EXAMPLES OF COMPUTER USAGE

Every day, people around the world rely on different types of computers for a variety of applications. To illustrate the range of uses for computers, this section takes you on a visual and narrative tour of five categories of users:
•Home user
•Small office/home office (SOHO) user
•Mobile user
•Power user
•Large business user

Home User
In an increasing number of homes, the computer no longer is a convenience. Instead, it is a basic necessity. Each family member, or home user, spends time on the computer for different reasons that include budgeting and personal financial management, Web access, communications, and entertainment (Figure
 On the Internet, home users access a huge mount of information, conduct research, take college classes, pay bills, manage investments, shop, listen to the radio, watch movies, read books, play games, file taxes, book airline reser-vations, and make telephone calls. They also communicate with others around the world through e-mail, blogs, instant messaging, and chat rooms using personal computers, smart phones, and other mobile devices. Home users stare ideas, interests, photos, music, and videos on social networking Web sites, or online social networks. With a digital camera, home users take photos and then send the elec¬tronic images to others (Figure 1-29). Using a YUb cam, which costs less than $100, home users easily have live video calls with friends, family members, and others.
Many home users have a portable media player, so that they can download music or podcasts, and listen to the music and/or audio at a later time through earphones attached to the player. They also usually have one or more game consoles to play video games individu¬ally or with friends and family members.
Today's homes also typically have one or more desktop computers. Many home users network multiple desktop computers through-out the house, often wirelessly. These small networks allow family members to share an Internet connection and a printer.
To meet their needs, home users have a variety of software. They type letters, home-work assignments, and other documents with word processing software. Personal finance software helps the home user with personal finances, investments, and family budgets. Other software assists with preparing taxes,keeping a household inventory, setting up maintenance schedules, and protecting home computers against threats and unauthorized intrusions (read Ethics & Issues 1-4 for a related discussion).
Reference software, such as encyclopedias, medical dictionaries, or a road atlas, provides valuable information for everyone in the family. With entertainment software, the home user can play games, com-pose music, research genealogy, or create greeting cards. Educational software helps adults learn to speak a foreign language and youngsters to read, write, count, and spell.