offer user preferences allowing you to customize your computer. True
4. An operating system prioritizes the tasks that a CPU does. True
5. The following devices have an operating system: Apple Ipod, Dell Laptop Computer, Nintendo Wii. True

Job Shadowing

I job shadowed Promotional Partners' Olivia Scott from eight in the morning to twelve. They worked on putting logos and designs on items for companies and sometimes individual families. They put them on pens, shirts, mugs, flags, stickers, everything!
I got there a few minutes past eight to find that (surprise!) Trevor from AOIT was already there. He had gotten to Historic Downtown Apex shortly before me to find that all the doors to Promotional Partners were locked. But then, when I was testing the doors just to make sure that they were locked, Ms. Olivia Scott arrived and took us upstairs to her office, right over Anna's Pizzeria. She showed us the office rooms, the restrooms, and the two storage rooms where they put example products in case a client had no idea what they wanted. She also added that they'd help make the AOIT shirts. Indeed, later in the day, I found a shirt just like mine in that room, just without the embroidery.
After that, she told us that she pitied the two of us. Promotional Partners, she explained, did most of their work online, writing out emails. Her husband worked on financing, Miranda was there to design logos and things of that nature, while another woman's main job was to check if the manufacturing companies had the materials for the supplies they wanted to make. I didn't meet her. She only came in the afternoons.
I also sort of forgot what Olivia did, except she mentioned emails and lists. Maybe it was to identify what that client wanted?
After the tour of the three rooms, she handed us some magazines and told us that we could sit in the seats in front of her desk and read them. Trevor was a much faster reader than me and he kept on staring off into space or eyeing the one that he hadn't read on my lap. The magazines were mostly about ideas for promoting businesses. There were lots of pens and even a few pages on Fall Fashion, in case the companies wanted to put their logo on some of them. I was struck in awe at how cheap everything was. The next time I get pens at Target, I'm going to compare them to the few cents of the ones in the magazines!
While we were busy reading them (or at least I was) her husband Keith walked in and told us that we were doing a fine job acting like those magazines were interesting. Miranda, a young woman who said she'd graduated from AOIT, agreed with him. I wasn't looking at the the time, you see, so I couldn't tell you everything in detail. But some time between eight thirty and ten, Miranda showed us some Honda stickers she was making. They went something like, "Remember to get an oil change when your oil is at 15%!" split into three lines. There was "Automobiles" under that and "Honda" tucked under "mobiles". The "Automobiles" was a cerulean like blue while the the third line on the sticker was a bright red.
After that, we got back to reading magazines for a while. But Miranda seemed to have warned up on us and put up some music on the radio by the door. She also had Trevor try some special-vision glasses of whatever. They allowed you to view a Youtube video as if you were actually in it. Trevor's phone case didn't fit in the phone slot so Miranda lended him hers and he watched a roller coaster ride.
After that, I dragged Trevor along so we could explore the building. Olivia had gone to a to a parade meeting while Keith seemed to have disappeared. It seemed to be from ten to eleven. We went downstairs to Anna's Pizzeria and to all of the storage rooms.
It was then that Miranda showed us how she made logos and things like that and Keith explained how he worked with the budget.

Lesson 11- Internet

What is the Internet?
     The Internet is the world's largest WAN (Wide Area Network) and is made up lots of smaller networks. It connects more than two billion people together by delivering information to them. It's very young, being introduced to the public for less than three decades. There are lots of rules for the Internet and lots of parts to it too. The Internet can also be accessed through apps on a phone.

What is a protocol?
     A protocol would be a set of rules for any given thing. In this case, it would be the Internet. The who basic types are TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) and IP (Internet Protocol). The first parts of Internet's URLs would be the "http://" part, which would be needed for someone to view the page. They can also be used as a communications protocol for private networks like an intranet or an extranet. 

What is DNS?
     Domain Name Services (DNS) help translate addresses. Without them, there would be no Internet. They basically are like a phone book and they look for the information that you type. For example, if you type a website name, they will look for the IP address. If they don't have it, they'll ask other DNS with they have the information.

Explain what an ISP is and what it does?
     Internet Service Providers (ISPs), provide Internet. They basically use routers that connect with LAN's and then WAN's and then onto the Internet. It's what the data travels through and they often skip around from router to router before finding their destination. Some examples of ISP would be AT&T, IBM, and Netcom. Sometimes they can also be called IAP, "Internet Access Providers", or another version of ISP, "Independent Service Provider".

What is a Ping and Firewall?
     Pings are used to determine if the connections to the machines are working or not. They check the network connections. Firewalls protect your computer from Internet threats and can be both hardware and software. Firewalls can be customized to their own rules. Some examples of what they block can be malicious websites or virus'.

Lesson 8: Making Presentations

Presentation Goals: Inform (Give Info), Educate (Teach), Persuade

Audience Learn in 3 Ways: Seeing, Hearing, Doing (Notes)

Powerpoints Have:

• Text: Info, Clean/Big.
• Charts/Graphs: Data
• Photos/Graphics
• Audio/Video: Festivals, Music

Rules for Good Presentation:

• Slides Easy to Read: 7x7 Rule
• State the Purpose
• Present Info in Multiple Ways
• End with a Summary

• Add Images to Support the Point (Avoid Slide Clutter/Too many Colors)
• Keep People Interested
• Reinforce Key Messages
• Help Visual Learners Understand
• Relax and use a Friendly Speaking Style: Eye Contact
• Don't talk too Fast
• Add Information/Examples in Own Words
• Time for Note-Taking
• Answer Audience Questions
• Practice
• Don't Read the Slides
• No word for word
• Don't Point out Mistakes
• Colors
• Light-Colored Backgrounds with Dark Text
• Dark Backgrounds with Bright Text

Best Powerpoints Have: 

• Easy to Read Slides that Support what is Being Said
• Clearly Stated Purpose
• Graphic, Photos, Visual Objects used Judiciously
• Speaker is Relaxed and Confident

POIT L6 Peripherals

* Peripherals:devices used for computer input/output
     (Mouse-Input
          -optical/trackball
     Keyboard-Input
          -uses key and key combination to tell the computer what to do
     Monitor-Output
          -LCD/CRT monitors
          -If screen in touchscreen, it is also an input device 
          -Pixel: small colored dot that can be displayed on a screen. 
              *(standard 1280x720, high 1920x1080)
                    > more pixels more definition
     Printers- Output
           -Multi-function, Scanner (input), Inkjet
     Flash Drive/USB-Input/Output
          -3 1/2 inch Floppy, CD ROM drive, DVD drive, Blue-Ray drive
          -External Drives give users more storage options
                    >SSD drives don't move inside and are more expensive
*Tower Cases have expansion bays for optical drive such as DVD or blue ray.

^ Dream Computer needs keyboard, mouse, monitor, printer, scanner, storage drives^ 

Q1 Highschool

What is your impression of the first 9-weeks of high school?
     I probably shouldn't be saying it, but high school seems easier than what I expected. My friends are all ranting about how many project are due and I'm sitting back with practically the easiest classes. Being in AOIT means that you have a minimal amount of homework, as with being in Health/PE.
     Of course, there are always those sophomores who make nasty comments about freshmen because they want to seem "cool" but it's more amusing than scarring.

What has been difficult about the transition from middle school?
     In middle school, in eighth grade, you were always with the oldest kids. You could do whatever you wanted and there would be sixth graders nodding their heads "uh-huh". But now you have to start from that bottom all over again. Of course, waking up early to catch the bus isn't much of a pro either.

What has been easy about the transition?
     Since I have such a limited amount of time in the morning, I'd like to think that I've become slightly more responsible. Most of my friends are with me, except for my best friend, and I get home earlier.

What have you learned about yourself?
     I'm a really independent. I knew about that when I was little, when I was always the girl in the corner doodling ducks or whatever, but now when I have the chance of working with people, I can't. It's weird really. I'm used to doing almost everything by myself.

ID Theft Faceoff

1. If the stolen information includes your SSN (Social Security Number), you can place an "initial fraud alert" by calling one of the three nationwide consumer reporting companies.
2. If someone has stolen information about your financial accounts, it's best to wait for several weeks to see what they do with it before taking any action.
3. The names of the three nationwide consumer reporting companies are Equinox, ExperiCorps, and TransAmerica.
4. One of the best ways to protect your identity is by using online passwords only you would know - like your mother's maiden name or the last four digits of your SSN (Social Security Number).
5. The best way to get a free copy of your credit report is to file a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Request.
6. If someone has stolen your identity, and then you notice that you're no longer receiving bills from creditors, this is a sign that your identity has been restored.