Trackpad Ver. 2.0 Class 8

By Nidhi Arora

Computer Science Textbook Designed for Joyful Learning

KEY FEATURES
- National Education Policy 2020
- Find on Google: This section asks a quick question from the present world.
- Pure Fact: This presents a 100% pure fact with a numerical data.
- Video Based Question: This is an interactive question to be attempted after watching a small video accessible on the QR Code.
- Coding Zone: This presents a quick insight into coding concepts.
- Career Here: This section indicates the possible career aspects on pursuing similar topics.

DESCRIPTION
Trackpad, a computer book series for grades I to VIII, is designed to build a strong foundation for students about to enter the fascinating world of computer technology. With Trackpad, the process of discovery is bound to be equally enjoyable and educational, as the series is written in a friendly and engaging style, which will spark the interest of students of all skill sets.

Based on Windows 10 and Microsoft Office 2016, this series has all that is required to ensure that the students understand and retain what they have read.

The books ensure up-to-date coverage of contemporary computer concepts and most widely used software packages. Though comprehensive in scope, each topic presents practical, day-to-day applications of computer in a friendly manner. The series begin to explore the subject of Artificial Intelligence from grade III itself and each grade has four Periodic Assessments & two Test Sheets for evaluation of students' learning. Grade I and II books have four-line writing space each to inculcate the love for writing and enhance writing skills in children.

WHAT WILL YOU LEARN
You will learn about:
- Fundamentals of computer
- ICT Tools
- Computational Thinking
- Coding and Artificial Intelligence
- HTML5
- AI Domains
- SDG
- Python
- Data Science
- Makecode Advanced Blocks
- Cloud Computing
- Photoshop CC
- Networking Concepts


WHO THIS BOOK IS FOR
Grade - 8

TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Networking Concepts
2. Introduction to Photoshop 2021
3. More on Photoshop 2021
4. Dynamic Web Pages in HTML5
5. Latest IT Trends
6. Cloud Computing
7. Control Structures in Python
8. Functions, String and List in Python
9. Arificial Intelligence and its Domains
10. Fields of Artificial Intelligence
11. Introduction to SDGs and Data Science
12. Techipedia
13. Project
14. OGO Cyber Sample Questions

• Language: English
• Publisher: Orange Education Pvt Ltd
• Release date: Sep 1, 2021
• ISBN: 9789391246600

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

NETWORKING CONCEPTS

Hey, Techie, I want to know about the evolution of networks. How did technology take over our lives and became a necessity?

Shweta, if we look back over the past few decades, before any one of us ever touched a computer or was connected to the Internet, networking meant going out to meet some friends and having a conversation. The notes they took were the databases and servers. The data people wanted to share were their dreams, curiosities and memories, and this data was transmitted by writing in each other’s notebook and passing it from one hand to another.

That sounds like an interesting time to live in but it’s so different than today where everything is just a click away.

Then, humans took a giant leap and computers were developed for an individual to work on his/her own machine. But as the usage increased, it was observed that although computers offered computation power to their users, they could not suffice all their needs because applications often demanded exchange of data between several such users. Thus, the idea of linking two machines together that can share information, emerged.

computer network

A computer network is a collection of computers and their peripheral devices (the network’s components) connected by communication links (wired or wireless) through which data is transferred in the form of signals. In other words, a network is defined as a group of devices that are linked together to share information, data and resources.

Note that a computer which is not connected to any network is known as a stand-alone computer and a computer connected to a network is known as a node or workstation.

Need of Computer Networking

Networking is a way of getting all the devices to communicate with each other and use the same data files and resources through a physical pathway called the transmission medium (cables). This connection between devices can be either wired or wireless. Network serves the following important purposes:

It allows information or files to be shared with other computers in the network.

It allows computers in the network to share hardware like printers, scanners, fax machines, hard disks, etc.

It allows sharing of application software over the network.

It allows rapid communication such as e-mail, messaging, etc.

It allows us to store information in one centralised location.

It is a cost-effective method.

Components of a Network

Before we discuss the components of a network, let us first understand the process of communication between two persons. When two persons communicate with each other, one speaks and the other listens. The person who is speaking is the sender and the person who is listening is the receiver of the information. The voice originating from the sender reaches the receiver through the air.

Therefore, air is the communication channel. Communication channel is the medium that helps carry information from one place to another. Now, let's learn about components of computer networks.

The components required to build a network are:

Sender: A sender is a computer that wants to send information to another computer connected to the network.

Receiver: A receiver is a computer which is expecting the data from another computer on the network.

Transmission Medium: The transmission medium, usually a wire or a cable, is what enables you to transfer data from one computer to another. Wireless communication between networked computers and peripherals is also possible.

Message: A message is the information or data which needs to be transferred from one computer to another.

Protocol: A protocol is a set of standard rules used for communication.

Requirements for Computer networking

To establish a computer network, we need some peripherals. Let us take a look at some of the peripherals required to establish a network.

Network Interface Card (NIC)

The NIC joins a computer to a network and allows it to communicate with other computers on the network.

Hub

A hub is a networking device that allows us to connect multiple computers to a single network. A hub works on the physical layer. It takes the input data from one of the ports and broadcasts the information to all other ports connected to the network. It has no decision-making capability, so it's a non-intelligent device. Only one transmission takes place on a network at a particular time.

Switch

A switch has decision-making capacity, so it is called intelligent device that works in the data link layer. It has the knowledge of the machine and addresses of the ports in the network. Switch is a secure device and establishes a link between the sender and the receiver, based on the machine addresses to transmit information.

Repeater

The Repeater regenerates the input signals and amplifies only the desired signals reducing noise component of the signals. It is used at places where amplification of input signal is necessary.

Router

A router is used when multiple devices need to connect to the Internet using the same IP. It works on the network layer. In other words, it is used to connect and facilitate transfer of information between two networks.

Networking Cable

Networking cable also known as Ethernet cable is a transmission medium that allows to transport information from one place to other place. There are various types of networking cables such as coaxial cable, twisted pair cable, and optical fiber cable.

Modem

Modem is a device which is used to transmit data over a network. It is attached to computers that can convert digital signals (to be transmitted over telephone lines) to analog (continuous electrical waves) and convert analog signals to digital signals at the receiving end.

Modem is the short form of Modulator-Demodulator where the modulator can convert digital signals to analog and the demodulator does the opposite.

Gateway

A gateway is a network device that allows to data to flow between two different networks which may use different protocols. It collects data that is to be sent from one computer, converts it into small packets and then sends them to another computer.

NETWORK TERMINOLOGIES

There are several terms related to computer network. Let us discuss some of them.

Server

A server is also called host computer. It controls the access to the hardware and software on the network. It provides a centralised storage area for the programs, data and information.

The server which performs a specific task is called a dedicated server.

The server which manages the printers and documents being printed is called the print server.

The server which stores and provides the access to a database is called a database server.

The server which manages the network traffic is called a network server.

The server which delivers the requested web pages to our computer is called a web server.

Client

It is a computer which depends on the server for all the resources. For example, a server might store a network version of Excel program. Every client on the network can access the Excel program from the server.

Internet

Internet is a global network of millions of computers and computer networks all over the world. It allows us to access and share information over the network. The Internet contains billions of web sites to provide information.

Intranet

A computer network that is used for sharing information, devices and other computing services only within an organisation is called Intranet.

URL

It stands for Uniform Resource Locater. It is the address of a website like www.google.com and www.rediffmail.com.

ISP

It stands for Internet Service Provider. It is a company that provides Internet access on payment of a monthly fee. Some of the ISPs are Airtel, Idea, BSNL, (Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited), MTNL (Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited.), Jio, etc.

IP Address

An Internet Protocol (IP) address is an unique identification number assigned to a computer connected to a network.

It has two main functions: host or network interface identification and location addressing. IP addresses are written and displayed in human-readable notations, such as 172.16.254.1.

DNS

Domain Name System (DNS) is a naming system for assigning a name to the computers, services, or other resources connected to the network. This name is known as domain name. For example, the domain name in the www.yahoo.co.in URL is yahoo.co.in. This domain name is internally converted into IP address.

Web page

A single digital page on the World Wide Web (WWW) that contains information and links of another pages is called a web page. Web pages are created by using the Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML).

Website

A website is a collection of web pages which are interlinked to each other. A website may contains thousands of web pages.

Web Portal

A website that is specifically designed to provide a single point of access for information is called web portal. Web portals are also known simply as portals. The major difference between a website and a web portal is that a portal works as a gateway to WWW and provides several services. On the other hand, a website may provides only some limited services.

Hypertext

The text that has a special feature of connecting one web page to another is called a hypertext.

Link

A link can be defined as a web address that is used to make connectivity between web pages.

Hyperlink

A hyperlink is simply a part of the Web page that is linked to a URL. A hyperlink can appear as text, an image, or a navigational tool such as a button or an arrow. When you click on a hyperlink, you will jump to the URL specified by the hyperlink. Hyperlinked text usually looks different from normal text in a Web page. It is often underlined, but can be formatted in a number of ways.

Bandwidth

The capability of a transmission medium to transmit the maximum amount of data from one computer to another over a computer network in a given amount of time is called bandwidth. A bandwidth is generally in bits per second (bps) or Bytes per second (Bps), Kilobytes per second (Kbps) and Megabytes per second (Mbps). There can be various types of bandwidths, which are network bandwidth, data bandwidth, or digital bandwidth.

Types of Networks

Networks can be classified on the basis of their size, complexity and the geographical area covered by them. Let us understand these categories in detail.

Personal Area Network (PAN)

PAN refers to the privately owned network. Pan is used to establish the communication amongst the computers within the range of 20 to 30 feet. This type of network can be wired or wireless.

Local Area Network (LAN)

LAN is a digital communication system that interconnects a larger number of computers and other peripheral devices within a radius of less than