Centers & Institutes North Carolina Institute for Public Health Certificate education Certificate in Core Public Health Concepts Technical requirements | Core Certificate: Technical Requirements |
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It is imperative that your hardware
and software meet these requirements. Our recommended hardware and software guidelines are listed below. If your system does not match these guidelines exactly, you are still welcome to consider taking an online course. If you are pretty far off from these guidelines, however, you may want to consider upgrading the necessary components to avoid possible problems. Please Note: If at any point you need to download new applications, or updates, we will provide links for those downloads so you can install them immediately. Because most installations require you to restart your computer, bookmark this page before you install any of the plug- ins. A note for Mac users: Online course technology is optimized for PC's with Windows operating systems. You are welcome to take an online course with a Mac, but you are more likely to have complications. If you are using a Mac, you must have the Windows Office Suite applications, especially Microsoft Word, Excel, and Powerpoint. Most courses will use these applications often. Hardware Requirements1 GHz
processor or better Software RequirementsMicrosoft Office Suite. It is essential to have Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel and Microsoft PowerPoint products. Most professors will be using all these applications. Students will need to both be able to open the associated file types and complete the assignments using these applications. Internet
Explorer 5.0 or higher and/or You must have e-mail that sends messages over the Internet and can include file attachments. Internet Service Providers Internet Service Providers, or ISPs, allow you to access the internet from your home computer, through a modem or cable connection. We have noticed over the years that some ISPs work better with online courses than others. One important factor is whether an ISP uses a standard Netscape or Internet Explorer browser, or whether it uses a modified version of one of these, or its own proprietary browser. ISPs that use the latter (AOL is a good example), are not likely to work as well with online courses. Another important factor in choosing an ISP is the reliability and speed of the connection it offers. Computer RecommendationsInk-jet printer (Laser printers are
sometimes desirable unless you want color) A Note On Buying A New Computer If you are considering buying a new computer, just about any current model offered from a well-known brand should meet our minimum system guidelines. We recommend checking out Dell or IBM first. Even the least expensive models should work fine for an online course, but remember you might have to buy additional equipment and services, like software, a printer, or internet access. Skills Test This skills test will test to see if you have the basic system requirements, plug-ins, and skills to take an online course at the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health. Don't worry, you can go through the test as many times as you like, and we will offer a good deal of help along the way, through both text help links and flash demonstrations. Plug-ins Test The plug-ins test will check to see if you have the appropriate plug-ins. Plug-ins are programs that work in connection with your web browser, to display information, such as sound, video, or animation that the web browser cannot handle directly. There are three plug-ins used by most online courses that it is necessary to have: the Adobe Reader plug-in, the RealPlayer plug-in, and the Flash plug-in. Each of these are available free from the internet. The next three pages will test to make sure you have the three appropriate plug-ins. For each plug-in test you will receive a congratulations message if you have the plug-in. If you do not receive a congratulations message on each page, please download the appropriate plug-in(s). Please Note: If at any point you need to download new applications, or updates, we will provide links for those downloads so you can install them immediately. Because most installations require you to restart your computer, bookmark this page before you install any of the plug-ins. Some definitions PC -- personal computer Mhz -- megahertz, the number of operations your central processing unit makes each second, in millions CPU -- central processing unit, the real brains of the computer. bytes -- characters (letters and numbers) Mb -- megabytes, millions of bytes. Gb -- gigabytes, billions of bytes. Kbps -- kilobits per second, often mistakenly referred to as kilobaud. Thousands of bits per second. bits -- strings ones or zeros, the real language of your computer, every eight bits makeup one byte SVGA -- super video graphics adapter CD-ROM -- compact disk, read-only memory. 2x, 8x, 16x -- just the number of times faster a CD-ROM drive spins than the CD in your stereo. xDSL -- an acronym for Digital Subscriber Line (the "x" is a technical term and means "some sort of." It's a special phone connection that allows you to gain access to the Internet at very high speeds (128Kbps or more) while still being able to make and take regular phone calls on a single line. It currently costs more than a regular phone line. Operating systems My suggestion in a situation of rapid change where you are spending your own money is try to find the latest and greatest of whatever you are interested in and then buy something that is a little older. Chances are that it has had most of the bugs worked out. Often computer manufacturers put a compressed version of the operating system source files on the computer itself, so if you buy a new modem or other such device the system has all the new software it needs to make it work--right inside the computer box. Windows 2000 or Windows XP are both stable platforms that are well suited for home use (meaning that they were designed for work and play). Where to buy If you have a local dealer that's been around for a few years, and you trust they will be around for a few more, that's the best solution. Unfortunately, the profit margins on hardware are very slim and big retailers usually have the best prices, but often not the best service. Try to avoid the cheapest available system. Some manufacturers have online stores that are worth a look. Remember, this is really a complex piece of technology so getting all these parts to live harmoniously is not easy. Even we get a system with a problem every once in a while. For students who are enrolled at least half-time in a for-credit degree program, UNC has a special arrangement with a major manufacturer to purchase desktop and laptop computers called the Carolina Computing Initiative. While they may cost more than comparable models, they come with a raft of pre-loaded software and a very good warranty. How long will it last? Change is inevitable when speaking of technology. I don't think it's really a conspiracy, but rather like a force of nature. Human inventiveness is being propelled by our creativity and the need to make a living in a world with more people every year. In the short run you can't really control it, but you can learn to ride the wave. For computers, think in terms of a three-year life cycle. However powerful a system you buy now, it will be a candidate for retirement in three years. I'm not saying that it will no longer be useful, but it will be as useful as the system you are considering replacing now. I have a computer, but it's getting old. Should I upgrade right now? If you decide to get a new system and discard the old one, plan to do it when you know you won't need either one. Just before exams--to pick a time at random--might not be best. Also plan to have both the old and new systems running for a few days at the same times while you transfer files and check to see that all the things and connections that worked on the old system work on the new one as well. Be sure to check your email and browser to see that they work exactly the same way with the same usernames and passwords.
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| Last updated August 25, 2008 |
