AN INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTERS

THIS CLASS IS DESIGNED AS A BEGINNERS CLASS IN COMPUTING

OBJECTIVES
Learn Basic Computer Terminology Difference Between Hardware and Software Understanding Computer Components Basic Keyboard and Mouse Usage Proper Care For your PC

PREREQUISITES

There are no prerequisites.

DEFINITION
What is a Computer? computer Pronunciation key (km-pytr) n. A device that computes, especially a programmable electronic machine that performs high-speed mathematical or logical operations or that assembles, stores, correlates, or otherwise processes information. One who computes. (American Heritage Dictionary, 4th ed. Pub. 2000)

THE LANGUAGE OF COMPUTERS

Binary Numbers

Binary Numbers 1 of 3
Computers speak binary. Binary language consists of combinations of 1's and 0's that represent characters of other languages (in our case the English language). Dont make the mistake of thinking that little 1's and 0's are running around inside of the computer. We humans prefer to think of 1's and 0's because its easier than visualizing positive and negative current flows or open and closed circuits which is what actually happens inside computers. A combination of eight bits represents one character in our language. One character in our language (eight bits) is referred to as a byte. (For example: 01000001 is a byte that represents an uppercase A; each 1 or 0 is a bit.)

Binary Numbers 2 of 3
Kilobytes, Megabytes, and Gigabytes If you understand that a byte is one character in our language, youve got it made because: 1000 bytes = 1 kilobyte (1,000 characters = 1 kilobyte) 1,000,000 bytes = 1 megabyte (1,000,000 characters = 1 megabyte) 1,000,000,000 bytes = 1 gigabyte (1,000,000,000 characters = 1 gigabyte)

Binary Numbers 3 of 3
Disk Capacity Its important to know how large your files are because eventually you wont have enough space on your disk to hold more files. Knowing the total capacity of your disk, how much space is left on your disk, and how large the file is, you can make accurate decisions as to whether to save the file to the current disk, or save the file to a different diskette with more disk capacity.

THIS IS A FEW OF THE

DIFFERENT TYPES of COMPUTERS
Desk top
computer computer

Hand Held Computer

Lap Top computer

Tablet /Smartphone

DEFINITION

Hardware Vs. Software If you can touch it, its hardware

Examples of Hardware

Accessories ...

The Programs that are on the disks are software

Definition of User

Uses for a PC
Word Processing Desktop Publishing Database Management Spreadsheets Communication Finance Education Entertainment News and Information Doorstop

Tips for Beginners

Explore Your Computer Mistakes wont Kill You EDIT/ UNDO is your Friend Be persistent Apply what you Learn Dont try to learn too fast Walk away if you get frustrated Have Fun

Why Learn This Stuff?

Buying a PC Having Your PC Serviced Calling For Support Be able to talk to Friends & Grandchildren Its Fun

Hardware Overview

SYSTEM COMPONENTS CPU/PROCESSOR

The CPU refers to the microprocessor chip. Sometimes the Tower is called the CPU. Its speed is measured in Megahertz (MHZ) (Millions of cycles per second) or Gigahertz (GHZ) Billions of cycles per second.
(A cycle is the time required for the CPU to execute an instruction step).

SYSTEM COMPONENTS Ram Random Access Memory

Ram is the memory used by the computer to run programs. The amount of Ram available will determine how fast a program will run and how many windows can be open at one time. Ram memory is considered Volatile because it disappears when the power is turned off.

SYSTEM COMPONENTS Hard Drive

The Hard Drive is the computers main, long term storage. It is referred to as non-volatile storage, because it does not disappear when the power is turned off. The size of the Hard Drive is measured in Gigabytes. (Billions of Bytes).

RAM VERSUS HARD DRIVE

If we use the analogy of a desk: Then the work we are doing on the desk top would be using the RAM and the work we store in the file drawers would be on the HARD DRIVE.

SYSTEM COMPONENTS
Mother Board
(This is where most of the electronics is located).

SYSTEM COMPONENTS
Case
(Tower,Chassis,Box)

SYSTEM COMPONENTS
Modem (Modulator Demodulator).
(Used for internet access with phone line).

SYSTEM COMPONENTS
Power Supply 250 500 Watts DO NOT OPEN
(This is the power source that makes everything go).

SYSTEM COMPONENTS
Audio Card
This is the voice of your system).

SYSTEM COMPONENTS
Floppy Drive 1.44 MB
(This item is obsolete).

SYSTEM COMPONENTS
Network Card
(Used to connect to high speed internet access e.g. Cable or DSL lines).

SYSTEM COMPONENTS
Tape Drive Can store Gigabytes of data.

SYSTEM COMPONENTS
Video Card
(Provides visual images to the monitor. Also used in computer games, to provide additional memory for visual effects).

PERIPHERALS
Monitors CRT Vs LCD

PERIPHERALS
Printers
(Might be Ink Jet, Bubble Jet, Laser or whatever the manufacturers invent tomorrow).

PERIPHERALS
Video Cameras (Also called webcams)

POWER PROTECTION
Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) 280 VA 400 VA (Essentially a battery back-up in case of a power failure)

KEYBOARD
The Keyboard (This is the primary input device)

KEYBOARD
Alphanumeric Keys

KEYBOARD
Numeric Keypad

KEYBOARD
Enter (Return) Key

KEYBOARD
Spacebar

KEYBOARD
Modifier keys: CTRL, ALT, SHIFT

KEYBOARD
State keys: Caps, Scroll, Numlock

KEYBOARD
Windows keys

MOUSE
Holding the mouse Grip between thumb and ring finger (Right handed grip shown, Lefties use other hand)

MOUSE
Mouse Pointer

MOUSE
Left Clicking

MOUSE
Right clicking

MOUSE
Double clicking (Use the left side, Click twice)

MOUSE
Click and drag

MOUSE
Scroll wheel and optional buttons

SOFTWARE
Operating systems Applications Data

OPERATING SYSTEMS
MICROSOFT
MS-DOS Windows 95,98,Me,

Windows NT, 2000, Windows XP, Vista, Windows 7 Windows 8 Linux

Ubuntu, Pardus etc

APPLICATIONS
MS Word
(Your basic Word Processor)

APPLICATIONS
MS Excel
Your basic Spread Sheet)

APPLICATIONS
MS Power Point (For presentations)

APPLICATIONS
MS Outlook (Your desktop Personal Information Manager, (PIM))

APPLICATIONS
MS Internet Explorer, Firefox, Google Chrome (Your internet Browser)

APPLICATIONS
WordPerfect Lotus 1-2-3 QuickBooks CorelDraw HyperCam Photo Paint ETC. ETC.ETC. ETC. Adobe Acrobat Photoshop Notepad WinZip Media Player StarCraft
Ad Infinitum

DATA
Letters written using a word processor like MS WORD. Spread sheets designed in EXCEL. Presentations created in Power Point Music on a CD. Photos from your digital camera

COMPUTER CAVEATS
Beverages in open containers are EVIL.

COMPUTER CAVEATS
Magnets (They destroy Data on floppy drives and hard drives)

COMPUTER CAVEATS
Laser Printers and Power. Keep PC off the floor. When in doubt Reboot.

COMPUTER CAVEATS
Save your work often.

COMPUTER CAVEATS
Power Strips Use the Power buttons on the PC and peripherals.

COMPUTER CAVEATS
Proper handling of CDs OK to wash CDs in mild soapy water or get a CD cleaner (inexpensive)

COMPUTER CAVEATS
Dont push the CD tray in use the button.

COMPUTER CAVEATS
Dust Kills Its a good idea to blow the dust out of your computer regularly.

COMPUTER CAVEATS
STATIC KILLS! Get yourself an anti static strip or mat.

TIME FOR A STRETCH BREAK

TIME TO GET UP AND STRETCH CLEAN YOUR GLASSES GO POTTY IF YOU HAVE THE URGE LETS TAKE A TEN MINUTE BREAK

AN INTRODUCTION to WINDOWS XP
Windows 7 or later but just focus on the interface components ...

FILES AND FOLDERS

Keyboard command Ctrl-A Ctrl-B Ctrl-C or F3 Ctrl-F Ctrl-G Ctrl-H Ctrl-I Ctrl-M Ctrl-N Alt-N Ctrl-O Ctrl-P Ctrl-Q Ctrl-R Ctrl-TAB Ctrl-S Ctrl-U Ctrl-V Ctrl-X Ctrl-Z

Word Select entire document Bold Copy n/a Go to n/a Italics n/a New document n/a Open Print Quit n/a Save as Save Underline Paste Cut Undo

Access Select all Bold Copy Find n/a Replace text n/a n/a New document Create a new object Open Print Quit New record Display Page Save Query n/a Paste Cut Undo

Excel Select all Bold Copy Find n/a n/a n/a Format a number New document n/a Open Print Quit Fill Right Save as Save Underline Paste Cut Undo

PowerPoint Select all Bold Copy n/a n/a n/a Italics Add (create) slide New presentation n/a Open Print Quit n/a n/a Save Underline Text Paste text Cut Undo

Keyboard command F1 F7

Word Help Spell/grammar check

Access Help Spell check

Excel Help Spell check

PowerPoint Help Spell check

Ctrl-[ Ctrl-]

n/a n/a

n/a n/a

n/a n/a

Decrease font size Increase font size

Shortcuts when selecting text

Selection Task Select adjacent text Select a word Select a line Select a paragraph Select from the insertion point to the beginning or end of a paragraph Select an extended section Select a whole document Select from the insertion point to the beginning or end of a document Shortcut Click and drag over text Double click on the word Triple click on the line Click 4 times in the paragraph Press Shift-Option-Up arrow or Shift Option-Down arrow Click at one end of the section, then Shift-click at the other end Ctrl-A or triple click in selection area Press Shift-Ctrl-Home or ShiftCtrl-End

THE WIMP INTERFACE

WINDOWS ICONS MENUS POINTERS

WINDOWS

ICONS

MENUS

POINTERS (CURSORS)
I-beam cursor
(which follows the roll of the mouse)

Insertion point cursor

(Which flashes on and off, and is positioned using the I-beam cursor and a click of the mouse button) F letcher

BREAK POINT
Lets get some hands on experience Find the Windows key.
Bottom row second key from the left side. Press once, (this is the same as left clicking on the start button). Bring the cursor arrow over the All Programs Arrow head. Notice how the program files are displayed.

FIND MICROSOFT WORD

(LEFT CLICK)

Microsoft Word.lnk

Microsoft word

FIND EXCEL LEFT CLICK

Microsoft Excel.lnk

MICROSOFT EXCEL

FIND POWERPOINT

Microsoft PowerPoint.lnk

POWERPOINT

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