CM VI – Lesson 3 - Uses of computer

NOTE: I feel some illustrations in this lessons would make it interesting. These are being done

Tejas, Arush have collected uses of computer and are enthusiastically discussing with Moz while other members of the group listen attentively.

An illustration of sheets of paper with the four categorizations (given later) and some sub bullets.

Moz: This is an exhaustive list. You have some new categorizations too.

Arush: Yes. After gathering information we discussed the uses with our parents and teachers and categorized the uses under the following:

Categorization - Uses of Computer

  1. Standalone computer applications.
  2. Internet and networking applications.
  3. Special purpose applications in various fields.
  4. Uses in other devices (embedded applications).

Moz: How did you categorize the information?

Arush: Our teacher guided us in categorizing. In our school some of the computers do not have internet. Our teacher asked us to first list the applications that we can use without internet connectivity.

Tejas: Applications like word processor, paint can be used without an internet connection. We have grouped such applications under Standalone computer applications.

Arush: Next we grouped the applications that need internet connection like email, searching for information on internet, under the categoryinternet and networking applications.

Tejas: We also found out that there are special computers and software, that are used for special purposes like defence, space, number crunching etc. We grouped these uses under Special purpose applications in other fields.

Arush: Robots and washing machines also have a computer for operating them.

Moz: These are called embedded systems.

Tejas: We have categorized such applications under the category Uses in other devices (Embeddded applications).

Moz: Good. You have analyzed and come up with very good categorizations.

Concept: Categorization

Definition: Categorizing is organizing information or items based on common features, into various groups or categories.

How is categorization done?

  • Find out the common features in information or items (ex: colour, size, function, location etc).
  • Group the items with the same feature or features into a category (ex: Applications which need internet connectivity grouped under internet applications).

Moz: A standalone computer is also called a desktop. Does every desktop have all the applications that you have listed?

Tejas: By default a desktop will have some applications like notepad, paint and a few others.

Arush: Suppose we want to compose music then we need to install software that can compose music.

Moz: Some of these applications are available from open source on the internet. The software can be downloaded from internet and installed on the desktop and used.

Tejas: There are some software like Simulation software, ex: airplane operation software which is available on a CD/DVD. We have to buy such software and install on the desktop to use it.

Arush: We saw the a software that trains people to drive a car, in the driving training school.

Moz: Yes. These are very useful software. I see that you have also listed games. Do you remember the amount of time that you can spend on a computer.

Arush: Yes we do remember and also follow. We use the computer for half an hour to one hour with breaks in between and do eye exercises and other exercises to keep the body fit and healthy.

Standalone Computer Applications

  • Office and personal applications: Word processing, spread sheet, power point presentations, drawing, painting, desktop publishing: books, documents, reports
  • Multimedia: Composing music, making movies, creating special effects in movies, editing photographs, audio and video
  • Games: Playing educational and entertainment games
  • Programming: Creating software using the programming languages, database and other application
  • Education: Learning about various topics.
  • Virtual Training: Use simulation software to learn airplane operations, car driving

Moz: Did you find any uses about internet other than what you already know?

Tejas: Yes. Skype is a software which allows not only audio but also video communication.

Moz: When I go on vacation to Timbaktu, we can talk and also see one another when we use skype to communicate.

Arush: It also needs registration and each of us need to know other's username. We have to accept your invitation to be on your contact list.

Moz: Yes. Many applications on internet require registration on the site.

Arush: We found that exam results can also be seen on internet. Our schoolmates in 10th standard told us that we can see our results on the internet when the results are declared after exams.

Tejas: We can also buy books. During vacation I bought a few books by accessing a site on the internet with my father's help. This site was selling used books very cheap.

Arush: I have also seen some people access their lessons online and also give exams on the internet.

Tejas: There are many applications of the internet. We have listed the main ones in this list.

Internet and Networking Applications

  • Communication: email, social networking, video conferencing (skype),
  • Information: various topics, educational, places for touring, hotels; food, culture, maps, weather conditions, news, etc.
  • Transactions – buying: tickets, books, products; banking, trading,
  • Education – course videos, course content, content available for concepts like animation, simulations, on-line courses
  • Databases and network - Data availability from a remote networked computer – Withdrawal of cash at any location, Medical records, railway ticketing information, school and college students database etc.

Moz: Let us look at the next category. Are desktop computers used for space craft missions?

Arush: Super computers are used for space craft missions. For example, very complex calculations are done to get accurate data for space craft which goes up on various missions.

Moz: This is called number crunching. Desktops will take a large number of days to calculate this data. Hence super computers are used.

Tejas: Other field is medicine. For example, life supporting systems in a hospital that help people to breathe, monitor the patient and pass on the data to the computer.

Moz: Correct. The data is then analyzed by the computer with patient's data. Appropriate diagnosis is done and timely treatment is provided to the patient.

Tejas: One other important and useful application that we found out is weather analysis. Data about temperature, cloud movement, wind etc, is gathered through satellite. This data is analyzed and warnings for cyclones, storms, typhoons are given to people through TV, radio.

Moz: These warning in time save many lives, animals, food grains. Proper precautions can be taken by the authorities.

Arush: There are many such special purpose applications as listed below.

Special purpose applications in various fields

  • Space : Accurate data is required for spacecraft on various missions like communication, space explorations etc. Complex calculations are required to determine the orbit, trajectories, etc., depending on the purpose of the spacecraft.
  • Medicine: Patient information system allows for quick action, Diagnosis system supports identifying the illness and possible emergency situations like life threatening situations, monitoring and controlling systems help in giving quality healthcare and service 24 hours – example: sensors connected to a computer after surgery monitor the heart continuously and the doctor is alerted during an emergency situation.
  • Weather analysis: Analyzing and predicting weather conditions like psunami, cyclones, typhoons, heavy snow, rains etc.
  • Communication: database of users of mobiles, keeping track of sms, calls etc. network applications like passing data from one computer to another
  • Defence: Communications, security, missile targeting, ships, planes, unmanned aircrafts

Moz:What is the difference between a desktop computer and a computer in other devices like microwave, robots?

Tejas: A computer in desktop or super computer can be used for various purposes but the computer in a device can perform very specific tasks which are related to the device.

Arush: For example, a computer in a robot can control the robot but it cannot be used for word processing or painting.

Moz: Yes. And the computer in the devices like microwave, robots are called embedded systems.

Tejas: The computers in these devices do not have all the parts of a computer. Sometimes they are very small.

Arush: They can be operated using some buttons for example the washing machine or the TV remote.

Tejas: Some of them have a graphical user interface with a menu like the ones in the mobile. These may be touch screen or operated with buttons.

Concept:The computer in devices like traffic lights, mp3 players, medical equipment, microwave, washing machine, robots etc. called an embedded system is designed to perform specific tasks related to the device.

Uses in other devices - Embedded Applications:

  • Telecommunication systems: telephone switches, mobiles, networking switches
  • Transportation systems: Automobiles to increase efficiency and reduce pollution, trains, aviation systems, space crafts
  • Medical equipment: for monitoring vital signs, electronic stethoscope, medical imaging, non-invasive internal inspections
  • Other systems: Toys, robots, cameras, microwave, washing machines, remotes of many electronic equipment

Moz: Well done. You not only gathered information but also understood the information that you gathered. This will be useful when you prepare and give the presentation.

Tejas: We have prepared a summary which we can use when we talk about the uses of the computer during our presentation About Computers.

Summary of the uses of computer to be used as power point slides (should we ask the students to prepare a ppt for each category instead of listing the summary here? - worksheet)

  1. Personal use
  • Office and Personal applications

◦Word processing, painting

  • Multimedia

◦compose and listen to music, videos

  • Games

◦Educational and entertainment games

  • Programming

◦Build scratch animations

  • Education

◦Cds, lessons, animations

  • Virtual training

◦Car driving lessons before learning to drive on the road.

  1. Internet and networking
  • Communication

◦ email, video conferencing (skype)

  • Information

◦various topics

  • Transactions

◦ buying, banking, trading

  • Education

◦on-line courses

  • Databases and network

results of exams

  1. Special purpose applications in various fields
  • Space

◦Spacecraft trajectory

  • Medicine

◦Monitoring patients

  • Weather analysis

◦Predicting cyclone

  • Communication

◦Mobile information

  • Defence

◦Missile targeting

  1. Uses in other devices
  • Telecommunication systems

◦Mobiles

  • Transportation systems

◦Space craft

  • Medical systems

◦Electronic stethescope

  • Others

◦Toys, robots

Worksheets

1. Given are some uses of computers. Categorise them under three different categories.

Provide on line examsMissile targetingAnalyze Blood samples

Manufacturing medicinesControl unmanned aircraftsGames to teach mathematics

Keep patient recordsTracking missilesMonitoring vital signs

Information on science projectsTraining defence personnel

Registering for science OlympiadAnimations to teach fractions

Medical purposes / Education / Defence purposes
Analyze Blood samples

2. Find the odd one out and give reasons why you think so:

i) a) Computer in traffic light

b) Computer in a microwave oven

c) Computer - desktop

d) Computer in a washing machine

Reason: ______

ii)a) Missile targeting

b) Word processing

c) Medical imaging

d) Weather forecast

Reason: ______

iii)a) Facebook

b) Gmail

c) Youtube videos

d) Spreadsheets

Reason: ______

iv)a) Word processing

b) Spreadsheets

c) Keeping track of sms

d) Composing music

Reason: ______

3) i. I am an embedded computer sitting on a tap. What are the different functions you want me to perform?

Example:

a) Neena forgot to turn the knob after washing hands. So I would shout ______

______.

b) ______

ii) I am embedded into a wall, What are the different functions you want me to perform?

Example:

a) Rekha chews pan and spit on me. So I would advertise ______.

b) ______

iii) I am embedded into a identity tag given while depositing items. What are the different functions you want me to perform?

Example:

a) Harry lost his baggage at the airport. So I would announce ______.

b)______

iv) I am embedded into a collar of a pet. What are the different functions you want me to perform?

Example:

a) Zareen's cat, Feona is lost. So I would transmit ______.

b ) ______

v) I am embeded in a shopping cart. What are the different functions you want me to perform?

Example:

a) . Suzanne has to purhcase groceries of Rs. 1000/-. She has picked up items that cross her budget. So I would beep and display ______.

b) ______

4) Mehul's uncle works in Haldiram sweet shop as a manager. In the summer vacation, Mehul helps his uncle in the shop. Now his uncle wants to start using a computer to manage the day to day activities of the shop. The activities in a typical day are:

  • customers come and select the sweets
  • weigh the sweets
  • Collect the cash and hand over the bill and sweets
  • keep track of the cash transactions
  • keep track of the stock of sweets
  • keep track of the raw materials needed
  • Get orders through the phone.
  • Do home delivery of sweets
  • Occasionally, compare the prices with the current market rate and do necessary price corrections.

Can you suggest where all can Mehul's uncle use a computer, so that he can do his work more efficiently.

5) Frame a question.

( In this problem, try to make a question, which will have the answer given below)

Qns: ______

______

Ans:a) They don't have all parts of the computer.

b) They perform very specific tasks.

c) Sometimes they are very small

d) They can be operated using touch screen or with buttons.

6. Your friend tells that there is no difference between her desktop computer and the computer inside a washing machine, as both are computers. Do you agree with your friend? Explain the reason.

Activity:

1. Following are some situations. Describe how computers are useful in these situations.

a. You are a Batsmen in a cricket team. You want to improve your batting skills so that you can win the inter school trophy for cricket.

b. You communicate with your mother who is on a job tour to another country.

c. You are a scientist working on a spacecraft mission.

Group Activity

  • If I were a computer

a. Imagine a computer (embedded computer) in things around the house and school. Imagine a computer (embedded computer) in things around the house and school. For example a a wall that takes photographs of people who spit on it and are later fined. Some other examples include, light that goes off as you step out of the room, trees, pets.

b. List out atleast 5 items and the use of computer in them and the advantages of embedding a computer in these items.

c. Write the advantages of embedding a computer in these items. Draw a sketch of your idea. Share these with your friends and classmates.

d. Brainstorm an find out which of the ideas are useful and have advantages.

e. Prepare a poster with the ideas that are selected by the class and display it on the poster board of the school.

Explore:

  1. Find software that allows you to compose music.
  2. Find out how computers are used in electronic voting machines.

Teacher's Corner

The purpose of this is to teach about the different uses of the computer and categorise them appropriately. Begin the class by doing a brainstorming session with students where you ask them to list the different uses of the computer. If you have already done this while teaching the previous lesson, then you can instead recollect the uses mentioned by students and ask if they wish to add some more uses to the list.

Students have learnt about how to organise the list (sequential, alphabetic, etc.) while studying Cm Level 5 book. Refresh their memory and inform that the items in the list can be categorized for better organization. You can select the uses that can be grouped as personal uses to draw this point. If any of the personal uses mentioned in the lesson are not included, discuss these in the class. Mention that this is not an exhaustive list of personal uses.

Students already know about Internet and its uses. Ask the students questions on how does Internet add to our convenience. Tell them that it provides us with lots of information quickly and easily, allows us to communicate. Educate the students about the different Internet and networking related uses mentioned in the lesson. Give them a demonstration of an e-learning website and railway reservation portal.

To teach uses of computers in other devices, ask the students to mention the different gadgets that they have used or seen others use. Now, question them on how do you think it operates. Mobile phone and toys would be the most commonly mentioned items that students imagine to contain the power of a computer. Teach them about how computers are used in other devices. Depending on the understanding of students, you might want to mention about embedded computers.

Students may have seen special purpose application of computers in various fields. Ask them to describe how computers would be useful in hospitals to monitor patients. Describe the other special purpose uses mentioned in the lesson. Show the students pictures or short clips of these to facilitate understanding of how computers in various fields.

End the lesson by summarizing the different uses of the computer. Ensure that you have mentioned all the uses covered in the lesson. Emphasize that this is not an exhaustive list and there are many more uses of the computer.