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Technology in Action: Complete
For introductory courses in computer concepts or computer literacy often including instruction in Microsoft Office.A Computer Concepts Text Focused on Today’s Student! Technology in Action engages students by combining a unique teaching approach with rich companion media.The seventh edition has been updated to reflect the latest developments in computer technology.
720 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2004
16 people are currently reading
114 people want to read
About the author
Alan Evans
198 books6 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
February 28, 2019
Who knew that learning about Computer Info Systems could be so interesting! This was the required text for my CISS 170 class and I truly found it both useful and interesting. The author manages to make this subject accessible for all, even those, like me, who would rather be doing something else.
December 27, 2017
Technology in Action does exactly what it says on the tin, offering a basic overview of technology including hardware, software, and networking, in an easily-readable and clearly organized format.
Evans presents his text in thirteen chapters, beginning with the importance of technology in changing the world and then building from hardware (your computer and what all its pieces do) to software (application and system), before moving into networking and security and pointers on how to manage a digital lifestyle ethically. The final four behind-the-scenes chapters offer deeper dives into programming, databases, networking and security, and how the internet works. I read this in an Intro to IT class as part of my library science degree, and found it extremely helpful; while I recognized most of the terms and concepts the book featured, my knowledge was usually more of the fuzzy than the full understanding. In terms of practical non-class use, the chapter on understanding and assessing hardware helped me go through and clean up my system in a way I probably wouldn't have otherwise been comfortable doing.
While I purchased the digital version of this text, I tended to ignore most of the digital features - explanatory videos make me wild, I'd much prefer to use the text - and while there were end-of-chapter basic programming exercises, I skipped them as they weren't mandated by my instructor. The digital glossary I used extensively, though I noticed it occasionally pulled up the wrong definitions. And if you're wondering about the MyITLab, all it contains is a series of quizzes and simulations (most extremely basic). I didn't find it terribly instructive, but it was necessary as my instructor graded on completion through that interface.
While not generally something I'd be interested in curling up with on the sofa, Technology in Action is an extremely useful text that can function either as an introduction for the completely un-savvy or a refresher for those of us who've been using computers for years while treating their inner workings as a form of magic. Despite not being a page turner, it's written clearly and well, and is perfect for librarians looking to make the transition to digital.
Evans presents his text in thirteen chapters, beginning with the importance of technology in changing the world and then building from hardware (your computer and what all its pieces do) to software (application and system), before moving into networking and security and pointers on how to manage a digital lifestyle ethically. The final four behind-the-scenes chapters offer deeper dives into programming, databases, networking and security, and how the internet works. I read this in an Intro to IT class as part of my library science degree, and found it extremely helpful; while I recognized most of the terms and concepts the book featured, my knowledge was usually more of the fuzzy than the full understanding. In terms of practical non-class use, the chapter on understanding and assessing hardware helped me go through and clean up my system in a way I probably wouldn't have otherwise been comfortable doing.
While I purchased the digital version of this text, I tended to ignore most of the digital features - explanatory videos make me wild, I'd much prefer to use the text - and while there were end-of-chapter basic programming exercises, I skipped them as they weren't mandated by my instructor. The digital glossary I used extensively, though I noticed it occasionally pulled up the wrong definitions. And if you're wondering about the MyITLab, all it contains is a series of quizzes and simulations (most extremely basic). I didn't find it terribly instructive, but it was necessary as my instructor graded on completion through that interface.
While not generally something I'd be interested in curling up with on the sofa, Technology in Action is an extremely useful text that can function either as an introduction for the completely un-savvy or a refresher for those of us who've been using computers for years while treating their inner workings as a form of magic. Despite not being a page turner, it's written clearly and well, and is perfect for librarians looking to make the transition to digital.
November 19, 2014
Good survey. Reasonably limits "technology" to digital electronic devices, systems, networks, challenges; not such technology as internal combustion engines, medicine and pharmacy, or nuclear power generation.
Content, at this reading, is up-to-date and even a little bleeding-edge. Tends to be friendly, with phrases such as "How Cool Is This?".
Yet it didn't connect with a significant proportion of my students. It's likely they weren't interested in the topic or the course to begin with, and the text didn't capture them. It could have been a hopeless task.
Content, at this reading, is up-to-date and even a little bleeding-edge. Tends to be friendly, with phrases such as "How Cool Is This?".
Yet it didn't connect with a significant proportion of my students. It's likely they weren't interested in the topic or the course to begin with, and the text didn't capture them. It could have been a hopeless task.
February 13, 2011
Awful! I can't believe a publisher can charge $150 for an introductory text on computers... that will be outdated in 2 years and never referred to again. I'm currently teaching an Intro To Computer course and jettisoned this book... I'm going to use articles from PC Magazine and other websites to cover this material. If anyone else is teaching a technology class and have other books or resources to recommend, let me know! :)
October 30, 2023
(The English review is placed beneath the Russian one)
В этом учебнике содержится около 60% информации, которая известна практически всем, кто пользуется компьютером, а оставшиеся 40% информации, это сложный материал который никак или почти никак не упрощается. К примеру, в книге мы найдём информацию, объясняющую, что такое digital видео и фото, а также книга расскажет о существовании электронных книг, но с другой, книга пытается объяснить работу процессора компьютера, принтера, звуковой карты и так далее. И вот объяснение этого в книге совершенно не упрощено. Такое чувство, что автор просто не посчитал нужным что-либо упрощать, либо автор так упростил материал, что я не понял его объяснение. Но даже если закрыть глаза на эту серьёзную проблему, то всё равно остаётся непонятным, для кого предназначена книга? Я повторюсь, большую часть информации современный человек уже знает, а ту, что не знает, ему знать не так важно. К примеру, какой смысл от того, как работает принтер, если информация не подана в доступном для понимания виде? Ведь речь идёт не об учебнике для технической специальности или для обучения студентов какой-то технической профессии. Студент, который читает эту книгу, не будет работать инженером или программистом, ибо эта книга предназначена для неспециалистов. Такой учебник могут читать будущие психологи или экономисты или маркетологи. Так вот, им большая часть информации, что содержится в этой книге, просто не нужна. Под конец книги, у меня возникло ощущение, что намного проще прочитать Википедию, чем продолжать чтение. Да и в любом случаи, стиль книги очень сильно напоминает стиль Википедии. Ну, или найти более специфическую литературу, рассказывающую о конкретных темах (software, hardware, Internet).
This textbook contains about 60% of the information that is known to almost everyone who uses a computer, and the remaining 40% of the information is complex material that is simplified in little or no way. For example, in the book, we will find information explaining what digital video and photos are, and the book will tell us about the existence of e-books, but on the other hand, the book tries to explain the operation of the computer processor, printer, sound card and so on. And here, the explanation of this in the book is not simplified at all. It feels like the author didn't think it was necessary to simplify anything or that I didn't understand his explanation. But even if you close your eyes to this serious problem, it remains unclear who the book is intended for. I repeat, most of the information a modern person already knows, and what he doesn't know is not so important to him. For example, what is the point of learning how a printer works if the information is not presented understandably? After all, we are not talking about a textbook for a technical specialty or (for) training students in a technical profession. The student who reads this book will not work as an engineer or programmer because this book is intended for non-specialists. Such a textbook can be read by future psychologists, economists, or marketers. So, they simply don't need most of the information contained in this book. Towards the end of the book, I had the feeling that it was much easier to read Wikipedia than to continue reading. And in any case, the style of the book is very much like Wikipedia. Well, or find more specific literature about specific topics (software, hardware, Internet).
В этом учебнике содержится около 60% информации, которая известна практически всем, кто пользуется компьютером, а оставшиеся 40% информации, это сложный материал который никак или почти никак не упрощается. К примеру, в книге мы найдём информацию, объясняющую, что такое digital видео и фото, а также книга расскажет о существовании электронных книг, но с другой, книга пытается объяснить работу процессора компьютера, принтера, звуковой карты и так далее. И вот объяснение этого в книге совершенно не упрощено. Такое чувство, что автор просто не посчитал нужным что-либо упрощать, либо автор так упростил материал, что я не понял его объяснение. Но даже если закрыть глаза на эту серьёзную проблему, то всё равно остаётся непонятным, для кого предназначена книга? Я повторюсь, большую часть информации современный человек уже знает, а ту, что не знает, ему знать не так важно. К примеру, какой смысл от того, как работает принтер, если информация не подана в доступном для понимания виде? Ведь речь идёт не об учебнике для технической специальности или для обучения студентов какой-то технической профессии. Студент, который читает эту книгу, не будет работать инженером или программистом, ибо эта книга предназначена для неспециалистов. Такой учебник могут читать будущие психологи или экономисты или маркетологи. Так вот, им большая часть информации, что содержится в этой книге, просто не нужна. Под конец книги, у меня возникло ощущение, что намного проще прочитать Википедию, чем продолжать чтение. Да и в любом случаи, стиль книги очень сильно напоминает стиль Википедии. Ну, или найти более специфическую литературу, рассказывающую о конкретных темах (software, hardware, Internet).
This textbook contains about 60% of the information that is known to almost everyone who uses a computer, and the remaining 40% of the information is complex material that is simplified in little or no way. For example, in the book, we will find information explaining what digital video and photos are, and the book will tell us about the existence of e-books, but on the other hand, the book tries to explain the operation of the computer processor, printer, sound card and so on. And here, the explanation of this in the book is not simplified at all. It feels like the author didn't think it was necessary to simplify anything or that I didn't understand his explanation. But even if you close your eyes to this serious problem, it remains unclear who the book is intended for. I repeat, most of the information a modern person already knows, and what he doesn't know is not so important to him. For example, what is the point of learning how a printer works if the information is not presented understandably? After all, we are not talking about a textbook for a technical specialty or (for) training students in a technical profession. The student who reads this book will not work as an engineer or programmer because this book is intended for non-specialists. Such a textbook can be read by future psychologists, economists, or marketers. So, they simply don't need most of the information contained in this book. Towards the end of the book, I had the feeling that it was much easier to read Wikipedia than to continue reading. And in any case, the style of the book is very much like Wikipedia. Well, or find more specific literature about specific topics (software, hardware, Internet).
May 19, 2021
Required reading for a computer class. Easy to read and a lot of information.
May 6, 2023
Read 17th Edition eBook, ISBN 9780136903444
April 30, 2012
Read this for a class. Really, the first five chapters contain almost all common-sense info with some minute details on specific things thrown in. Reading it was a complete chore, since of course tests would include the minutia that was easy to miss when you started skimming the rest. The chapters are quite long, and don't always seem very well-organized. After the first 5 chapters, the themes of the chapters are much better organized, and some are even interesting, concise reads. I'm guessing a different one of the authors took over writing at that point!
Overall, the book may be good if you are a complete computer novice and need a comprehensive background. But the organization still is not great, and the amount of time spent describing programs and websites that are already obsolete was a waste of time and space. It would be better to describe the type of [website/software/whatever], and to refer the reader to a website where an updated list of current [sites/programs/whatever] that address the issue can be viewed. Much more useful!
Overall, the book may be good if you are a complete computer novice and need a comprehensive background. But the organization still is not great, and the amount of time spent describing programs and websites that are already obsolete was a waste of time and space. It would be better to describe the type of [website/software/whatever], and to refer the reader to a website where an updated list of current [sites/programs/whatever] that address the issue can be viewed. Much more useful!
December 5, 2015
Ok, if you are required to take a general computer course for your major, DON'T TAKE THIS ONE.
This is for people who want to go into IT.
I am not going into IT.
I usually like learning, even if I don't like the subject.
I hated this textbook and class so much.
Literally me throughout this whole course:
This is for people who want to go into IT.
I am not going into IT.
I usually like learning, even if I don't like the subject.
I hated this textbook and class so much.
Literally me throughout this whole course:
September 20, 2010
It's a decent text, but it's so laden with color and graphics that it can be distracting to actually read. It's decent as far as technology reference goes, but this librarian wanted more. The MyITlab TIA tests didn't directly reflect the text (ambiguous and in some cases, errors) but this served it's purpose. IT requirement for new degree met. Done.
February 9, 2008
I had to read this for my computer class (at least I think it was this edition). It was really interesting but also very long.
I would read it again, I guess...
It really covers pretty much everything having to do with how computers and the internet work.
I would read it again, I guess...
It really covers pretty much everything having to do with how computers and the internet work.
May 13, 2009
i never know how i should rate a college text book. this book was very informative and helpful. i will find it to be a great guide beside me at work whenever i may have a question. at times it was a bit much to simply read, i like it better as a reference guide.
June 29, 2022
PopSugar 2018 reading challenge #38
This book was assigned in an introduction computer course I was taking for my MLIS. While some of it is pretty obvious, it did have a lot of great additional content. The online quizzes were also super helpful to grasping chapters and components.
This book was assigned in an introduction computer course I was taking for my MLIS. While some of it is pretty obvious, it did have a lot of great additional content. The online quizzes were also super helpful to grasping chapters and components.
July 18, 2009
great text book :))
September 5, 2013
Has some very interesting information regarding new technologies.
January 1, 2014
You'd have to be living under a rock to need the info out of this book.
June 21, 2017
Pretty well put-together textbook. Some of its contents are a bit elementary but since it's for an intro course I call that useful.
January 24, 2016
This book was a requirement for class, and although some of it was a bit confusing; I did find it useful for my own personal use.
September 13, 2012
A lot of fluff. Pretty pictures.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews