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Calmar New Materials

Peosta New Materials

Understanding the digital world : what you need to know about computers, the Internet, privacy, and security / Brian W. Kernighan.

by Kernighan, Brian W. author.

Princeton : Princeton University Press, [2017]

xv, 238 pages : illustrations (some color) ; 27 cm

Preface -- Introduction -- Part I. Hardware. What's in a computer? -- Bits, bytes, and representation of information -- Inside the CPU -- Wrapup on hardware -- Part II. Software. Algorithms -- Programming and programming languages -- Software systems -- Learning to program -- Wrapup on software -- Part III. Communications. Networks -- The Internet -- The World Wide Web -- Data and information -- Privacy and security -- Wrapping up.

Computers are everywhere. Some of them are highly visible, in laptops, tablets, cell phones, and smart watches. But most are invisible, like those in appliances, cars, medical equipment, transportation systems, power grids, and weapons. We never see the myriad computers that quietly collect, share, and sometimes leak vast amounts of personal data about us. Through computers, governments and companies increasingly monitor what we do. Social networks and advertisers know far more about us than we should be comfortable with, using information we freely give them. Criminals have all-too-easy access to our data. Do we truly understand the power of computers in our world? Based on the author's Princeton course Computers in Our World, this book is intended as a compact but detailed and thorough explanation of how computers and communications systems work, for non-technical readers. It explains how today's computing and communications world operates, from hardware through software to the Internet and the web, also addressing the social, political and legal issues that new technology creates.

The basics of how computer hardware, software, and systems work, and the risks they create for our privacy and security. Computers are everywhere. Some of them are highly visible, in laptops, tablets, cell phones, and smart watches. But most are invisible, like those in appliances, cars, medical equipment, transportation systems, power grids, and weapons. We never see the myriad computers that quietly collect, share, and sometimes leak vast amounts of personal data about us. Through computers, governments and companies increasingly monitor what we do. Social networks and advertisers know far more about us than we should be comfortable with, using information we freely give them. Criminals have all-too-easy access to our data. Do we truly understand the power of computers in our world? Understanding the Digital World explains how computer hardware, software, networks, and systems work. Topics include how computers are built and how they compute; what programming is and why it is difficult; how the Internet and the web operate; and how all of these affect our security, privacy, property, and other important social, political, and economic issues. This book also touches on fundamental ideas from computer science and some of the inherent limitations of computers. It includes numerous color illustrations, notes on sources for further exploration, and a glossary to explain technical terms and buzzwords. Understanding the Digital World is a must-read for all who want to know more about computers and communications. It explains, precisely and carefully, not only how they operate but also how they influence our daily lives, in terms anyone can understand, no matter what their experience and knowledge of technology.

Revised edition of: D is for digital. 2011.

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