Understanding Computers, Smartphones and the Internet

Ernie Dainow

Jan 2016 · Ernie Dainow

About this ebook

Most introductory books about computers are long, detailed technical books such as those used in a computer science course or else tutorials that provide instructions on how to operate a computer with little description of what happens inside the machine.

This book fits in the large gap between these two extremes. It is for people who would like to understand how computers work, without having to learn a lot of technical details. Only the most important things about computers are covered. There is no math except some simple arithmetic. The only prerequisite is knowing how to use a web browser.

As an alternative or adjunct to reading the book, you can watch a series of short videos by going to youtube.com and searching for “Understanding Computers, Smartphones and the Internet”.

Only current day technology is covered. People who are interested in learning about how computers evolved from the earliest machines can read the companion book “A Concise History of Computers, Smartphones and the Internet”.

While originally intended for people who are not in the computer field, this book is also useful for those taking a coding course or an introductory computer science course. Even people already in the computer field will find things of interest in this book. 

Ratings and reviews

We are not safe online in the age of the internet folks. Those who introduced it to the world have been failing us which is a fact. We need a new kind of a mindset which will move us away from such danger to our daily lives.

This is an interesting book! The explanations that the author gives on various aspects of computing are clear and engaging. Definitely worth a read!

This is a nice book 📚 I got valuable information 😃

About the author

Ernie Dainow was fascinated with mathematics at an early age. In university he became more interested in how people think and he began graduate work in psychology. The possibilities of using computers to try to understand the brain by simulating learning and thinking became an exciting idea and he completed a Master's degree in Artificial Intelligence in Computer Science.

Ernie's interest in doing research shifted to an interest in building systems. He started working for Univac, the company that had built one of the first general purpose commercial computers. This began a long career in the computer field, working on large mainframe computers and then personal computers, doing software development for academic/scientific research, business and financial applications, data communications, computer hardware products and the Internet.

Ernie never lost his fascination with computers. After he retired he began writing to explain many of the interesting things he discovered over the years that are not well known outside of the computer field.