Computing III Honor - regular

Vocational Activities

Requirements

  1. Have the Computing II Honor.

    Answer: To begin Computing III - Regular (created in 2012 by the South American Division), you need to have first earned the Computing II Honor as a mandatory prerequisite, demonstrating mastery of the second-phase topics (basic operating systems, text editing, introductory internet) — the foundation for the Computing III topics on networks, maintenance, and backup. — The Computing series has 4 levels (I, II, III, IV) with sequential didactic linkage; Computing III delves deeper into networks, hardware maintenance, and databases — requiring prior mastery of level II as a logical and practical foundation for the student to keep up with the new content.

  2. Present a report of at least 1000 words about third-generation computers.

    Answer: Content for the report (minimum 1,000 words) about third-generation computers (1964-1971): 1) CENTRAL INNOVATION — the integrated circuit (IC or chip), invented by Jack Kilby (Texas Instruments, 1958) and Robert Noyce (Fairchild, 1959), brought together multiple transistors on a single silicon wafer, replacing the individual transistors of the 2nd generation. 2) CONSEQUENCES — much smaller, cheaper, faster machines, with lower power consumption and greater reliability (less heat and fewer failures). 3) MAIN MILESTONE — the IBM System/360 (1964), a family of computers compatible with each other that allowed the customer to switch models without rewriting the programs; it was a huge commercial success. 4) SOFTWARE AND OPERATING SYSTEMS — the emergence and popularization of operating systems that allowed multiprogramming (several programs in memory) and time-sharing, in which several users used the same computer at the same time through terminals. 5) LANGUAGES — consolidation of high-level languages such as COBOL (commercial) and FORTRAN (scientific), in addition to BASIC (1964). 6) PERIPHERALS — use of keyboard and monitor (video terminals) for input and output, magnetic disks for storage. 7) IMPACT — the lower cost paved the way for minicomputers (such as DEC's PDP-8) and prepared the 4th generation (microprocessors). Conclude by relating how the integrated circuit made possible the miniaturization that led to the personal computers we use today. — The 3rd generation marked the transition from the transistor (2nd generation) to the integrated circuit, drastically reducing size, cost, and consumption; the IBM System/360 was so influential that it established the concept of a 'family of compatible computers' that inspires architectures to this day — reference: Paul Ceruzzi, 'A History of Modern Computing' (MIT Press).

  3. Define the following terms:
    • Circuit board
    • Internal modem
    • External modem
    • Multimedia device
    • Parallel port
    • Serial port

    Answer: 1) Circuit board (PCB): the base board on which the electronic components are mounted and interconnected by copper traces, forming the equipment's circuits. 2) Internal modem: a modem installed inside the computer case, like an expansion card plugged into the motherboard. 3) External modem: a modem in a separate box, connected to the computer by cable (USB or serial), easier to transfer between machines and to monitor by its lights. 4) Multimedia device: equipment that combines sound, image, and video resources (sound card, speakers, media player), allowing audio and video to be played on the computer. 5) Parallel port: an old connector that transmits several bits at the same time (in parallel), used mainly to connect printers. 6) Serial port: a connector that transmits data one bit at a time (in series), used for mice, external modems, and other peripherals. — Parallel and serial ports were replaced by USB (introduced in 1996) — faster, plug-and-play, and compact; modern internal modems use a PCI slot or are integrated into the motherboard; printed circuit boards (PCBs) have been standard in electronics since the 1940s.

  4. During maintenance, what equipment and techniques should be used in order to protect the computer's components from damage caused by static electricity?

    Answer: Use an antistatic wrist strap connected to ground (clip to the grounded metal chassis), an antistatic mat under the work area, antistatic packaging (silver polyethylene bags) to store boards and chips, and tools with insulated handles. — Only 30 volts of electrostatic discharge (ESD) are enough to permanently damage a memory chip or processor, although a human only feels discharges starting from 3,000 volts — hence the invisibility of the damage; the ANSI/ESD S20.20 standard requires a grounded wrist strap in any professional maintenance.

  5. What does Backup (security copy) mean? Why is it important to do it?

    Answer: Backup is the security copy of files, data, or systems stored in a location separate from the original (external HD, flash drive, cloud, optical media) for recovery in case of loss. It is important to do it because it protects against hardware failure (HD breaks down), virus/ransomware attack, human error (deleting a file by mistake), theft of the equipment, and natural disasters (fire, flood). — Backblaze statistics (2023) show that 1 in 5 HDs fails within 4 years; ransomware attacks in 2024 grew 60% according to Sophos — companies without adequate backup pay ransoms or lose data permanently; the 3-2-1 rule is the standard recommended by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

  6. Using a spreadsheet editor, create a cost spreadsheet for your household, reporting the expenses and income of one month.

    Answer: You should create a spreadsheet in Excel, LibreOffice Calc, or Google Sheets with columns: Date, Category (food, housing, transportation, leisure, health, education), Description, Income (positive value), and Expense (negative value). — The household spreadsheet is the classic exercise for introducing Excel and teaches fundamental concepts (formulas, formatting, charts); studies by Serasa Experian (2023) show that 60% of Brazilians do not control their budget, and mastery of this tool fights indebtedness — a financial life skill.

  7. What does database mean?

    Answer: A database is an organized and structured collection of information stored digitally, designed to allow efficient access, updating, and management via specialized software called a DBMS (Database Management System). — The concept of the relational database was proposed by E. F. Codd (IBM) in 1970 in the paper 'A Relational Model of Data for Large Shared Data Banks'; the SQL (Structured Query Language) language has been the standard for accessing relational databases since the 1980s, and it is present in almost all modern commercial software.

  8. What does compatibility of equipment and versions mean?

    Answer: Equipment compatibility is the ability of hardware and software to work correctly together without conflicts — a video card must be supported by the motherboard slot (PCIe), by the operating system driver, and by the application. — Compatibility is a central guideline in software design since the 1980s (Microsoft is a classic example of extreme backward compatibility with Windows); stable APIs and open standards (USB, HDMI, PDF, ISO) reduce compatibility problems between different manufacturers — a fundamental principle of interoperability.

  9. How can computers be connected in an office or company? What types of networks exist?

    Answer: Computers connect via Ethernet cables (UTP CAT5e/6) or wirelessly (Wi-Fi) through switches, routers, and access points. The main types of network: LAN (Local Area Network) — a single location, such as an office or building; WAN (Wide Area Network) — between cities or countries (the internet is a gigantic WAN). — Ethernet was developed by Robert Metcalfe at Xerox PARC in 1973 and is the dominant standard for local networks to this day (IEEE 802.3); Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11) began in 1997 and is now practically universal — the Ethernet+Wi-Fi combination covers 95% of modern corporate networks.

  10. Describe 3 current options for the following areas:
    • Text editors
    • Spreadsheets
    • Databases
    • Programming language
    • Image editors
    • Sound and multimedia editors

    Answer: 1) Text editors: Microsoft Word, LibreOffice Writer, and Google Docs. 2) Spreadsheets: Microsoft Excel, LibreOffice Calc, and Google Sheets. 3) Databases: MySQL, PostgreSQL, and MongoDB. 4) Programming languages: Python, JavaScript, and Java. 5) Image editors: Adobe Photoshop, GIMP (free), and Krita. 6) Sound and multimedia editors: Audacity (free, for audio), DaVinci Resolve (video), and Adobe Premiere/Audition. — GIMP, LibreOffice, Audacity, and DaVinci Resolve are free alternatives of professional quality to their paid counterparts; Python has led the TIOBE index as the most popular language since 2024; PostgreSQL is a high-performance open-source DB rivaling Oracle — choosing between paid and free is an important strategic decision.