ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of key concepts covered in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book explores an interesting and thought-provoking way to gain general knowledge about modern computing. Concepts and techniques in computing inspire computational thinking (CT). This approach can provide a deeper understanding of the computing concepts as well as reveal analytical abilities that apply well beyond computing. While presenting the hardware, software, data representation, algorithm, systems, security, networking, the Web, and other aspects of computing, the book highlights widely applicable concepts and mental skills in CT call-out boxes and explains how/where they can be applied in real life. When considering, analyzing, designing, formulating, or devising a solution/answer to some specific problem, computizing becomes an important additional dimension of deliberation. The computer science community, with active encouragement from the professional societies, believes CT should be introduced into the academic curriculum, especially at the undergraduate level.
