Unit 3-2 Multimedia PC Components

After completing this unit, you will be able to:

• Recognize the components of a multimedia computer.
• Understand the shopping terminology needed to make intelligent choices when purchasing a multimedia computer.
• Know the difference between a mouse and a trackball, 8-bit and 16-bit audio, analog and digital video, CD-ROM and DVD, modems and network cards, flatbed and handheld scanners, and inkjet and laser printers.
• Understand the datacommunication terminology needed to procure equipment for connecting your multimedia computer to the Internet.
• Know where to find comparison shopping advice for buying hardware on the Internet.

Reading

Read chapter 11 of the Multimedia Literacy textbook to study the concepts covered by this unit.

Online Activities

There are five categories of components in a multimedia computer: the system unit, multimedia accessories, read/write storage, auxiliary input devices, and communication options. The following online activities provide you with an opportunity to explore features and issues related to these components:

• At the heart of every computer is the central processor, which is the "brain" in which computations are performed. For comparison ratings of the most recent Intel processors, follow the Multilit Web site link to the Intel iCOMP benchmark. For comparison ratings of Macintosh processors, follow the link to Macintosh benchmarks.
• Multimedia accessories give a computer the ability to make sound, play music, and record movies. Follow the Multilit Web site links to multimedia accessories for digital audio, DVD, video overlay, audio speakers, MIDI, and MPEG.
• Multimedia requires a lot of storage if you are into digital audio and video. Follow the Multilit Web site links for more information about the storage alternative described in Chapter 11.
• The datacommunication protocol used on the Internet is called TCP/IP, which stands for Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol. Both the Windows and the Macintosh operating systems have support for TCP/IP built in. To connect your computer to the Internet via TCI/IP, you need either a modem or a network card. Most computers come with either a modem or a network card built in. When you purchase a new computer, you should think about whether you are going to connect it to the Internet via modem or network card, and make sure your new computer has what you need to get connected. Follow the Multilit Web site links for more information about the datacomm alternatives discussed in Chapter 11.
• The auxiliary input devices described in Chapter 11 provide convenient ways to digitize preexisting texts, pictures, and videos for use with a multimedia computer. Follow the Multilit Web site links for more information about these devices.
• Computer projectors connect to the monitor output of a multimedia computer to project the computer display onto a large viewing surface for use in auditoriums, classrooms, and board rooms. There are four kinds of projectors: CRT (cathode ray tube), LCD (liquid crystal display), DLP (digital light processor), and PDP (plasma display panel). The best place to see all the different projectors in action is at the annual Infocomm conference, which has a projection shoot-out in which all the vendors line their projectors up around a huge auditorium where you can walk around and compare how well the different projectors display the same video signal. For more information, follow the Multilit Web Site link to Infocomm and its parent organization, the International Communications Industry Association (ICIA), where you can follow the links to the Projection Encounter for a very highly-produced multimedia tutorial on projection technology.

Assignment

This unit prepares you to answer the questions that you will be asked at the end of the next unit.