Computer: A computer is a programmable machine.

The two principal

characteristics of a computer are: It responds to a specific set of instructions in a
well-defined manner and it can execute a pre-recorded list of instructions (a
programme). All general- purpose computers require the following hardware
components:

Memory: It enables a computer to store, at least temporarily, data and

programmes.

Mass Storage Device: It allows a computer to permanently retain large

amounts of data. Common mass storage devices include Solid State Devices
(SSDs) or Disk drives and Tape drives.

Input Devices: Usually a keyboard and a mouse, the input device is a conduct
through which data and instructions enter into a computer.

Output Devices: A display screen, printer or other devices that lets you see
what the computer as accomplished.

Central Processing Unit (CPU): It is the heart of computer. This is the

component that actually executes instructions.

Most people associate a personal computer (PC). Personal Computer is a small

and relatively inexpensive computer designed for an individual’s use. Personal
Computers are based on microprocessor technology that enables manufacturers
to entire CPU on one chip.

 Personal Computer: It is a small, single-user computer based on a

microprocessor. In addition to microprocessor, a personal computer has a
keyboard for entering data, a monitor for displaying information, and a
storage device for saving data.
 Workstation: It is a powerful, single –user computer. A workstation is
like a personal computer, but it has more powerful microprocessor and a
high quality monitor.
 Minicomputer: It is a multi-user computer capable of supporting from
ten to hundreds of users simultaneously.
 Mainframe: It is a powerful multi-user computer capable of supporting
many hundreds or thousands of users simultaneously.
 Supercomputer: It is an extremely fast computer that can perform
hundreds of millions of instructions per second.
 Generation of Computers
Generation in computer terminology is a change in technology a computer
is/was being used. Initially, the generation term was used to distinguish between
varying hardware technologies. Nowadays, generation includes both hardware
and software, which together make up an entire computer system.

There are five computer generations known till date. Each generation has been
discussed in details along with their time periods and characteristics.

The 5 generation of computers which can be classified as followed:

1. First Generation : Vacuum Tubes

2. Second Generation : Transistors
3. Third Generation : Integrated Chips/Circuits
4. Fourth Generations : Micro Chips/Processors
5. Fifth Generation : Artificial Intelligence (AI)

1. First Generation: Vacuum Tubes(1940-1956):

The first computer systems used vacuum tubes for circuitry and magnetic
drums for memory, and were often enormous, taking up entire rooms.
These computers were very expensive to operate and in addition to using
a great deal of electricity, the first computers generated a lot of heat,
which was often the cause of malfunctions.

First generation computers relied on machine language, the lowest-level

programming language understood by computers, to perform operations,
and they could only solve one problem at a time. It would take operators
days or even weeks to set-up a new problem. Input was based on punched
cards and paper tape, and output was displayed on printouts.

The UNIVAC and ENIAC computers are examples of first-generation

computing devices. The UNIVAC was the first commercial computer
delivered to a business client, the U.S. Census Bureau in 1951.
2. Second Generation : Transistors (1956-1963)
The world would see transistors replace vacuum tubes in the second generation
of computers. The transistor was invented at Bell Labs in 1947 but did not see
widespread use in computers until the late 1950s
.
The transistor was far superior to the vacuum tube, allowing computers to
become smaller, faster, cheaper, more energy-efficient and more reliable than
their first-generation predecessors. Though the transistor still generated a great
deal of heat that subjected the computer to damage, it was a vast improvement
over the vacuum tube. Second-generation computers still relied on punched
cards for input and printouts for output.

From Binary to Assembly

Second-generation computers moved from cryptic binary machine language to
symbolic, or assembly, languages, which allowed programmers to specify
instructions in words. High-level programming languages were also being
developed at this time, such as early versions of COBOL and FORTRAN.
These were also the first computers that stored their instructions in their
memory, which moved from a magnetic drum to magnetic core technology.

The first computers of this generation were developed for the atomic energy
industry.
3 .Third Generation: Integrated Chips/Circuits (1964-1971):
The development of the integrated circuit was the hallmark of the third
generation of computers. Transistors were miniaturized and placed
on silicon chips, called semiconductors, which drastically increased the speed
and efficiency of computers.

Instead of punched cards and printouts, users interacted with third generation
computers through keyboards and monitors and interfaced with an operating
system, which allowed the device to run many different applications at one time
with a central program that monitored the memory. Computers for the first time
became accessible to a mass audience because they were smaller and cheaper
than their predecessors.

Did You Know... ? An integrated circuit (IC) is a small electronic device made
out of a semiconductor material. The first integrated circuit was developed in
the 1950s by Jack Kilby of Texas Instruments and Robert Noyce of Fairchild
Semiconductor.
4. Fourth Generation: Micro Chips/Processors (1971-Present):

The microprocessor brought the fourth generation of computers, as thousands of

integrated circuits were built onto a single silicon chip. What in the first
generation filled an entire room could now fit in the palm of the hand. The Intel
4004 chip, developed in 1971, located all the components of the computer—
from the unit and memory to input/output controls—on a single chip.

In 1981 IBM introduced its first computer for the home user, and in
1984 Apple introduced the Macintosh. Microprocessors also moved out of the
realm of desktop computers and into many areas of life as more and more
everyday products began to use microprocessors.

As these small computers became more powerful, they could be linked together
to form networks, which eventually led to the development of the Internet.
Fourth generation computers also saw the development of GUIs, the mouse
and hand held devices.
 1. Fifth Generation: Artificial Intelligence (Present and
Beyond):
Fifth generation computing devices, based on artificial intelligence, are still in
development, though there are some applications, such as voice recognition,
that are being used today. The use of parallel processing and superconductors is
helping to make artificial intelligence a reality.

Quantum computation and molecular and nanotechnology will radically change

the face of computers in years to come. The goal of fifth-generation computing
is to develop devices that respond to natural language input and are capable of
learning and self-organization.

This generation is based on parallel processing hardware and AI (Artificial

Intelligence) software. AI is an emerging branch in computer science, which
interprets the means and method of making computers think like human beings.
All the high-level languages like C and C++, Java, .Net etc., are used in this
generation.

AI includes −

 Robotics
 Neural Networks
 Game Playing
 Development of expert systems to make decisions in real-life situations
 Natural language understanding and generation.

The main features of fifth generation are −

 ULSI technology
 Development of true artificial intelligence
 Development of Natural language processing
 Advancement in Parallel Processing
 Advancement in Superconductor technology
 More user-friendly interfaces with multimedia features
 Availability of very powerful and compact computers at cheaper rates
Some computer types of this generation are −

 Desktop
 Laptop
 Note Book
 Ultra Book
 Chrome Book

The fifth generation of computer runs till date. In the fifth generation, VLSI
technology became ULSI (Ultra Large Scale Integration) technology, resulting
in the production of microprocessor chips having ten million electronic
components.
 INTRODUCTION

Microsoft Office (or simply Office) is a family of client software, server

software, and services developed by Microsoft. It was first announced by Bill
Gates on August 1, 1988, at COMDEX in Las Vegas. Initially a marketing term
for an office suite (bundled set of productivity applications), the first version of
Office contained Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, and Microsoft PowerPoint.
Over the years, Office applications have grown substantially closer with shared
features such as a common spell checker, OLE data integration and Visual
Basic for Applications scripting language. Microsoft also positions Office as a
development platform for line-of-business software under the Office Business
Applications brand. On July 10, 2012, Softpedia reported that Office is used by
over a billion people worldwide.

Office is produced in several versions targeted towards different end-users and

computing environments. The original, and most widely used version, is
the desktop version, available for PCs running
the Windows and macOSoperating systems. Office Online is a version of the
software that runs within a web browser, while Microsoft also maintains
Office apps for Android and iOS.

Since Office 2013, Microsoft has promoted Office 365 as the primary means of
obtaining Microsoft Office: it allows use of the software and other services on
a subscription business model, and users receive free feature updates to the
software for the lifetime of the subscription, including new features and cloud
computing integration that are not necessarily included in the "on-premises"
releases of Office sold under conventional license terms. In 2017, revenue from
Office 365 overtook conventional license sales.

The current on-premises, desktop version of Office is Office 2019, released on

September 24, 2018.

Microsoft Office was primarily created to automate the manual office work with
a collection of purpose built applications.
 Microsoft Word:
Microsoft Word (or simply Word) is a word processor developed
by Microsoft. It was first released on October 25, 1983 under the name Multi-
Tool Word for Xenix systems. Subsequent versions were later written for
several other platforms including IBM PCs running DOS (1983), Apple
Macintosh running the Classic Mac OS(1985), AT&T Unix PC (1985), Atari
ST (1988), OS/2 (1989), Microsoft Windows (1989), SCO Unix (1994),
and macOS (formerly OS X; 2001).

In 1981, Microsoft hired Charles Simonyi to develop a word-processing

application. The first version was released in 1983. It was not initially popular,
owing to its radically different look compared to WordPerfect, the leading word
processor at that time. However, Microsoft improved Word continually over the
years, including a 1985 version that could run on a Mac. The second major
release of Word, in 1987, included an upgrade of major features in addition to
new functionalities such as support for the rich text format (RTF).
In 1995, with the release of Windows 95 and Office 95, which offered a
bundled set of office productivity software, sales of Microsoft Word increased
significantly.

Commercial versions of Word are licensed as a standalone product or as a

component of Microsoft Office, Windows RT or the discontinued Microsoft
Works suite. Microsoft Word Viewer and Office Online are freeware editions of
Word with limited features.

Microsoft Word's native file formats are denoted either by

a .doc or .docx filename extension.

Although the .doc extension has been used in many different versions of Word,
it actually encompasses four distinct file formats:

1. Word for DOS

2. Word for Windows 1 and 2; Word 3 and 4 for Mac OS
3. Word 6 and Word 95 for Windows; Word 6 for Mac OS
4. Word 97 and later for Windows; Word 98 and later for Mac OS

The newer .docx extension signifies the Office Open XML international
standard for Office documents and is used by Word 2007 and later for
Windows, Word 2008 and later for macOS, as well as by a growing number of
applications from other vendors, including OpenOffice.org Writer, an open
source word processing program.
Microsoft Word offers several features to ease document creation and editing,
including:

 WYSIWYG (what-you-see-is-what-you-get) display: It ensures that

everything displayed on screen appears the same way when printed or
moved to another format or program.
 Spell check: Word features a built-in dictionary for spell checking;
misspelled words are marked with a red squiggly underline. Sometimes,
Word auto-corrects an obviously misspelled word or phrase.
 Text-level features such as bold, underline, italic and strike-through
 Page-level features such as indentation, paragraphing and justification
 External support: Word is compatible with many other programs, the
most common being the other members of the Office suite.

Word for Windows is available stand-alone or as part of the Microsoft Office

suite. Word contains rudimentary desktop publishing capabilities and is the
most widely used word processing program on the market. Word files are
commonly used as the format for sending text documents via e-mail because
almost every user with a computer can read a Word document by using the
Word application, a Word viewer or a word processor that imports the Word
format (see Microsoft Word Viewer).

Word 6 for Windows NT was the first 32-bit version of the product, released
with Microsoft Office for Windows NT around the same time as Windows 95. It
was a straightforward port of Word 6.0. Starting with Word 95, releases of
Word were named after the year of its release, instead of its version number.

Word 2010 allows more customization of the Ribbon, adds a backstage view for
file management, has improved document navigation, allows creation and
embedding of screenshots, and integrates with Word Web App.

Opening a Word Document file in a version of Word other than the one with
which it was created can cause incorrect display of the document. The
document formats of the various versions change in subtle and not so subtle
ways (such as changing the font, or the handling of more complex tasks like
footnotes). Formatting created in newer versions does not always survive when
viewed in older versions of the program, nearly always because that capability
does not exist in the previous version. Rich Text Format (RTF), an early effort
to create a format for interchanging formatted text between applications, is an
optional format for Word that retains most formatting and all content of the
original document.
What is Microsoft Word used for:
MS Word is a popular word-processing program used primarily for creating documents such
as letters, brochures, learning activities, tests, quizzes and students' homework assignments.
There are many simple but useful features available in Microsoft Word to make it easier for
study and work. That's why so many people would prefer to convert the read-only PDF to
editable Word and edit PDF in Word.

Useful features in Microsoft Word:

1. Check document for spelling and grammar errors
After typing contents in the Word document, you can use the spell checker to find out those
words that have typing errors so that you can correct them, and makes it easier to replace
words or phrases throughout the Word document by the Word recommendation.

You can access this command using this way: go to the Review tab, click Spelling &
Grammar in the Proofing group.

2. Add Header, Footer and Page Number

To make it easier to organize Word contents well, Microsoft Word does not only allows you
to separate contents into different paragraphs based on topics, it also lets you add Page
Number, Header and Footer to each Word page so that the readers can easily indicate the
main subject and the position, where he or she is, in the Word document.

You can add Page Number, Header and Footer by these steps: go to Insert tab, find Header &
Footer group on the top, click Header, Footer or Page Number to type information and
settings.

3. Protect Word document with password

After typing contents in the Word document, you may want to set password to protect it. It is
easy: click the Office button, go to Prepare, click Encrypt Document, type a password in the
dialog box and then click OK.

Some alternatives for Microsoft Word:

A. Google Drive. It is an online Word processing service provided by Google. Only with a
free Google account, you can easily create a Office-Word-like document, and it is Document,
the name of Word processor.
B. Apple iWork Pages. Another word processor developed by Apple, and it just works on
Mac and compatible all OS X system, such as Mountain Lion, Lion and Snow Leopard.

Conversion between Word and other formats:

Save Word as PDF: Sometimes you want to save your Word documents to PDF to make it
possible for easy sharing with other users.
Convert PDF back to Word: To make changes in a PDF file, it is not easy, but you can
convert the PDF to Word, after all, Word is much easier for editing, as we all know.
Convert Word to PowerPoint: You can easily export Word keynotes to PowerPoint
presentation outline, saving time to retype contents in a PowerPoint file.
 Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Excel is a spreadsheet developed by Microsoft for Windows, macOS,

Android and iOS. It features calculation, graphing tools, pivot tables, and a
macro programming language called Visual Basic for Applications. It has been
a very widely applied spreadsheet for these platforms, especially since version 5
in 1993, and it has replaced Lotus 1-2-3 as the industry standard for
spreadsheets. Excel forms part of the Microsoft Office suite of software.

Basic operation:
Microsoft Excel has the basic features of all spreadsheets,[7] using a grid of
cells arranged in numbered rows and letter-named columns to organize data
manipulations like arithmetic operations. It has a battery of supplied functions
to answer statistical, engineering and financial needs. In addition, it can display
data as line graphs, histograms and charts, and with a very limited three-
dimensional graphical display. It allows sectioning of data to view its
dependencies on various factors for different perspectives (using pivot tables
and the scenario manager).[8] It has a programming aspect, Visual Basic for
Applications, allowing the user to employ a wide variety of numerical methods,
for example, for solving differential equations of mathematical physics,[9][10]
and then reporting the results back to the spreadsheet. It also has a variety of
interactive features allowing user interfaces that can completely hide the
spreadsheet from the user, so the spreadsheet presents itself as a so-called
application, or decision support system (DSS), via a custom-designed user
interface, for example, a stock analyzer,[11] or in general, as a design tool that
asks the user questions and provides answers and reports.[12][13][14] In a more
elaborate realization, an Excel application can automatically poll external
databases and measuring instruments using an update schedule,[15] analyze the
results, make a Word report or PowerPoint slide show, and e-mail these
presentations on a regular basis to a list of participants. Excel was not designed
to be used as a database.

Microsoft allows for a number of optional command-line switches to control the

manner in which Excel starts.
Functions:
Excel 2016 has 484 functions.[17] Of these, 360 existed prior to Excel 2010.
Microsoft classifies these functions in 14 categories. Of the 484 current
functions, 386 may be called from VBA as methods of the object
"WorksheetFunction"[18] and 44 have the same names as VBA functions.

Macro programming:
VBA programming:

The Windows version of Excel supports programming through Microsoft's

Visual Basic for Applications (VBA), which is a dialect of Visual Basic.
Programming with VBA allows spreadsheet manipulation that is awkward or
impossible with standard spreadsheet techniques. Programmers may write code
directly using the Visual Basic Editor (VBE), which includes a window for
writing code, debugging code, and code module organization environment. The
user can implement numerical methods as well as automating tasks such as
formatting or data organization in VBA[20] and guide the calculation using any
desired intermediate results reported back to the spreadsheet.

VBA was removed from Mac Excel 2008, as the developers did not believe that
a timely release would allow porting the VBA engine natively to Mac OS X.
VBA was restored in the next version, Mac Excel 2011,[21] although the build
lacks support for ActiveX objects, impacting some high level developer
tools.[22]

A common and easy way to generate VBA code is by using the Macro
Recorder.[23] The Macro Recorder records actions of the user and generates
VBA code in the form of a macro. These actions can then be repeated
automatically by running the macro. The macros can also be linked to different
trigger types like keyboard shortcuts,[24] a command button or a graphic. The
actions in the macro can be executed from these trigger types or from the
generic toolbar options. The VBA code of the macro can also be edited in the
VBE. Certain features such as loop functions and screen prompt by their own
properties, and some graphical display items, cannot be recorded but must be
entered into the VBA module directly by the programmer. Advanced users can
employ user prompts to create an interactive program, or react to events such as
sheets being loaded or changed.
Macro Recorded code may not be compatible with Excel versions. Some code
that is used in Excel 2010 cannot be used in Excel 2003. Making a Macro that
changes the cell colours and making changes to other aspects of cells may not
be backward compatible.

VBA code interacts with the spreadsheet through the Excel Object Model,[25] a
vocabulary identifying spreadsheet objects, and a set of supplied functions or
methods that enable reading and writing to the spreadsheet and interaction with
its users (for example, through custom toolbars or command bars and message
boxes). User-created VBA subroutines execute these actions and operate like
macros generated using the macro recorder, but are more flexible and efficient.

Charts:
Excel supports charts, graphs, or histograms generated from specified groups of
cells. The generated graphic component can either be embedded within the
current sheet, or added as a separate object.

These displays are dynamically updated if the content of cells change. For
example, suppose that the important design requirements are displayed visually;
then, in response to a user's change in trial values for parameters, the curves
describing the design change shape, and their points of intersection shift,
assisting the selection of the best design.

Add-ins:
Additional features are available using add-ins. Several are provided with Excel,
including:

Analysis ToolPak: Provides data analysis tools for statistical and engineering
analysis (includes analysis of variance and regression analysis)

Analysis ToolPak VBA: VBA functions for Analysis ToolPak.

Euro Currency Tools: Conversion and formatting for euro currency.

Solver Add-In: Tools for optimization and equation solving.

Number of rows and columns:
Versions of Excel up to 7.0 had a limitation in the size of their data sets of 16K
(214 = 16384) rows. Versions 8.0 through 11.0 could handle 64K (2 16 = 65536)
rows and 256 columns (28 as label 'IV'). Version 12.0 onwards, including the
current Version 16.x, can handle over 1M (220 = 1048576) rows,
and 16384 (214 as label 'XFD') columns.

File formats:
Microsoft Excel up until 2007 version used a proprietary binary file format
called Excel Binary File Format (.XLS) as its primary format. Excel 2007 uses
Office Open XML as its primary file format, an XML-based format that
followed after a previous XML-based format called "XML Spreadsheet"
("XMLSS"), first introduced in Excel 2002.

Although supporting and encouraging the use of new XML-based formats as

replacements, Excel 2007 remained backwards-compatible with the traditional,
binary formats. In addition, most versions of Microsoft Excel can read CSV,
DBF, SYLK, DIF, and other legacy formats. Support for some older file formats
was removed in Excel 2007. The file formats were mainly from DOS-based
programs.

Microsoft Excel 2007, along with the other products in the Microsoft Office
2007 suite, introduced new file formats. The first of these (.xlsx) is defined in
the Office Open XML (OOXML) specification.

Windows applications such as Microsoft Access and Microsoft Word, as well as

Excel can communicate with each other and use each other's capabilities. The
most common are Dynamic Data Exchange: although strongly deprecated by
Microsoft, this is a common method to send data between applications running
on Windows, with official MS publications referring to it as "the protocol from
hell".[35] As the name suggests, it allows applications to supply data to others for
calculation and display. It is very common in financial markets, being used to
connect to important financial data services such as Bloomberg and Reuters.
OLE Object Linking and Embedding: allows a Windows application to control
another to enable it to format or calculate data. This may take on the form of
"embedding" where an application uses another to handle a task that it is more
suited to, for example a PowerPoint presentation may be embedded in an Excel
spreadsheet or vice versa.
 Excel 2007 formats

Format Extension Description

The default Excel 2007 and later workbook format.

In reality a Zip compressed archive with a directory
Excel structure of XML text documents. Functions as the
.xlsx
Workbook primary replacement for the former binary .xls
format, although it does not support Excel macros
for security reasons.

Excel
Macro-
.xlsm As Excel Workbook, but with macro support.
enabled
Workbook

As Excel Macro-enabled Workbook, but storing

information in binary form rather than XML
Excel Binary documents for opening and saving documents more
.xlsb
Workbook quickly and efficiently. Intended especially for very
large documents with tens of thousands of rows,
and/or several hundreds of columns.

Excel
A template document that forms a basis for actual
Macro-
.xltm workbooks, with macro support. The replacement
enabled
for the old .xlt format.
Template

Excel add-in to add extra functionality and tools.

Excel Add-in .xlam
Inherent macro support because of the file purpose.
Old file extensions

Format Extension Description

Main spreadsheet format which holds data in worksheets,

Spreadsheet .xls
charts, and macros

Add-in
.xla Adds custom functionality; written in VBA
(VBA)

The file extension where Microsoft Excel custom toolbar

Toolbar .xlb
settings are stored.

A chart created with data from a Microsoft Excel

spreadsheet that only saves the chart. To save the chart
Chart .xlc
and spreadsheet save as .XLS. XLC is not supported in
Excel 2007 or in any newer versions of Excel.

Dialog .xld Used in older versions of Excel.

Archive .xlk A backup of an Excel Spreadsheet

Adds custom functionality; written in C++/C, Visual

Add-in
.xll Basic, Fortran, etc. and compiled in to a special dynamic-
(DLL)
link library

A macro is created by the user or pre-installed with

Macro .xlm
Excel.

A pre-formatted spreadsheet created by the user or by

Template .xlt
Microsoft Excel.

A module is written in VBA (Visual Basic for

Module .xlv
Applications) for Microsoft Excel

Code written in VBA may access functions in a DLL,

Library .DLL
typically this is used to access the Windows API

Workspace .xlw Arrangement of the windows of multiple Workbooks

Password protection:
Microsoft Excel protection offers several types of passwords:

 Password to open a document

 Password to modify a document
 Password to unprotect worksheet
 Password to protect workbook
 Password to protect the sharing workbook
All passwords except password to open a document can be removed instantly
regardless of Microsoft Excel version used to create the document. These types
of passwords are used primarily for shared work on a document. Such
password-protected documents are not encrypted, and a data sources from a set
password is saved in a document’s header. Password to protect workbook is an
exception – when it is set, a document is encrypted with the standard password
“VelvetSweatshop”, but since it is known to public, it actually does not add any
extra protection to the document. The only type of password that can prevent a
trespasser from gaining access to a document is password to open a document.
The cryptographic strength of this kind of protection depends strongly on the
Microsoft Excel version that was used to create the document.
In Microsoft Excel 95 and earlier versions, password to open is converted to a
16-bit key that can be instantly cracked. In Excel 97/2000 the password is
converted to a 40-bit key, which can also be cracked very quickly using modern
equipment. As regards services which use rainbow tables (e.g. Password-Find),
it takes up to several seconds to remove protection. In addition, password-
cracking programs can brute-force attack passwords at a rate of hundreds of
thousands of passwords a second, which not only lets them decrypt a document,
but also find the original password.
In Excel 2003/XP the encryption is slightly better – a user can choose any
encryption algorithm that is available in the system (see Cryptographic Service
Provider). Due to the CSP, an Excel file can't be decrypted, and thus
the password to open can't be removed, though the brute-force attack speed
remains quite high. Nevertheless, the older Excel 97/2000 algorithm is set by
the default.[49] Therefore, users who do not change the default settings lack
reliable protection of their documents.
The situation changed fundamentally in Excel 2007, where the
modern AES algorithm with a key of 128 bits started being used for decryption,
and a 50,000-fold use of the hash function SHA1 reduced the speed of brute-
force attacks down to hundreds of passwords per second. In Excel 2010, the
strength of the protection by the default was increased two times due to the use
of a 100,000-fold SHA1 to convert a password to a key.
 Microsoft Power-Point
Microsoft PowerPoint is a presentation program, created by Robert Gaskins and
Dennis Austin at a software company named Forethought, Inc. It was released
on April 20, 1987, initially for Macintosh computers only. Microsoft acquired
PowerPoint for $14 million three months after it appeared. This was Microsoft's
first significant acquisition, and Microsoft set up a new business unit for
PowerPoint in Silicon Valley where Forethought had been located. Microsoft
PowerPoint is one of many programs run by the company Microsoft and can be
identified by its trademark orange, and P initial on the logo. It offers users many
ways to display information from simple presentations to complex multimedia
presentations.

PowerPoint became a component of the Microsoft Office suite, first offered in

1989 for Macintosh and in 1990 for Windows, which bundled several Microsoft
apps. Beginning with PowerPoint 4.0 (1994), PowerPoint was integrated into
Microsoft Office development, and adopted shared common components and a
converged user interface.

PowerPoint's market share was very small at first, prior to introducing a version
for Microsoft Windows, but grew rapidly with the growth of Windows and of
Office. Since the late 1990s, PowerPoint's worldwide market share of
presentation software has been estimated at 95 percent.

PowerPoint was originally designed to provide visuals for group presentations

within business organizations, but has come to be very widely used in many
other communication situations, both in business and beyond. The impact of
this much wider use of PowerPoint has been experienced as a powerful change
throughout society, with strong reactions including advice that it should be used
less, should be used differently, or should be used better.

The first PowerPoint version (Macintosh 1987) was used to produce overhead
transparencies, the second (Macintosh 1988, Windows 1990) could also
produce color 35mm slides. The third version (Windows and Macintosh 1992)
introduced video output of virtual slideshows to digital projectors, which would
over time completely replace physical transparencies and slides. A dozen major
versions since then have added many additional features and modes of operation
and have made PowerPoint available beyond Apple Macintosh and Microsoft
Windows, adding versions for iOS, Android, and web access.
PowerPoint was created by Robert Gaskins and Dennis Austin at a software
startup in Silicon Valley named Forethought, Inc.
Operation:
The earliest version of PowerPoint (1987 for Macintosh) could be used to print
black and white pages to be photocopied onto sheets of transparent film for
projection from overhead projectors, and to print speaker's notes and audience
handouts; the next version (1988 for Macintosh, 1990 for Windows) was
extended to also produce color 35mm slides by communicating a file over a
modem to a Genigraphics imaging center with slides returned by overnight
delivery for projection from slide projectors. PowerPoint was used for planning
and preparing a presentation, but not for delivering it (apart from previewing it
on a computer screen, or distributing printed paper copies). The operation of
PowerPoint changed substantially in its third version (1992 for Windows and
Macintosh), when PowerPoint was extended to also deliver a presentation by
producing direct video output to digital projectors or large monitors. In 1992
video projection of presentations was rare and expensive, and practically
unknown from a laptop computer. Robert Gaskins, one of the creators of
PowerPoint, says he publicly demonstrated that use for the first time at a large
Microsoft meeting held in Paris on February 25, 1992, by using an unreleased
development build of PowerPoint 3.0 running on an early pre-production
sample of a powerful new color laptop and feeding a professional auditorium
video projector.

In contemporary operation, PowerPoint is used to create a file (called a

"presentation" or "deck" containing a sequence of pages (called "slides" in the
app) which usually have a consistent style (from template masters), and which
may contain information imported from other apps or created in PowerPoint,
including text, bullet lists, tables, charts, drawn shapes, images, audio clips,
video clips, animations of elements, and animated transitions between slides,
plus attached notes for each slide.

After such a file is created, typical operation is to present it as a slide show

using a portable computer, where the presentation file is stored on the computer
or available from a network, and the computer's screen shows a "presenter
view" with current slide, next slide, speaker's notes for the current slide, and
other information.Video is sent from the computer to one or more external
digital projectors or monitors, showing only the current slide to the audience,
with sequencing controlled by the speaker at the computer. A smartphone
remote control built in to PowerPoint for iOS (optionally controlled from Apple
Watch) and for Android allows the presenter to control the show from
elsewhere in the room.

In addition to a computer slide show projected to a live audience by a speaker,

PowerPoint can be used to deliver a presentation in a number of other ways:

 Displayed on the screen of the presentation computer or tablet (for a very

small group)[86]
 Printed for distribution as paper documents.
 Distributed as files for private viewing, even on computers without
PowerPoint.
 Packaged for distribution on CD or a network, including linked and
embedded data.
 Transmitted as a live broadcast presentation over the web.
 Embedded in a web page or blog.
 Shared on social networks such as Facebook or Twitter.
 Set up as a self-running unattended display.
 Recorded as video/audio (H.264/AAC), to be distributed as for any other
video.

PowerPoint Viewer:
PowerPoint Viewer is the name for a series of small free application programs
to be used on computers without PowerPoint installed, to view, project, or print
(but not create or edit) presentations.

The first version was introduced with PowerPoint 3.0 in 1992, to enable
electronic presentations to be projected using conference-room computers and
to be freely distributed; on Windows, it took advantage of the new feature of
embedding TrueType fonts within PowerPoint presentation files to make such
distribution easier. The same kind of viewer app was shipped with PowerPoint
3.0 for Macintosh, also in 1992.

Beginning with PowerPoint 2003, a feature called "Package for CD"

automatically managed all linked video and audio files plus needed fonts when
exporting a presentation to a disk or flash drive or network location, and also
included a copy of a revised PowerPoint Viewer application so that the result
could be presented on other PCs without installing anything.
The latest version that runs on Windows "was created in conjunction with
PowerPoint 2010, but it can also be used to view newer presentations created in
PowerPoint 2013 and PowerPoint 2016. All transitions, videos and effects
appear and behave the same when viewed using PowerPoint Viewer as they do
when viewed in PowerPoint 2010." It supports presentations created using
PowerPoint 97 and later. The latest version that runs on Macintosh is
PowerPoint 98 Viewer for the Classic Mac OS and Classic Environment, for
Macs supporting System 7.5 to Mac OS X Tiger. It can open presentations only
from PowerPoint 3.0, 4.0, and 8.0 (PowerPoint 98), although presentations
created on Mac can be opened in PowerPoint Viewer on Windows.

As of May 2018, the last versions of PowerPoint Viewer for all platforms have
been retired by Microsoft; they are no longer available for download and no
longer receive security updates. The final PowerPoint Viewer for Windows
(2010) and the final PowerPoint Viewer for Classic Mac OS (1998) are
available only from archives. The recommended replacements for PowerPoint
Viewer: "On Windows 10 PCs, download the free PowerPoint Mobile
application from the Windows Store," and "On Windows 7 or Windows 8/8.1
PCs, upload the file to One-Drive and view it for free using PowerPoint
Online."

Computer Assisted Instruction (CAI)

A self-learning technique, usually offline/online, involving interaction of the
student with programmed instructional materials.

Computer-assisted instruction (CAI) is an interactive instructional technique

whereby a computer is used to present the instructional material and monitor the
learning that takes place.

CAI uses a combination of text, graphics, sound and video in enhancing the
learning process. The computer has many purposes in the classroom, and it can
be utilized to help a student in all areas of the curriculum.

CAI refers to the use of the computer as a tool to facilitate and improve
instruction. CAI programs use tutorials, drill and practice, simulation, and
problem solving approaches to present topics, and they test the student's
understanding.
Typical CAI provides:
1. Text or multimedia content

2. Multiple-choice questions

3. Problems

4. Immediate feedback

5. Notes on incorrect responses

6. Summarizes students' performance

7. Exercises for practice

8. Worksheets and tests.

Types of Computer Assisted Instruction:

1. Drill-and-practice: Drill and practice provide opportunities or students to
repeatedly practice the skills that have previously been presented and that
further practice is necessary for mastery.

2. Tutorial: Tutorial activity includes both the presentation of information and

its extension into different forms of work, including drill and practice, games
and simulation.

3. Games: Game software often creates a contest to achieve the highest score
and either beat others or beat the computer.

4. Simulation: Simulation software can provide an approximation of reality that

does not require the expense of real life or its risks.

5. Discovery: Discovery approach provides a large database of information

specific to a course or content area and challenges the learner to analyze,
compare, infer and evaluate based on their explorations of the data.

6. Problem Solving: This approach helps children develop specific problem

solving skills and strategies.
Advantages of CAI:
• One-to-one interaction

• Great motivator

• Freedom to experiment with different options

• Instantaneous response/immediate feedback to the answers elicited

• Self pacing - allow students to proceed at their own pace

• Helps teacher can devote more time to individual students

• Privacy helps the shy and slow learner to learns

• Individual attention

• Learn more and more rapidly

• Multi-media help to understand difficult concepts through multi-sensory

approach.

• Self- directed learning – students can decide when, where, and what to learn.

Limitations of CAI:

• May feel overwhelmed by the information and resources available.

• Over use of multimedia may divert the attention from the content.

• Learning becomes too mechanical.

• Non availability of good CAI packages.

• Lack of infrastructure.
 Computer Based Test
Computer-based exams/ tests are the exams conducted through the computer
instead of paper and pencil format. Computer-based tests are widely used in
different areas like colleges, schools, Competitive exams, employee training
programs, and many other platforms.

At Computer-based Exams, candidates sit in front of a computer and the

questions are presented on the monitor and the candidates submit the answers
through the use of keyboard or mouse. Each computer is connected to a server,
which prepares the question set and delivers it to the candidates on the
computer.

Computer Based Testing provides you with several important benefits:

 Testing is offered year-round in most locations.

 Tests are scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis.
 Testing in environments is more comfortable and individualized.
 A word processor may be used for writing essays more quickly.
 You may have access to immediate viewing of unofficial scores on
the computer screen.

Types of Computer-Based Tests:

There are two types of computer based test: Linear and Adaptive.

A linear test is a full-length exam in which the computer selects different

questions for you without consideration of your performance level. It consists of
a full range of test questions- from easiest to most difficult- but not always in
order. The linear test is scored in the same way as a paper-based test.

A computer adaptive test is one in which the computer selects the range of
questions based on your performance level. These questions are taken from a
very large pool of possible question categorised by content and difficulty.

When you take a paper-based test, you will find that you are asked to answer
questions ranging from easy to hard. In computer-based adaptive test, each test-
taker receives questions that are at the right level of difficulty for his or her
ability. These tests begin with a question that is of medium level of difficulty
for most test takers.
After each question is answered, the computer uses the answer and all previous
answer to determine which question will be answered next. The next question is
one that best follows the previous performance. This means that different test
takers even in the same room on the same day will receive different questions.

Since adaptive test questions are selected according to performance on previous

questions, you spend less time than you would on a paper-based test on
questions that are either too easy or too hard. If you make a careless error and
answer incorrectly or if you answer correctly by making lucky guesses, the
question you later receive may not be appropriate to your knowledge or skill
level. You cannot skip ahead or go back like can on a paper-based exam.

Benefits of Computer-Based Testing:

In many educational online programs, we love many things about online
learning, but oftentimes assessment is not one of those things! There is often
concern about accuracy, validity, security, integrity, and quality of online
assessment. Yet, computer-based testing offers so many benefits to online
learners, instructors, and programs, mainly in terms of administration, grading,
and scale that they deserve a much closer look. As part of a multi-post series on
assessment, this article makes a push for why you may want to embrace (more)
computer-based/online testing.

1. Multiple-Test Administrations

Learners can take multiple, short, reliable assessments administered throughout

the life of an e-learning program. The data gathered from these assessments can
be correlated with national or regional standards so that learners can be
measured on these standards. Data gathered over time—longitudinal data—can
be used by online programs and instructors to identify trends and for program
improvement. These data can also be easily exported from most LMSs into a
database where they can be analyzed for evaluation and research purposes.

2. Dynamic And Individualized Assessments

Tests can be personalized and tailored to individual students. The level of

difficulty of each question can be modulated depending on the learner’s
previous responses. (For more information on this, see this article on computer
adaptive testing). Assessments can be further individualized by using programs
like Skype or FaceTime which allow the instructor to reach out and offer
individual oral assessments to students or by using Recap or FlipGrid which
allow students to share ideas, questions, etc.

3. Immediate Grading

Select-response tests (like multiple choice or True/False) can be scored

instantly, allowing learners to instantly see how they did on an assessment and
online instructors to make real-time instructional changes based on assessment
evidence. This immediate grading frees up instructors to focus on feedback,
which is critical for learning and is also time consuming. Online instructors —
or the assessment itself, depending on its design—can help and guide learners
on what they need to do in order to improve. A simple example of this is
Quizmaker in Articulate 360 which allows for substantive feedback and allows
the course designer to redirect students who have done poorly to a specific slide
or set of resources.

4. Helps With Open-Ended Assessments

As any instructor knows, open-ended assessments (like portfolios or projects)

that use rubrics are extremely time-consuming to grade. Simple rubric
extensions, like Orange Slice or Google Sheets add-ons, automates scoring of
rubrics and communication to students. This allows instructors to spend more
time on feedback to students.

5. Feedback

Voice feedback tools, like Kaizena, allows instructors to provide voice feedback
which makes feedback both easier for the teacher and more personalized for the
learner.

In particular, video-based feedback can provide students with individualized

and personalized feedback on performance. Because (once you get the hang of
it) video feedback is faster to create (by the instructor) and review (by the
learner), it can provide rich, qualitative information on student performance and
do so in a caring and personalized way.

6. Vertically And Horizontally Aligned Assessments

Tests can be vertically aligned—anchored to test the same core knowledge at

increasing levels of difficulty (criterion-based testing). They can also be
horizontally aligned— scored in such a way that learners can be compared
against one another (norm-referenced), which is critical for sorting and
choosing students for teaching posts, scholarships, and so forth. Using
computer-based testing, raw test scores could be given phase wise[1] or as a
total (Williams, 1999). Learners can receive a letter grade or percentile score to
determine their relative position vis-à-vis other learners.

7. Value-Added Growth Measures

Tests measure individual growth over time, so programs are able to benchmark
where learners should be at the end of the year based on tests from the
beginning of the year. All of these data can be analyzed using statistical
software packages so online programs can track learner growth over time.

8. Uncover Student Thinking

Games and branching scenarios can help instructors “uncover” student thinking
and measure more higher-order thinking skills. By having learners play content-
focused digital learning games and using “think aloud” protocols to explain
their game-based decisions and rationale for such decisions, online program
designers can design future learning experiences and assessments based that
target specific learner competencies.

9. Engaging

The use of quiz-based video programs (like Edupuzzle), videos and video-
notation tools and branching scenarios can make assessments more engaging
than standard multiple-choice or essay tests. Branching scenarios, in particular,
add a game-like feel to assessment, making assessment engaging and interactive
and help learners learn from mistakes. Virtual reality can “immerse” students in
an environment that seems real and both assesses and guides students through
decisions and their consequences.

10. Analytics For The Instructor And Learner

Back-end data from LMSs, such as the number of log-ins, time on task, and
number of discussion posts, can be linked to hard assessment data such as
examinations or performance-based data to provide a fuller assessment of a
learner’s effort and progress in an online course. Additionally, “student-facing”
analytics can help learners track progress and performance more easily and get
notifications about assignment due dates and “early warnings” if they are in
danger of failing. Diagnostics can enable students to focus on areas of weakness
before a final assessment. Instructors can also use analytics to assess the quality
and usefulness of course resources, the percentage of assessment items students
answer correctly, and track student participation, thus prompting the instructor
to intervene.

11. Greater Amount Of Test Items

This is particularly important for high-stakes assessments that determine

whether or not a learner graduates, moves to the next level, or receives
certification. For such critical assessments, more test items are necessary than
for low-stakes assessments. Computer-based assessments, because they draw
from a back-end database of test items, typically comprise more test items than
fixed paper-and-pencil exams.

12. Help Learners With Disabilities

If computer-based assessments are universally designed, they may form less of

a physical impediment to test taking than is the case with paper-based tests. For
example, screen readers, magnification tools, and text-to-voice or voice-to-text
applications can help learners with visual, auditory, and motor impairments;
learners with dyslexia; and learners who simply need more time to complete a
test.

13. Incorporate Other Types Of Technology

Computer-based or online assessments offer a wealth of authentic assessment

opportunities for online learners, both synchronous and asynchronous, Web-
based and non-Web-based, and multiple platforms (phone, tablet, and laptop).
For instance, learners can create electronic portfolios, digital representations,
and collections of their work in an online-based course. They can upload
images, create videos ad podcasts, dashboards, spreadsheets within a Learning
Management System or upload from other programs to the learning
management system. Online discussions and social media conversations can be
a rich source of assessment data.

14. Improves Writing

Extensive writing via word processing or a digital writing tool—in which

learners put forth a thesis statement, support their idea with evidence and
supporting ideas, and come to a conclusion—has been shown to be better than
writing by hand if learners go through the complete writing cycle of drafting,
editing, revising, and rewriting (Warschauer, 2009). Developing blogs, wikis,
and websites, particularly with hyperlinked resources, can demonstrate learners’
understanding of an issue, their appreciation of its complexity, and their
knowledge of appropriate resources that address this issue. Audio- and Web-
conferencing tools allow learners to present information to one another and the
instructor and to engage in debates about a particular teaching-related or
content-based issue.

15. Can Secure Testing

Cheating, in online and computer-based testing, is always a concern but there

are a number of programs that make CBT safer than it has been, and in many
cases, safer than paper-and-pencil testing. Plagiarism checkers, like Turnitin,
Safe Exam Browser, Respondus, DyKnow, and Chrome browser testing apps
like Edulastic can also help to lock down browsers and make cheating more
difficult. Note that some may only work with Chromebooks.
 Multimedia
Multimedia is content that uses a combination of different content forms such as
text, audio, images, animations, video and interactive content. Multimedia
contrasts with media that use only rudimentary computer displays such as text-
only or traditional forms of printed or hand-produced material.

Multimedia can be recorded and played, displayed, interacted with or accessed

by information content processing devices, such as computerized and electronic
devices, but can also be part of a live performance. Multimedia devices are
electronic media devices used to store and experience multimedia content.
Multimedia is distinguished from mixed media in fine art; for example, by
including audio it has a broader scope. In the early years of multimedia the term
"rich media" was synonymous with interactive multimedia, and "hypermedia"
was an application of multimedia.

Information a precursor to knowledge is available in various formats–text,

pictures, audio and video. In order to convey the information content
effectively, all the formats of knowledge need to be exploited. This combination
of all the media is termed as, Multimedia Technology. As can be inferred very
easily, by using Multimedia Technology almost every aspect of information can
be dealt with.

There are many prefixes which are commonly used with the word media such as
Multimedia, Electronic media, Interactive media etc. But the most common
word which is used in education is multimedia. Multimedia is a combination of
text, audio, video, graphics, and animations into a single medium.

“This technology comprises itself different types of interactional forms such as

print, radio, television, animation, photographs etc. Integration of different
media multiplies the impact of a message.”

“According to research reports by Mayer and McCarthy (1995) and Walton

(1993), “Multimedia has gained acceptance with many benefits derived from its
use. Learning gains are 56% greater, consistency of learning is 50-60% better
and content retention is 25-50% higher.”

“The means of communication is called media”

Definition:
“The term multimedia can be used as a noun to describe any medium that is
having a number of content forms .It includes a cluster of text, audio, still
images, animation, video and interactivity contents forms and is being used in
contrast to media. Whereas the term media only describes contents in the
traditional form of material which are produced by hand and printed.

“Multimedia is commonly recorded and played through processing device such

as computer, laptops, mobile or other electronic devices. But it is also being
used in live performances .It is also used to describe electronic media devices
which are used to store and experience the various multimedia contents. Having
a broader scope, it is different from the mixed media in fine art as it includes
audio.”
The term “Multimedia” recurrently is heard and recited through
Instructional technologists today. But to substitute it is to define in an
alternative view point such as:

 Mixture of various information media like text, audio, and video.

 The evolution of hardware and software contents based on computer,
composed on a very large scale prior to yield an individual to use and
learn.

The most important quality of multimedia is that it incorporates

miscellaneous level of acquiring knowledge in informational instruments which
permits for the diverseness in educational presentations.”

Media word is the plural of ‘Medium’ which is used for communication.

Usually the word ‘Media’ talks about newspapers, magazines, radio, telephone,
and television. When the mode of media combines with the text, sounds,
graphic art, animation and video elements, it results in the interactive way of
communication. There are number of multimedia forms which are used as main
mode of media such as Multimedia, Interactive media, Electronic media,
Internet media and Print media. But now a day’s most commonly used way of
education is multimedia.

“Multimedia is a combination of different media’s like text, audio,

video, graphics, sound and animations, it combine them all into a single
medium. This technology comprises of different types of interactional forms
such as print, radio, television, animation, photographs, sound etc.
Combination of all types of media multiplies the impact of a message.”

“A multimedia can become interactive media when an end user that is

the viewer of a multimedia project controls when, what and how of the
elements, which are being delivered and presented. In modern world
multimedia is combining the various contents like text, audio video graphics
animation together very carefully and thus it’s also helpful in interacting with
these different media forms.”

“In the late year 1970 people started using the term multimedia to
describe presentation which were timed with an audio track , the multimedia
than attained its current meaning by the year 1990”

“In 1990 the computer were being marketed by having CDR to deliver
video pictures and audio data so these computers were called as multimedia
computers. At the time the term multimedia was being commonly used as
combined media like audio text video which was delivered electronically.’’
Major Characteristics of Multimedia

 Multimedia presentations may be looked at by person on stage,

projected, transmitted, or can be played locally with a media player.

 A transmission of multimedia presentation may be live or could be

recorded. Transmission and recordings can be either digital or analogue
electronic media technology.

 One can download digital online multimedia or can be streamed. This

Streaming multimedia can be on-demand or live Multimedia games and
simulations may be used with exclusive effects in a physical
environment, in an online network, with diversified users; it can also be
used at offline mode, game system, or hosier.

 The differing layout of methodological or digital multimedia may be

destined to embellish the users' empiricism, for example to convey
information it is made accessible and faster in entertainment or art, to
surpass experience on daily basis.

 Enlarged levels of interactivity are being made possible by joining

assorted forms of media content.

 Online multimedia is becoming object-oriented to a great extent and

data-driven, which enables applications with synergetic end-user
modernization and embodiment on many forms of content over time.

 Besides seeing and hearing, with the help of hepatic technology virtual
objects can be felt. Emerging technology which involves deception of
taste and smell can also improve the multimedia experience.”

Use of Multimedia package in the learning process:

Now a day, Multimedia are extensively used for education and training
in schools, businesses, and the homes. Multimedia education allows you to
enhance your abilities at a faster rate and helps the students to be more
confident. The presentations can be presented with a more interactive way by
adding sounds, images, movies, animations, different text fonts, etc. It helps the
presenter to connect themselves with the listener with more interactive ways.

The use of multimedia has offered a wide variety of ways for delivering
the information. It makes the study more interactive by the addition of images,
sound, animations etc. Interactive multimedia learning is a process that
provides the new learning era for the user to implement their potential .

Introduction of different multimedia assets makes the learning process more

goals oriented, effective, fun and friendly.

 It makes the learning activity more fast and interesting.

 The programme never asks for a raise the more you use it, the less it cost
per use.
 No mood swings, yawns, or lapses.
 Ask what you want, no one will laugh, no one will scold.
 Experience nuclear meltdown without fallout, experience drunken
driving accidents or electrocution without blackout or death.
 It’s never tires of praising and motivating through positive feedback and
boosts the moral.
 It is a strong foundation on which to build mastery.
 It is a tool to make a remembering, longer, easier – Many parts of the
brains are stimulated.
 More information faster – Few things, like space, shuttle repair, brain
surgery, black hole sailing etc. can be studied in a more interactive and
natural way.
 Like a game, like in which with a joystick and screen has already
captured the brains and fingers of an entire generation. Using multimedia
tools with education provides the students with an opportunity to
represent and express their prior knowledge.
 It helps the students to act as designers; they can represent their
knowledge in more represent able way.
 Tools can be used for analysing the world, accessing and interpreting
information and representing what they know to others.
 It provides valuable learning opportunities to the students that can boost
up their moral.
 Usage of multimedia empowers the students to create and design the
ideas, rather than absorbing the representations created by others.
 Addition of multimedia encourages deep reflective thinking among the
students.
 It creates the meaningful learning opportunities for the learners.
 Advantages of Multimedia Technology

Smart Teacher

Smart Student

Multimedia
Technology
Smart Education

Smart Country

Through the research it's verified that the method of remembering the
items within the human brain is quicker once individuals receive several
emphasizes in numerous forms for a brief amount. The ideas of interactivity in
transmission facilitate the human brain to enhance the method of learning.
Additionally, totally different approaches of multimedia create lessons terribly
amusing besides giving info more effectively and quicker.

Multimedia education has been proved to be more effective than

traditional printed material because the dynamic and interactive settings are
more expressive in presenting abstract concepts and can inspire creative
thinking and engagement. After observing the additional of many students to
playing videos and online games, research studies suggest that curriculum
contents embedded in a game like environment enhanced with acoustic and
visual effects can be an effective tool for attracting students to learning.

Few things should be kept in mind while using the multimedia materials.

1. Teachers must be skilled enough to conduct the multimedia teaching to

the students in a proper and confident way.
2. The teaching aids should be effective and the material used must be
related to the topic.
3. Use of the multimedia materials should be only as means they should be
 justifiable. Thus the material used should be used very efficiently.
4. Should be capable in development in the children interrupt priority and
their promotions the child may become, effectual.
5. Unnecessary accessories should not be taken.

General Requirements for Multimedia Package:

Multimedia consist of two important assets Hardware and software.
With the help of these two components we can represent the idea in a more
interactive way. As multimedia is the combination of text, sound, images,
animations, all these things required more space, memory and procession
power as compared to the material that contain only information in the form of
text.

There are number of applications that help the user to represent the
information with more visual effects, it helps the learner to understand the
concept in a more elaborative manner.

Multimedia Hardware:
Hardware in multimedia refers to the physical requirement of the
computer. It is a most important component of the multimedia to work with the
different projects. To deal with this you must have a computer with very basic
needs i.e. hardware parts.

“Hardware helps in interpreting your commands to the computer.

Hardware part of the computer basically divided into main components like:
System devices, input devices, output devices and memory and storage devices.
System devices include microprocessor, motherboard and memory. Input
devices include Keyboard, mouse, microphone, digital camera. Output devices
include monitor, printer. Memory and storage devices include RAM, floppy
disk, hard disk, compact disk”.
Multimedia software:
Multimedia systems are providing promising differences by delivering
the learning materials that are more convenient and less expensive. Any
learning process must be designed in such a manner that the learner feels
themselves engaged and connected to the subject matter. The systems should
hold the relevant data to showcase their ideas. Multimedia is mostly now a
day’s used for the purpose of education.

This can be proved after considering the growing use of graphics,

illustrations, animations and sound in today’s educational multimedia system.
So it is important to select the software that helps you to implement the project
in minimum possible efforts and maximum possible productivity. Multimedia
software provides unlimited features. With the help of different features one
can make the presentation more interactive, there are several hundred of
colours, dozens of fonts, and a wide variety of colour–coordinated templates
and many other incredible options present in the market.

There are a number of educational software’s which are basically

designed for the education purpose. Software can be categorized in two
different ways, Audio software and video software. Also there are varieties of
software tools available like sound editing tool, Image editing tool, Animation
video tool, drawing tool etc. These entire tools give a wide range of templates
to create the effective learning process. Below is the list of few software
packages present in the market:
Adobe CS4
Adobe Dream weaver
 Adobe Firework
Gimp
Microsoft FrontPage
Photoshop Pro
Microsoft PowerPoint
Adobe Flash Player
Google Sketch up

Types of Multimedia:
1. Text Materials
Text takes us back to how the internet started, as a means of sending written
messages back and forth between researchers. Actually, it takes us back quite a
bit further, as pretty much every office memo ever written has mostly consisted
of text with perhaps a smidgen of other media types thrown in. Text is still a
primary way to transmit information, although nowadays, it is also used to
augment other forms of communication, such as a text description of a
photograph.
2. Photographs and Other Still Images
Illustrations are perhaps the oldest form of media, harking back at least as far as
the prehistoric paintings on cave walls found in various locations around the
world. Gutenberg's printing press in the 1400's enabled mass distribution of
multimedia works containing both text and images. The growth of electronic
communications has meant that older text-only forms of communication could
be enhanced with photographs and images as well. Small images such as
thumbnails or icons are often used as a visual "entry point" to larger images or
more detailed information.
3. Audio Devices:
Your website or presentation can add sound, from a musical background to a
spoken explanation, by including audio files. Even digital cameras, a
quintessentially image-based technology, have been engineered these days to
record sound as well. Many sound files are compressed, which reduces the file
size without greatly sacrificing sound quality. Compressed files require less
storage space and stream faster when sent over the internet or transmitted to
local systems.
4. Video Presentations:
Video presents moving pictures and typically combines images and sound for a
compelling multimedia experience. Of course, videos can include text as well,
which often appears as captioning for spoken words or as text in an image, as in
the case of a slide presentation. Video files are some of the most memory-
intensive multimedia applications, but clever streaming methods makes their
use practical in everyday use.
5. GIFs and Other Forms of Animation
Animated files occupy a middle ground between still images and video. GIFs,
which is an abbreviation for graphic image files, in particular, are small files
that present a single image or rapidly display a sequence of a few images to give
the appearance of motion.
Advantage of Multi-Media Approach in Education:
There are many advantages in applying multimedia elements in education. One
of it is that multimedia enable students to represent information using several
different media. This prove to be helpful when students need to do their project.
By using multimedia elements, they can present their project in a much more
creative ways. Moreover, multimedia approach also provide flexibility of where
and when can they learn. This is because by using multimedia approach such as
audio and video, student can record or make connection with one another for
discussion or listening to the previous topic that they have recorded. Multimedia
approach also helps the students to develop a higher order thinking skills. By
using the multimedia elements, students use their own idea and creativity to
combine the elements of multimedia to produce something fresh and new.
Furthermore, multimedia approach are also much more engaging compare to the
traditional one. With multimedia, interactive learning can be done with live-
action video, feedback, questions and answers to keep the students interested
and help enhancing their skills. Next, with multimedia simulation technique can
be effectively applied. By using simulation, student can grasp a better
understanding about the step and producer to make or do a certain project. This
can improve their understanding and also help improving their skills.
 Interactive Whiteboard
An interactive whiteboard, also known as a smart-board, is an interactive
display in the format of a whiteboard that reacts to user input either directly or
through other devices.

For a while, standard whiteboards have been used commonly as a way people
can share messages, present information, and engage in
collaborative brainstorming and idea development. With the same cooperative
goals in mind, interactive whiteboards have the ability to connect to the Internet
and instantly digitize tasks and operations.

The technology behind interactive whiteboards varies between large format

screens with a standalone system on a chip (SOC) and combinations of video
projectors or smart projectors that use a tablet or other devices with drivers for
user interaction. Forms of operation are often either by infrared or resistive
touch, magnetic or ultrasonic pen. As writing and character recognition is
generally digitized, keyboards can be almost completely unnecessary.
Interactive whiteboard software often includes easy-to-use charts, polls and
graphs, including virtual versions of tools one might find in a classroom like
rulers compasses or protractors. They can play various types of media and
provide teachers with interactive lessons for their students.

An interactive whiteboard (IWB) device can either be a standalone computer or

a large, functioning touchpad for computers to use.
A device driver is usually installed on the attached computer so that the
interactive whiteboard can act as a Human Input Device (HID), like a mouse.
The computer's video output is connected to a digital projector so that images
may be projected on the interactive whiteboard surface.
The user then calibrates the whiteboard image by matching the position of the
projected image in reference to the whiteboard using a pointer as necessary.
After this, the pointer or other device may be used to activate programs, buttons
and menus from the whiteboard itself, just as one would ordinarily do with a
mouse. If text input is required, user can invoke an on-screen keyboard or, if the
whiteboard software provides for this, utilize handwriting recognition. This
makes it unnecessary to go to the computer keyboard to enter text.
Thus, an IWB emulates both a mouse and a keyboard. The user can conduct a
presentation or a class almost exclusively from the whiteboard.
In addition, most IWBs are supplied with software that provides tools and
features specifically designed to maximize interaction opportunities.

Uses for interactive whiteboards may include:

 Running software that is loaded onto the connected PC, such as a web
browsers or other software used in the classroom.
 Capturing and saving notes written on a whiteboard to the connected PC
 Capturing notes written on a graphics tablet connected to the whiteboard
 Controlling the PC from the white board using click and drag, markup which
annotates a program or presentation
 Using OCR software to translate cursive writing on a graphics tablet
into text
 Using an Audience Response System so that presenters can poll a classroom
audience or conduct quizzes, capturing feedback onto the whiteboard.

Use of Interactive Whiteboards in Classroom:

 In some classrooms, interactive whiteboards have replaced
traditional whiteboards or flipcharts, or video/media systems such as
a DVD player and TV combination. Even where traditional boards are
used, the IWB often supplements them by connecting to a school network
digital video distribution system. In other cases, IWBs interact with
online shared annotation and drawing environments such as
interactive vector based graphical websites.
 Brief instructional blocks can be recorded for review by students — they
will see the exact presentation that occurred in the classroom with the
teacher's audio input. This can help transform learning and instruction.
 Many companies and projects now focus on creating supplemental
instructional materials specifically designed for interactive whiteboards.
Electrokite out of Boston, MA, for example, will have the first complete
curriculum for schools and districts.
 One recent use of the IWB is in shared reading lessons. Mimic books, for
instance, allow teachers to project children's books onto the interactive
whiteboard with book-like interactivity.
 Dixons City Academy in the North of England was the first non college
or university learning environment to make use of interactive whiteboards
after the school's then principal Sir John Lewis showed a keen interest in
the developing technology. An interactive whiteboard can now be found
in every classroom of the school.
 Video Lesson
A video lesson or lecture is a video which presents educational material for a
topic which is to be learned.
The format may vary. It might be a video of a teacher speaking to the camera,
photographs and text about the topic or some mixture of these.
Advantages of using Video Lesson in Classroom:
There are quite a lot of benefits that come from using videos during any
classroom and learning session. But is it a good idea to do this, what benefits
can you obtain here? With that in mind, here you can find the 10 major benefits
that you can acquire via using videos in the classroom.

 1. Videos are easier to be accepted by students

Videos are maybe the best medium that you can use in order to speak with the
new generation. Kids do have a very good time watching videos online and
videos are maybe the perfect medium that you can use for showcasing new
knowledge. They also boost communication and entice you to learn new stuff.

 2. Immerse students in the prodcution

Videos offer a stellar model for learner output which means that learners can
create their own version of the original. The immersion factor is great plus
students have the ability to create their own version in the classroom.

 3. Stimulate activities

Thanks to videos you can deliver stimulus for the classroom activities. This will
help you manipulate the need that students have for learning new stuff and it
will indeed provide you with an extraordinary value for the entire learning
experience.

 4. Video brings more information

There's no denying that videos are always filled with information. Not only that,
but they do provide the information in an easy to consume, fun manner that you
will appreciate and enjoy. That alone helps the learning experience quite a bit.

 5. Engage learners
Videos are known to engage and immerse learners. If you do want to have an
immersive and engaging learning experience you do need video and you should
consider using it in the classroom as fast as possible.

 6. Integrate the outside world into classroom

With help from videos you can integrate the outside world into the classroom.
That alone makes it very easy for you to create authentic, unique and fun
lessons that will immerse your students even more than you would expect.

 7. More than words can tell

Videos help create an experience and while words can help with that as well,
videos don't have to rely on imagination. They are a lot more immersive and
fun, not to mention the end result is a lot more appealing. In the end, that's what
makes everything more worth it and you should consider giving it a shot!

 8. Videos are more flexible

Videos are flexible and they do offer a very flexible medium. It really is a great
place to work within and it will provide you with an immense value in the long
run if you choose to use them as a learning tool.

 9. Easier to understand

Research has shown that using videos for learning makes it a lot easier for
students to understand various topics and ideas. It's one of the best learning
tools that you can use for sure.

 10. Video creates an experience

Static information is great but the reality is that with help from video support
tools you are free to bring that information to life. It's fun, easy and your
students will definitely appreciate the great experience and value they can
acquire from this.

Conclusion:
If you truly want to obtain a better, more immersive and meaningful learning
experience for your students, then you should definitely consider using videos
in the classroom. It's very easy to do that and you can rest assured that results
will pay off immensely in the long run.
UNIT 2: Internet,
Websites
&
Mobile Applications
 INTERNET
The Internet (portmanteau of interconnected network) is the global system of
interconnected computer networks that use the Internet protocol suite (TCP/IP)
to link devices worldwide. It is a network of networks that consists of private,
public, academic, business, and government networks of local to global scope,
linked by a broad array of electronic, wireless, and optical networking
technologies. The Internet carries a vast range of information resources and
services, such as the inter-linked hypertext documents and applications of
the World Wide Web (WWW), electronic mail, telephony, and file sharing.
The origins of the Internet date back to research commissioned by the federal
government of the United States in the 1960s to build robust, fault-tolerant
communication with computer networks.[1] The primary precursor network,
the ARPANET, initially served as a backbone for interconnection of regional
academic and military networks in the 1980s. The funding of the National
Science Foundation Network as a new backbone in the 1980s, as well as private
funding for other commercial extensions, led to worldwide participation in the
development of new networking technologies, and the merger of many
networks.[2] The linking of commercial networks and enterprises by the early
1990s marked the beginning of the transition to the modern Internet, [3] and
generated a sustained exponential growth as generations of
institutional, personal, and mobile computers were connected to the network.
Although the Internet was widely used by academia since the
1980s, commercialization incorporated its services and technologies into
virtually every aspect of modern life.

Major Features of the Internet:

 World Wide Web
 E-mail
 News
 Telnet
 File Transfer Protocol (FTP)
 Internet Relay Chat (IRC)

The World Wide Web:

 The World Wide Web is a part of the internet, which supports hypertext
documents, allowing users to view and navigate different types of data.
  A web page is a document encoded with hypertext mark-up language
(HTML) tags.
 Every web page has an address, a uniform resource locator (URL).

E-mail:
 Electronic mail (e-mail) is the most popular reason people use the
Internet.
 To create, send, and receive e-mail messages you need an e-mail program
and an account on an Internet mail server with a domain name.
 To use an e-mail a user must have an e-mail address, which you create by
adding your user name to e-mail server’s domain name, as
jsmith@gmail.com

News:
 One internet based service called news, includes tens of thousands of
newsgroups.
 Each newsgroup host discussion on a specific topic. A newsgroup is
specific to its special topic such as alt.food.cake.
 To participate in a newsgroup, you need a news reader program that let
you read the articles that have been posted on a news server. You can
post article for others to read and respond to.

Telnet:
 Telnet is a specialized service that let you use one computer to access the
contents of another computer in telnet host.
 A telnet program creates a “Window” into the host so you can access
files, issue commands, and exchange data.
 Telnet is widely used by libraries to allow visitors to look up information,
find articles and so on.

File Transfer Protocol:

 File Transfer Protocol (FTP) is the internet tool used to copy files from
one computer to another.
  Using a special FTP program or a web browser, you can also log into a
ETP host computer over the internet and copy files over the internet and
copy files on to your computer.
 FTP is handy for finding and copying software files, articles and other
types of data. Universities and software companies use FTP server to
provide visitors with access to data.

Internet Relay Chat:

 Internet Relay Chat (IRC) is a service that allows users to communicate
in real time by typing text in a special window.
 Like news, there are hundreds of IRC “channels” each devoted to a
subject or user group.
 You can use a special IRC program to participate in the chat room
discussion but many chat rooms are set up in websites, enhancing visitors
to chat directly in their browser window.

E-mail (Electronic-mail):
Electronic mail (email or e-mail) is a method of exchanging messages ("mail")
between people using electronic devices. Invented by Ray Tomlinson, email
first entered limited use in the 1960s and by the mid-1970s had taken the form
now recognized as email. Email operates across computer networks, which
today is primarily the Internet. Some early email systems required the author
and the recipient to both be online at the same time, in common with instant
messaging. Today's email systems are based on a store-and-forward model.
Email servers accept, forward, deliver, and store messages. Neither the users
nor their computers are required to be online simultaneously; they need to
connect only briefly, typically to a mail server or a webmail interface for as
long as it takes to send or receive messages.
The history of modern Internet email services reaches back to the
early ARPANET, with standards for encoding email messages published as
early as 1973. An email message sent in the early 1970s looks very similar to a
basic email sent today. Email had an important role in creating the Internet, and
the conversion from ARPANET to the Internet in the early 1980s produced the
core of the current services.
Origin:
Computer-based mail and messaging became possible with the advent of time-
sharing computers in the early 1960s, and informal methods of using shared
files to pass messages were soon expanded into the first mail systems. Most
developers of early mainframes and minicomputers developed similar, but
generally incompatible, mail applications. Over time, a complex web of
gateways and routing systems linked many of them. Many US universities were
part of the ARPANET (created in the late 1960s), which aimed at software
portability between its systems. That portability helped make the Simple Mail
Transfer Protocol (SMTP) increasingly influential.
For a time in the late 1980s and early 1990s, it seemed likely that either a
proprietary commercial system or the X.400 email system, part of
the Government Open Systems Interconnection Profile (GOSIP), would
predominate. However, once the final restrictions on carrying commercial
traffic over the Internet ended in 1995,[23][24]a combination of factors made the
current Internet suite of SMTP, POP3 and IMAP email protocols the standard.
Types:
 Web-based email:
Many email providers have a web-based email client (e.g. AOL
Mail, Gmail, Outlook.com, Hotmail and Yahoo! Mail). This allows users
to log into the email account by using any compatible web browser to
send and receive their email. Mail is typically not downloaded to the
client, so can't be read without a current Internet connection.
 POP3 email servers:
The Post Office Protocol 3 (POP3) is a mail access protocol used by a
client application to read messages from the mail server. Received
messages are often deleted from the server. POP supports simple
download-and-delete requirements for access to remote mailboxes
(termed mail-drop in the POP RFC's).
 IMAP email servers:
The Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP) provides features to
manage a mailbox from multiple devices. Small portable devices
like smartphones are increasingly used to check email while travelling,
and to make brief replies, larger devices with better keyboard access
being used to reply at greater length. IMAP shows the headers of
messages, the sender and the subject and the device needs to request to
download specific messages. Usually mail is left in folders in the mail
server.
  MAPI email servers:
Messaging Application Programming Interface (MAPI) is used
by Microsoft Outlook to communicate to Microsoft Exchange Server -
and to a range of other email server products such as Axigen Mail
Server, Kerio Connect, Scalix, Zimbra, HP OpenMail, IBM Lotus
Notes, Zarafa, and Bynari where vendors have added MAPI support to
allow their products to be accessed directly via Outlook.

Uses:
Business and organizational use:

Email has been widely accepted by business, governments and non-

governmental organizations in the developed world, and it is one of the key
parts of an 'e-revolution' in workplace communication (with the other key plank
being widespread adoption of high-speed Internet). A sponsored 2010 study on
workplace communication found 83% of U.S. knowledge workers felt email
was critical to their success and productivity at work.

It has some key benefits to business and other organizations, including :

Facilitating logistics:

Much of the business world relies on communications between people who are
not physically in the same building, area, or even country; setting up and
attending an in-person meeting, telephone call, or conference call can be
inconvenient, time-consuming, and costly. Email provides a method of
exchanging information between two or more people with no set-up costs and
that is generally far less expensive than a physical meeting or phone call.

Helping with synchronisation:

With real time communication by meetings or phone calls, participants must

work on the same schedule, and each participant must spend the same amount
of time in the meeting or call. Email allows asynchrony: each participant may
control their schedule independently.

Reducing cost:

Sending an email is much less expensive than sending postal mail, or long
distance telephone calls, telex or telegrams.
Increasing speed:

Much faster than most of the alternatives.

Creating a "written" record:

Unlike a telephone or in-person conversation, email by its nature creates a

detailed written record of the communication, the identity of the sender(s) and
recipient(s) and the date and time the message was sent. In the event of a
contract or legal dispute, saved emails can be used to prove that an individual
was advised of certain issues, as each email has the date and time recorded on it.

Email marketing:

Email marketing via "opt-in" is often successfully used to send special sales
offerings and new product information.[60] Depending on the recipient's
culture,[61] email sent without permission—such as an "opt-in"—is likely to be
viewed as unwelcome "email spam".

Personal use:
Personal computer:

Many users access their personal email from friends and family members using
a personal computer in their house or apartment.

Mobile:

Email has become used on smartphones and on all types of computers. Mobile
"apps" for email increase accessibility to the medium for users who are out of
their home. While in the earliest years of email, users could only access email
on desktop computers, in the 2010s, it is possible for users to check their email
when they are away from home, whether they are across town or across the
world. Alerts can also be sent to the smartphone or other device to notify them
immediately of new messages. This has given email the ability to be used for
more frequent communication between users and allowed them to check their
email and write messages throughout the day. As of 2011, there were
approximately 1.4 billion email users worldwide and 50 billion non-spam
emails that were sent daily.

Individuals often check email on smartphones for both personal and work-
related messages. It was found that US adults check their email more than they
browse the web or check their Facebook accounts, making email the most
popular activity for users to do on their smartphones. 78% of the respondents in
the study revealed that they check their email on their phone. It was also found
that 30% of consumers use only their smartphone to check their email, and 91%
were likely to check their email at least once per day on their smartphone.
However, the percentage of consumers using email on smartphone ranges and
differs dramatically across different countries. For example, in comparison to
75% of those consumers in the US who used it, only 17% in India did.

Declining use among young people:

As of 2010, the number of Americans visiting email web sites had fallen 6
percent after peaking in November 2009. For persons 12 to 17, the number was
down 18 percent. Young people preferred instant messaging, texting and social
media. Technology writer Matt Richtel said in The New York Times that email
was like the VCR, vinyl records and film cameras—no longer cool and
something older people do.

A 2015 survey of Android users showed that persons 13 to 24 used

messaging apps 3.5 times as much as those over 45, and were far less likely to
use email.

Today it can be important to distinguish between Internet and internal email

systems. Internet email may travel and be stored on networks and computers
without the sender's or the recipient's control. During the transit time it is
possible that third parties read or even modify the content. Internal mail
systems, in which the information never leaves the organizational network, may
be more secure, although information technology personnel and others whose
function may involve monitoring or managing may be accessing the email of
other employees.

Write an e-mail :

1. On your computer, go to Gmail.

2. In the top left, click Compose .
3. In the "To" field, add recipients. If you want, you can also add recipients
in the "Cc" and "Bcc" fields.
4. Add a subject.
5. Write your message.
6. At the bottom of the page, click Send.
Send messages with confidential mode:

1. On your computer, go to Gmail.

2. Click Compose.
3. In the bottom right of the window, click Turn on confidential mode .
Tip: If you've already turned on confidential mode for an email, go to the
bottom of the email, then click Edit.
4. Set an expiration date and passcode. These settings impact both the
message text and any attachments.
 If you choose "No SMS passcode," recipients using the Gmail app
will be able to open it directly. Recipients who don't use Gmail will
get emailed a passcode.
 If you choose "SMS passcode," recipients will get a passcode by
text message. Make sure you enter the recipient's phone number,
not your own.
5. Click Save.

Recall an email with Undo Send:

If you decide you don't want to send an email, you have a short time after to
cancel it. Right after you send a message, you can retract it:

1. In the bottom left, you'll see "Message sent" and the option to "Undo" or
"View message".
2. Click Undo.
Chatting:
On the Internet, chatting is talking to other people who are using the Internet at
the same time you are. Usually, this "talking" is the exchange of typed-in
messages requiring one site as the repository for the messages (or "chat site")
and a group of users who take part from anywhere on the Internet. In some
cases, a private chat can be arranged between two parties who meet initially in a
group chat. Chats can be on-going or scheduled for a particular time and
duration. Most chats are focused on a particular topic of interest and some
involve guest experts or famous people who "talk" to anyone joining the chat.
(Transcripts of a chat can be archived for later reference.)

Several Web sites, notably Talk City, exist solely for the purpose of conducting
chats. Some chat sites such as Worlds Chat allow participants to assume the role
or appearance of an avatar in a simulated or virtual reality environment.

Talk City and many other chat sites use a protocol called Internet Relay Chat. A
chat can also be conducted using sound or sound and video, assuming you have
the bandwidth access and the appropriate programming.

Online chat:
Online chart may refer to any kind of communication over the Internet that
offers a real-time transmission of text messages from sender to receiver. Chat
messages are generally short in order to enable other participants to respond
quickly. Thereby, a feeling similar to a spoken conversation is created, which
distinguishes chatting from other text-based online communication forms such
as Internet forums and email. Online chat may address point-to-
point communications as well as multicast communications from one sender to
many receivers and voice and video chat, or may be a feature of a web
conferencing service.
Online chat in a less stringent definition may be primarily any direct text-based
or video-based (webcams), one-on-one chat or one-to-many group
chat (formally also known as synchronous conferencing), using tools such
as instant messengers, Internet Relay Chat (IRC), talkers and possibly MUDs.
The expression online chat comes from the word chat which means "informal
conversation". Online chat includes web-based applications that allow
communication – often directly addressed, but anonymous between users in a
multi-user environment. Web conferencing is a more specific online service that
is often sold as a service, hosted on a web server controlled by the vendor.
Browsing:
Browsing is a kind of orienting strategy. It is supposed to identify something
of relevance for the browsing organism. When used about human beings it is
a metaphor taken from the animal kingdom. It is used, for example, about
people browsing open shelves in libraries, window shopping, or browsing
databases or the Internet. In library and information science it is an important
subject, both purely theoretically and as applied science aiming at designing
interfaces which support browsing activities for the user.
"Browsing is a quick examination of the relevance of a number of objects
which may or may not lead to a closer examination or acquisition/selection
of (some of) these objects. It is a kind of orienting strategy that is formed by
our “theories,” expectations and subjectivity".
Browsing in the context of the internet typically means using a web browser.
This can be with a specific purpose, such as using email or updating one's status
on a social media site, or just using the web with no purpose in particular, as in,
"Oh, I'm just browsing."
One advantage of hypertext systems like the World Wide Web is that it lets
users find information without specifically looking at it, the way they might find
a new book to read by looking at a library's bookshelves. Browsing is typically
contrasted with more methodical search strategies, such as using advanced
options in a search engine.
In general, browse refers to reading and scanning through data. Browsing is
commonly used to describe when a user reads through pages on the Internet and
is also often referred to as surfing. For example, you are browsing the Internet
with an Internet browser now if you're reading this page on your computer. If
you have visited more than one page on Computer Hope, you are browsing
our website.
When describing files on a computer, browsing is the action of looking through
drives, shares, and folders on a computer for a file. For example, in a software
program when you want to open a file, you'll often have to browse your
computer to get to the location of where the file is stored before it can be
opened.

With a database, browse is a mode for viewing the fields and records in the
database.

In computer programming, browse is used to describe the process of examining

data structures.
 WEBSITES
A website is a collection of related network web resources, such as web pages,
multimedia content, which are typically identified with a common domain
name, and published on at least one web server. Notable examples are
wikipedia.org, google.com, and amazon.com.

Websites can be accessed via a public Internet Protocol (IP) network, such as
the Internet, or a private local area network (LAN), by a uniform resource
locator (URL) that identifies the site.

Websites can have many functions and can be used in various fashions; a
website can be a personal website, a corporate website for a company, a
government website, an organization website, etc. Websites are typically
dedicated to a particular topic or purpose, ranging from entertainment and social
networking to providing news and education. All publicly accessible websites
collectively constitute the World Wide Web, while private websites, such as a
company's website for its employees, and are typically part of an intranet.

Web pages, which are the building blocks of websites, are documents, typically
composed in plain text interspersed with formatting instructions of Hypertext
Mark-up Language (HTML, XHTML). They may incorporate elements from
other websites with suitable mark-up anchors. Web pages are accessed and
transported with the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), which may optionally
employ encryption (HTTP Secure, HTTPS) to provide security and privacy for
the user. The user's application, often a web browser, renders the page content
according to its HTML mark-up instructions onto a display terminal.

Hyperlinking between web pages conveys to the reader the site structure and
guides the navigation of the site, which often starts with a home page containing
a directory of the site web content. Some websites require user registration or
subscription to access content. Examples of subscription websites include many
business sites, news websites, academic journal websites, gaming websites, file-
sharing websites, message boards, web-based email, social networking
websites, websites providing real-time stock market data, as well as sites
providing various other services. End users can access websites on a range of
devices, including desktop and laptop computers, tablet computers, smartphones
and smart TVs.
Types of Websites:
Websites can be divided into two broad categories—static and interactive.
Interactive sites are part of the Web 2.0 community of sites, and allow for
interactivity between the site owner and site visitors or users. Static sites serve
or capture information but do not allow engagement with the audience or users
directly. Some websites are informational or produced by enthusiasts or for
personal use or entertainment. Many websites do aim to make money, using one
or more business models, including:

 Posting interesting content and selling contextual advertising either

through direct sales or through an advertising network.
 E-commerce: products or services are purchased directly through the
website
 Advertising products or services available at a brick and mortar business
 Freemium: basic content is available for free but premium content
requires a payment (e.g., Word Press website, it is an open source
platform to build a blog or website.)

There are many varieties of websites, each specializing in a particular type of

content or use, and they may be arbitrarily classified in any number of ways.

Some websites may be included in one or more of these categories. For

example, a business website may promote the business's products, but may also
host informative documents, such as white papers. There are also numerous
sub-categories to the ones listed above. For example, a porn site is a specific
type of e-commerce site or business site (that is, it is trying to sell memberships
for access to its site) or have social networking capabilities. A fan site may be a
dedication from the owner to a particular celebrity. Websites are constrained by
architectural limits (e.g., the computing power dedicated to the website). Very
large websites, such as Facebook, Yahoo!, Microsoft, and Google employ many
servers and load balancing equipment such as Cisco Content Services Switches
to distribute visitor loads over multiple computers at multiple locations. As of
early 2011, Facebook utilized 9 data centres with approximately 63,000 servers.

In February 2009, Netcraft, an Internet monitoring company that has tracked

Web growth since 1995, reported that there were 215,675,903 websites with
domain names and content on them in 2009, compared to just 19,732 websites
in August 1995.[10] After reaching 1 billion websites in September 2014, a
milestone confirmed by NetCraft in its October 2014 Web Server Survey and
that Internet Live Stats was the first to announce—as attested by this tweet from
the inventor of the World Wide Web himself, Tim Berners-Lee—the number of
websites in the world has subsequently declined, reverting to a level below 1
billion. This is due to the monthly fluctuations in the count of inactive websites.
The number of websites continued growing to over 1 billion by March 2016,
and has continued growing since.

In terms of functionality, there are five main types of websites:

1. Brochure

2. e-Commerce

3. Portal

4. Wiki

5. Social media

1. Brochure:

A brochure website is the simplest type of website in terms of functionality.

Brochure websites typically only have a few pages, and will be used by small
businesses that need a simple online presence. For example, a small plumbing
company would only need a brochure website with a homepage displaying
contact information, an ‘about us’ page and perhaps a couple of photos of their
work. Their website is like an online business card for potential customers.

2. e-Commerce:

An ecommerce website is a website through which users are able to pay for a
product or service online. This will normally involve one company selling to
multiple users, but can also take the form of a multi-vendor ecommerce
website, commonly known as ‘marketplace’websites. Marketplace websites
allow multiple vendors to sell to customers through the same site. Well known
examples include eBay and Etsy.

3. Portal:

A portal website brings together information from lots of different sources on

the web. Early examples include Aol and Yahoo, who offer emails, forums,
search engines and news all through their homepage. Portals can also be for
internal use in a school, university or company, allowing students or employees
to access their emails, alerts and files all in one place.

4. Wiki:

A wiki website is one which allows people to collaborate online and write
content together. The most popular example is Wikipedia itself, which allows
anyone to amend, add and assess the content of their articles.

5. Social Media:

Social media websites are platforms which allow the sharing of images or ideas.
They encourage online interaction and sharing. The most popular social media
website is Facebook, with a staggering 2.07 billion active users. Other social
media sites include YouTube, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.

Ask a web designer about the different types of websites, and their answer will
probably be based on how dynamic the content of the page is, and the degree to
which it is optimised for all devices. In terms of how often the content of a
website needs to be updated, it will fall into one of two categories:

 Static/ fixed
 Dynamic

1. Static/ fixed:

Static, or ‘fixed’, websites are the most simplistic. Their content does not
change depending on the user, and is not regularly updated. Static websites are
built using simple HTML code, and typically provide information.

2. Dynamic:

A dynamic website or web page will display different content each time it is
visited. Examples include blogs and e-Commerce sites, or generally any site
that is updated regularly. Dynamic websites can also be set up to show different
content to different users, at different times of the day etc. Dynamic websites
make for a more personal and interactive experience for the user, although they
can be a little more complex to develop and may load slightly slower than static
ones.
 E-resources
An electronic resource is defined as a resource which require computer access
or any electronic product that delivers a collection of data, be it text referring to
full text bases, electronic journals, image collections, other multimedia products
and numerical, graphical or time based, as a commercially available title that
has been published with an aim to being marketed. These may be delivered on
CD ROM, on tape, via internet and so on. Over the past few years, a numbers of
techniques and related standards have been developed which allow documents
to be created and distributed in electronic form. Hence to cope with the present
situation, librarians are shifting towards new media, namely electronic resources
for their collection developments that the documents of users are better fulfilled.
The e-resources on magnetic and optical media have a vast impact on the
collections of University libraries. These are more useful due to inherent
capabilities for manipulation and searching, providing information access is
cheaper to acquiring information resources, savings in storage and maintenance
etc. and sometimes the electronic form is the only alternative.

According to AACR2, 2005 Update, an electronic resource is: "Material

(data and/or program(s)) encoded for manipulation by a computerized device.
This material may require the use of a peripheral directly connected to a
computerized device (e.g., CD-ROM drive) or a connection to a computer
network (e.g., the Internet)." This definition does not include electronic
resources that do not require the use of a computer, for example, music compact
discs and videodiscs.

According to Wikipedia, Electronic Resources means "Information (usually a

file) which can be stored in the form of electrical signals, usually on a
computer; Information available on the Internet".

According to Gradman glossary, "A publication in digital format which must be

stored and read on a computer device. There are two types: Direct access: these
are physical objects such as CD-ROMs, diskettes, computer tapes, and
computer cards, containing text, images, software and etc.
Types of E-Resources:

1 E-Book:

E-books is the many formats competing for prime time, including Adobe PDF,
Microsoft Reader, e-Reader, Mob e-pocket Reader, EPUB, Kindle and i-Pad.

2 E-Journal: An e-journal is very important part of every library collection. E-

journals are one application of information technology.

3 E-Newspapers:

An E- newspaper is also known as online newspaper or web-newspaper that

exists on the World Wide Web or internet.

4 E-Magazines:

An E-Magazine is very important part of every library collection. E-Magazines

are one application of information technology.

5 Indexing and Abstracting Databases:

These are the reference sources which provide bibliographic information about
journal including abstracts of the articles.

6 Full text databases:

Today are either free or with charges. E-databases is an organized collection of

information of a particular subject or multidisciplinary subject areas,
information within e-databases can be searched and retrieved electronically.

7 Reference databases:

These are many Dictionaries, Almanacs, and Encyclopaedias, which are

available on internet in electronic format.

8 Statistical databases:

These databases contain the numerical data useful for the mass community.

9 Image collections:

Due to adventure of e-images facility this type of databases is developed.

10 Multimedia products:

This type of databases includes images, videos, audios, texts etc.

11 E-Thesis:

These databases are contained with PhD thesis and Dissertation published
through e-format.

12 E-Clipping:

The main objective of e-clipping is retrospective search and comprehensive

analysis of new items.

13 E-Patents:

E-patents are the exclusive right granted by the government to make use of an
invention for a specific period of time.

14 E-Standards:

Written definition, limit rule, approved and monitored for complains by

authoritative agency.

Need of E-Resources:
E-Resources enable the librarian to provide better service to the user
community. The few considerable points are mentioned bellow;

a. To get access to an information source by the more than one users.

b. E-Resources can be searched quickly.

c. These can be found easily by the user.

d. These resources can be stored in huge amount.

e. Amount of time spent on the E-Resources use.

f. Analyses the purpose of using e-resources by respondent

g. Know different types of e-resources commonly used by respondents

h. To collect, store, organize information in digital form.

i. To promote efficient delivery of information economically to all the users.

 Development of an Educational Documentary:
Making documentaries is one of the most rewarding and challenging
endeavours you can be involved in.

Key Steps in Making Documentaries:

1. Tell a story you care about:

Start with a subject that excites you. If you’re lukewarm about the
subject matter, chances are the final movie will be too. Make a
documentary you are passionate about.

2. Research:
Learn everything about your documentary subject. Sometimes the
story lines are obvious sometimes not. Do a lot of digging and
follow leads. This is where you put on your reporter hat. Gather
facts and search for leads on interesting characters and story lines.
The gems of your story are sometimes buried deep out of sight.

3. Make a plan:
Create an outline. Think about HOW you are going to tell your
story. What’s the structure? The Style? Is there existing photos or
footage that helps you tell your story or will everything need to be
shot brand new. Who is your primary character(s)? What are your
core story points? What are your elements of story that are
compelling with intrigue? How can you create that intrigue for
your audience? Is the any existing situation you can film or do you
need to create the moment?
For detailed planning:
 Documentary Budget Template
 Documentary Proposal Template
 Find Money for Your Documentary

4. Create a short list:

This is a list of footage and interviews that you will need to make
your movie. Think of it as your list of “ingredients”. Depending on
the complexity of your project, you may or may not need to create
a budget.
5. Start Shooting:
Are you making documentaries for web, mobile devices, television,
and theatre? May be a combination? Keep in mind HOW your
movie will be reviewed because that can dictate your shooting and
storytelling style. Make sure you are shooting an event to capture a
variety of angles including close-ups, medium shots and wide
shots.

6. Write a script:
Once all the footage is shot and you have gathered various
production elements, time to start organising it into a script.
Pinpoint the most compelling elements of your story and start
crafting “mini-scenes” around those events. Remember, a script is
not necessarily what’s spoken or a voice-over. A script describes
what the audience is seeing and hearing.

7. Begin editing:
It’s like putting a big puzzle together! First you’ll need to choose
your video editing computer and video editing software. Once you
are all set with equipment you’ll start putting down your clips of
footage one right after the other in a sequence. The art with editing
is to create a “roller coaster” ride of emotions, some parts fast;
some parts slow to create a dynamic viewing experience.

8. Check Legal and Copyright Issues:

Even though this is near the end of list, it should actually be
something you keep in your mind from the very beginning and
throughout the entire filmmaking process.

9. Distribute:
Of course, now that you’ve done all the work making your
documentary, you want people to see it. Never before there have
been so many options for filmmakers to show their work. From
theatre to televisions to DVD to the web, a new world of
distributions is being invented right in front of our eyes. Making
documentaries and showcasing your work is easier than ever.
 Mobile Learning
M-learning or mobile learning is "learning across multiple contexts, through
social and content interactions, using personal electronic devices". A form of
distance education, m-learners use mobile device educational technology at
their time convenience.

M-learning technologies include handheld computers, MP3 players, notebooks,

mobile phones and tablets. M-learning focuses on the mobility of the learner,
interacting with portable technologies. Using mobile tools for creating learning
aids and materials becomes an important part of informal learning.

M-learning is convenient in that it is accessible from virtually anywhere.

Sharing is almost instantaneous among everyone using the same content, which
leads to the reception of instant feedback and tips. This highly active process
has proven to increase exam scores from the fiftieth to the seventieth percentile,
and cut the dropout rate in technical fields by 22 percent. M-learning also brings
strong portability by replacing books and notes with small devices, filled with
tailored learning contents. M-learning has the added benefit of being cost
effective, as the price of digital content on tablets is falling sharply compared to
the traditional media (books, CD and DVD, etc.). One digital textbook, for
instance, costs one-third to half the price of a paper textbook (AFD, 2012), with
zero marginal cost.

Some of the possibilities offered by this methodology, according to Fombona,

Pascual-Sevillana and González-Videgaray, are a greater and different access to
information, along with transcendent innovations, such as the increase of
informal and playful activities, iconic virtual, membership of specific groups,
and networks of friendly interaction within new scales of values.

Mobile learning, also known as m-learning, is a new way to access learning

content using mobiles. Mobile learning supports, with the help of mobile
devices, continuous access to the learning process. This can be done using
devices like your phone, laptop or tablet. You can learn wherever and whenever
you want! With the advent of mobile learning, educational systems are
changing.
M-learning in education:
More and more schools are starting to use laptops or tablets. They're fun for
children and adults. Educational apps are becoming increasingly available to
teachers and trainers.

Examples of mobile learning in education:

Offering mobile learning material:

This is the most common way of using mobile learning. You can offer texts,
videos or audios. Participants can be given assignments after watching a video
that their instructor has put online. This method of mobile learning is relatively
less interactive. It’s more about individual consumption. There is no interaction
between the trainer and the learners, which makes it an asynchronous way of
learning.

Interaction during lessons:

Instructors can also use mobile devices to increase interaction. For example,
you can ask questions during your training by using online discussion forums or
asking your learners to complete a survey after taking training.

Instructors ask questions and the learners answer them using their mobile
devices or communicate between themselves in a group discussion forum. It's
possible to get immediate feedback. This is especially effective when training
large groups.

Synchronous learning:

Would you like to have immediate feedback from your teacher or fellow
students? This is possible with synchronous learning. You are able to get direct
feedback even when you are at home. In addition, teachers can interact with
their students during lectures.
Advantages of mobile learning:
 Learning can be assessed anywhere and at any time.
 Mobile learning caters to shift towards micro-teaching.
 Information is more readily available when needed for on the job training.
 Learners can collaborate through online forums and chats.
 Mobile can incorporate all learning styles.
 Appeals to minimal learner.

Disadvantages of mobile learning:

 Battery life, device failure, updates and crashes are all concern.
 Courses and learning objects must be responsive design.
 Internet accessibility and overall connectivity is required.
 Mobile devices often lead to distraction.
 Responsive design, device and software compatibility is must.
 Multitasking might not be best for learning retention.
 Cost of devices.
 Social Media
Social media is computer-based technology that facilitates the sharing of ideas,
thoughts, and information through the building of virtual networks and
communities. By design, social media is internet-based and gives users quick
electronic communication of content. Content includes personal information,
documents, videos, and photos. Users engage with social media via computer,
tablet or smartphone via web-based software or web application, often utilizing
it for messaging.

Social media originated as a way to interact with friends and family but was
later adopted by businesses which wanted to take advantage of a popular new
communication method to reach out to customers. The power of social media is
the ability to connect and share information with anyone on Earth, or with many
people simultaneously.

Social media may take the form of a variety of tech-enabled activities. These
activities include photo sharing, blogging, social gaming, social networks, video
sharing, business networks, virtual worlds, reviews and much more. Even
governments and politicians utilize social media to engage with constituents and
voters.

For individuals, social media is used to keep in touch with friends and extended
family. Some people will use various social media applications to network
career opportunities, find people across the globe with like interests, and share
their thought, feelings, insight, and emotions. Those who engage in these
activities are part of a virtual social network.

For businesses, social media is an indispensable tool. Companies use the

platform to find and engage with customers, drive sales through advertising and
promotion, gauge consumer trends, and offering customer service or support.

Globally, there are more than 3 billion social media users. Social media is an
ever-changing and ever-evolving web-based platform.

According to the Pew Research Center, social media users tend to be younger.
Nearly 90 percent of people between the ages of 18 and 29 used at least one
form of social media. Further, these users tend to be better educated and
relatively wealthy, or earning over $75,000 per year.
G Number of Users
# Network Name
(in millions)

1 Facebook 2,375

2 YouTube 2,000

3 WhatsApp 1,600

4 Facebook Messenger 1,300

5 WeChat 1,112

6 Instagram 1,000

7 QQ 823

8 QZone 572

9 Tik Tok 500

10 Sina Weibo 465

11 Twitter 330

12 Reddit 330

13 Baidu Tieba 320

14 LinkedIn 310

15 Snapchat 294

16 Pinterest 265

17 Viber 260

18 Discord 250
 Advantages & Disadvantages of Social Media:
Social media has grown tremendously in the last few years. From 2006 onwards
the growth rate is unexpectedly very high. Especially Facebook and Twitter
have grown much faster and captured millions of users in just a few years. The
way technology is growing, it is obvious that more and more people are going
to grasp its benefits. It has brought a lot of advantages for the society. From
progressed nations to under-developed countries, every nation is utilizing the
power of social media to enhance life and use it for the bitterness of the people.

However, on the other hand it has also affected the society in the negative way.
Just like anything which can be used for both good and bad, social media have
also provided the negative and positive ways for the people. It is all about the
usage and getting things done positively by using the power of social media. It
is in the hands of the user to use to its advantage. But willingly or unwillingly it
can still have negative impacts on the users. Today in this article I am going to
discuss both the advantages and disadvantages of the social media for the
society.

Advantages of Social Media for the Society:

1:- Connectivity – The first and main advantage of the social media is
connectivity. People from anywhere can connect with anyone. Regardless of the
location and religion. The beauty of social media is that you can connect with
anyone to learn and share your thoughts.

2:- Education – Social media has a lot of benefits for the students and teachers.
It is very easy to educate from others who are experts and professionals via the
social media. You can follow anyone to learn from him/her and enhance your
knowledge about any field. Regardless of your location and education
background you can educate yourself, without paying for it.

3:- Help – You can share your issues with the community to get help and
giddiness. Whether it is helping in term of money or in term of advice, you can
get it from the community you are connected with.

4:- Information and Updates – The main advantage of the social media is that
you update yourself from the latest happenings around in the world. Most of the
time, Television and print media these days are biased and does not convey the
true message. With the help of social media you can get the facts and true
information by doing some research.

5:- Promotion – Whether you have an offline business or online, you can
promote your business to the largest audience. The whole world is open for you,
and can promote to them. This makes the businesses profitable and less
expensive, because most of the expenses made over a business are for
advertising and promotion. This can be decreased by constantly and regularly
involving on the social media to connect with the right audience.

6:- Noble Cause – Social media can also be used for the noble causes. For
example, to promote an NGO, social welfare activities and donations for the
needy people. People are using social media for donation for needy people and
it can be a quick way to help such people.

7:- Awareness – Social media also create awareness and innovate the way
people live. It is the social medium which has helped people discover new and
innovative stuffs that can enhance personal lives. From farmers to teachers,
students to lawyers every individual of the society can benefit from the social
media and its awareness factor.

8:- Helps Govt and Agencies Fight Crime- It is also one of the advantages of
the social media that it helps Governments and Security Agencies to spy and
catch criminals to fight crime.

9:- Improves Business Reputation – Just like it can ruin any business
reputation, It can also improve business sales and reputation. Positive comments
and sharing about a company can help them with sales and goodwill. Since
people are free to share whatever they want on the social media, it can impact
positively when good words are shared.

10:- Helps in Building Communities – Since our world has different religions
and beliefs. Social media helps in building and participating in the community
of own religion and believes to discuss and learn about it. Similarly, people of
different communities can connect to discuss and share related stuffs. For
example Game lover can join games related communities; car lover can join
communities related to cars and so on.
Disadvantages of Social Media for the Society:
1:- Cyber-bullying – According to a report published by PewCenter.org most
of the children have become victims of the cyber bulling over the past. Since
anyone can create a fake account and do anything without being traced, it has
become quite easy for anyone to bully on the Internet. Threats, intimidation
messages and rumours can be sent to the masses to create discomfort and chaos
in the society.

2: – Hacking – Personal data and privacy can easily be hacked and shared on
the Internet. Which can make financial losses and loss to personal life.
Similarly, identity theft is another issue that can give financial losses to anyone
by hacking their personal accounts. Several personal twitter and Facebook
accounts have been hacked in the past and the hacker had posted materials that
have affected the individual’s personal lives. This is one of the dangerous
disadvantages of the social media and every user is advised to keep their
personal data and accounts safe to avoid such accidents.

3:- Addiction – The addictive part of the social media is very bad and can
disturb personal lives as well. The teenagers are the most affected by the
addiction of the social media. They get involved very extensively and are
eventually cut off from the society. It can also waste individual time that could
have been utilized by productive tasks and activities.

4:- Fraud and Scams – Several examples are available where individuals have
scammed and commit fraud through the social media. For example, this list
contains the 5 social media scams that are done all the time.

5:- Security Issues – Now a day’s security agencies have access to people
personal accounts. This makes the privacy almost compromised. You never
know when you are visited by any investigation officer regarding any issue that
you mistakenly or unknowingly discussed over the internet.

6:- Reputation – Social media can easily ruin someone’s reputation just by
creating a false story and spreading across the social media. Similarly
businesses can also suffer losses due to bad reputation being conveyed over the
social media.
7:- Cheating and Relationship Issues – Most of the people have used the
social media platform to propose and marry each other. However, after some
time they turn to be wrong in their decision and part ways. Similarly, couples
have cheated each other by showing the fake feelings and incorrect information.

8:- Health Issues – The excess usage of social media can also have a negative
impact on the health. Since exercise is the key to lose weight, most of the
people get lazy because of the excessive use of social networking sites. Which
in result brings disorder in the routine life. This research by discovery will
shock you by showing how bad your health can be affected by the use of the
social media.

9:- Social Media causes death – Not just by using it, but by following the
stunts and other crazy stuffs that are shared on the internet. For example bikers
doing the unnecessary stunts, people doing the jump over the trains and other
life threatening stuffs. For example in this video 14 year old from Mumbai was
doing stunts on a running train which caused his death. These types of stunts are
performed by the teenagers because of the successful stunts made and shared
over the social media.

10:- Glamorizes Drugs and Alcohol – One of the disadvantages of the social
media is that people start to follow others who are wealthy or drug addicted and
share their views and videos on the web. This eventually inspires others to
follow the same and get addicted to the drugs and alcohol.
CONCLUSION:
We may consider as proven today that the ICT influence the current
development of educational methods. Although the use of technology does not
necessarily have to lead towards positive changes in the educational results,
there is no doubt that there is a certain impact. This is the reason why this study
material mainly focuses on the form of this impact and the possible risks
accompanying it.

The results show that the constructive approach of ICT involvement is currently
dominating. But it would be a mistake to believe that the development of
educational technology is the only cause for using these methods. Actually, they
have been, in some ways, used since ancient times and later developed into, for
example so called alternative schools (which can function well even without
any technology). If the schools on higher level of technological equipment’s
tend more towards constructive methods, it may also be caused by the fact that
they have wider access to information. So they could easily find out about new
trends in the theory of education and other branches of science and try to
implement them more than others.
INTRODUCTION:
Globalization and technological change—processes that have accelerated in
tandem over the past fifteen years—have created a new global economy
“powered by technology, fuelled by information and driven by knowledge.”
The emergence of this new global economy has serious implications for the
nature and purpose of educational institutions. As the half-life of information
continues to shrink and access to information continues to grow exponentially,
schools cannot remain mere venues for the transmission of a prescribed set of
information from teacher to student over a fixed period of time. Rather, schools
must promote “learning to learn,”: i.e., the acquisition of knowledge and skills
that make possible continuous learning over the lifetime.

Concerns over educational relevance and quality coexist with the imperative of
expanding educational opportunities to those made most vulnerable by
globalization—developing countries in general; low-income groups, girls and
women, and low-skilled workers in particular. Global changes also put pressure
on all groups to constantly acquire and apply new skills. The International
Labour Organization defines the requirements for education and training in the
new global economy simply as “Basic Education for All”, “Core Work Skills
for All “and “Lifelong Learning for All”.

Information and communication technologies (ICTs)—which include radio and

television, as well as newer digital technologies such as computers and the
Internet—have been touted as potentially powerful enabling tools for
educational change and reform. When used appropriately, different ICTs are
said to help expand access to education, strengthen the relevance of education to
the increasingly digital workplace, and raise educational quality by, among
others, helping make teaching and learning into an engaging, active process
connected to real life.

However, the experience of introducing different ICTs in the classroom and

other educational settings all over the world over the past several decades
suggests that the full realization of the potential educational benefits of ICTs is
not automatic. The effective integration of ICTs into the educational system is a
complex, multifaceted process that involves not just technology—indeed, given
enough initial capital, getting the technology is the easiest part!—but also
curriculum and pedagogy, institutional readiness, teacher competencies, and
long-term financing, among others.
 PREFACE

As a part of B.Ed. curriculum of Bengaluru North University and M.V.J.

College of Education, I was given an opportunity to do a practical activity on
preparation of ICT APPLICATION.

The need of quality learning materials has become more pressing as students
with weaker grades; poor language proficiency, lack of access to reference
materials and the internet seek tertiary education opportunities.

In this ICT application I prepared the theory for computer fundamentals and its
different functions. In this module the students get to know about the
fundamental of computer like meaning of computer, input and output devices,
software and its types etc. The students will get to know what the features of
computer are in different forms like MS Office, Internet, Websites etc. and
student can utilise this computer advanced technology in better way.
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The practical activity on ICT APPLICATION is outcome of guidance, moral

support and devotion bestowed on me throughout my work.

For successful completion of this practical activity firstly I would like to thank
M.V.J College of Education for providing me an opportunity to pursue 2 year
B.Ed. programme in their college.

I offer my sincere phrases of thanks to innate humility to Prof. Dr. C.

Rajashekaraiah, Principal, M.V.J College of Education.

I sincerely thank my Asst. Prof. Mrs Umadevi Aradhyamath, who had guided
me in doing this practical.

Lastly, I would like to thank Mrs Uma Krishnan, Librarian, for providing me
various books as and when required for successful completion of this practical
activity.
UNIT 1: M.S Office
Package,
Multimedia,
&
Websites