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Stuff Every Digital Tech Scout Should Know: the Study Guide

Practice facts for the Digital Technology merit badge. Not an official Scouting America credential. Grab a snack: this guide is the friendly version, with the answers explained and a groan-worthy joke waiting at the end of most cards.

Knowing Digital Tech Scout saves you money, time and the occasional embarrassment.

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Chapter 1: Computer Architecture

What is malware?

Short answer: Harmful software that can damage devices or data

Malware is harmful software designed to damage or steal from devices and data.

Groan of the day: Malware is bad software with bad intentions.

Sources: Scouting America: Digital Technology

What is information technology?

Short answer: Using computers and systems to handle information

IT is the study or use of computers and systems to create, process, store, and transmit information.

Groan of the day: IT handles information with care.

Sources: Information technology

What does an IT system include?

Short answer: Hardware, software, and peripheral equipment

An IT system includes hardware, software, and peripheral equipment used by a group of users.

Groan of the day: IT systems have all the right parts.

Sources: Information technology

What is XML known for?

Short answer: Being readable by both machines and humans

XML is a text based format that is both machine readable and human readable.

Groan of the day: XML speaks both machine and human.

Sources: Information technology

What is data mining?

Short answer: Finding patterns in large amounts of data

Data mining is the process of discovering interesting patterns and knowledge from large amounts of data.

Groan of the day: Data mining strikes pattern gold.

Sources: Information technology

What was the Ferranti Mark I?

Short answer: The first commercially available stored program computer

The Ferranti Mark I was the first commercially available stored program computer.

Groan of the day: Mark I made computer history.

Sources: Information technology

The cheat sheet

The whole guide on one screen. Screenshot it, print it, stick it on the fridge.

  • IT also covers other information distribution technologies such as television and telephones.
  • Successful IT projects need planning and maintenance to work well and match organizational goals.
  • Colossus was the first electronic digital computer built to decrypt German messages.
  • Transistors allowed a new generation of computers to be designed with greatly reduced power consumption.
  • Breakthroughs like the integrated circuit led to the development of the personal computer in the 1970s.
  • The magnetic drum, invented in 1932, was the earliest form of non-volatile computer storage.
  • IBM introduced the first hard disk drive in 1956 as part of its 305 RAMAC computer system.
  • Digitizing turns text, sound, and pictures into data a computer can store and process.
  • Lossy compression reduces file size by discarding some data, which is fine when slight quality loss is acceptable.
  • Lossless compression shrinks files without losing any original data, so nothing is thrown away.
  • A network connects computers and devices so they can share information and resources.
  • A local area network covers a small area like a home, while a wide area network spans large distances.

Pop quiz

Think of your answer first, then peek.

  1. Besides computers, what else does information technology include?
    • Television and telephones
    • Only paper notebooks
    • Only calculators
    Show the answer

    Television and telephones. IT also covers other information distribution technologies such as television and telephones.

  2. What is a computer network?
    • A type of printer
    • Devices connected to share data
    • A single unplugged computer
    Show the answer

    Devices connected to share data. A network connects computers and devices so they can share information and resources.

  3. What does a website's security certificate help you check?
    • How many visitors it has
    • Its favorite color
    • Whether the site's connection can be trusted
    Show the answer

    Whether the site's connection can be trusted. A security certificate helps you judge whether a site's secure connection can be trusted.

  4. What does an IT system include?
    • Hardware, software, and peripheral equipment
    • Only a keyboard
    • Only paper files
    Show the answer

    Hardware, software, and peripheral equipment. An IT system includes hardware, software, and peripheral equipment used by a group of users.

  5. What does an IT department manage?
    • Only the cafeteria
    • Computers, networks, and technical areas
    • Only the mailroom
    Show the answer

    Computers, networks, and technical areas. IT departments manage computers, networks, and other technical areas of a business.

Now make it stick

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