Computers for the Terrified

7/31/2019 Computers for the Terrified

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COMPUTERS FOR THE TERRIFIED Windows XP

Aims- to learn how to start, stop and make use of a computer, open programmes, save files, print files

- to introduce easy word-processing and provide a gentle introduction to the web

- to learn the basics of operating a computer through use of a mouse and common menus

- to cover some basics about email and using the Internet

You may fall into one of these two categories:

- UNINITIATED NOVICE: an absolute beginner who doesn't know their mouse from their elbow

- INTREPID EXPLORER: someone who wants to overcome a fear of computers, despite having had a go

This course caters forabsolute beginners with computers. If you feel like you are missing the train oftechnology but are too scared to buy a ticket, then come along and see if it is for you. If perhaps you havealready travelled the line a few times and simply want to be sure of which direction you are heading, then thiscourse is also for you. Computers fill us with awe and wonder, but also can scare us, even after a while. Wewill show you and guide you through the very basics and help you to create a basic letter, save and print it.You can also get a little taste of t'Internet and this thing called email t hat everyone is going on about.

This course is ideal for anyone who has not yet ventured near a keyboard, thinks mice only run in wheels andeat cheese, or who has forgotten everything they ever learnt. Computerphobics welcome - we will do ourbest to help you to leave free of the demons that haunt you! You never know, you might even consideranother computer course after this!

Introduction

Well done, you are reading this. That is the hard bit. We are taking gentle steps to put you on speakingterms with these funny boxes of tricks in front of you. They can amaze confuse you, and in return they can beused and abused. However, they can be useful as a tool for communication, retail therapy, personal interestand even for pleasure (if only to plan your holidays!).

Chances are this course will force you to think in a very structured and logical way, because that is the waycomputers operate. They follow instructions one by one, in the order they are given (unlike human beingsand, in my experience, dogs!). To get on with a computer, the user really has to tune in to the things oneneeds to ask of it, and in which order to do things.

This journey you have started may well just be the start of a rollercoaster ride. It may lead you to fulfilmentand expansion of your mind. At times it may challenge you - something new users are better preparingthemselves for. The rewards are there though - just be patient and take it steadily.

One last thing: Just because someone thinks they're pretty good at using a computer does not make them agood person to teach you. Just because a tutorial book costs 20 and is published by a firm you trust or likethe celebrity endorsing it do not mean they will work for you. The ONLY way of learning is throughEXPERIENCE. Many people forget things they are told once. This course repeats things again and againand those things it consolidates are the things you need to remember. Follow these things, remember theway of thinking we are advocating, and you shall have no problem in the future, because you will be thinking

in the rightway.

I bet you didn't anticipate such philosophy...

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a Parts of a computer you need to know - What the boxes, wires and buttons do

A Personal Computer (PC) consists of a processor that handles information presented to it by software.Usually a monitor, keyboard, and mouse are attached.

A computer in good health should bleep once when turned on. More bleeps indicate possible problems.When turned on, the computer usually checks it is OK then should look like it is on by showing you

something on the screen. It usually takes a couple of minutes for the computer to finally wake up fully.

The Keyboard

Based on the QWERTY typewriter keys but far more functional. You tap away on this to form words indocuments like letters and emails. Typing fast is a skill that can only be mastered over time. Believe it or not,with practice, your fingers will start to find the keys automatically. As you learn, you will do a lot of looking atthe keys, rather than the screen. Keyboards arent too fond of having beverages spilt on them even water.

Keys to get to know, apart from the LETTERS are:

Esc - Escapes a selection

F1 - F12 - Function keys, often used in certain programs as shortcuts.

Delete - erases whatever is highlighted or text to the right of the cursor

Backspace - erases text before the cursor

Number keys

Tab key - jumps the cursor a pre-defined number of spaces or into the next box or cell

Enter- orReturn, carriage return and also can replace the second click of the mouse

Shift keys (one of each side) - when pressed in combination with other keys, exploit the character printedabove the main label of the key

Ctrl - used as a key to combine for Windows Shortcuts

Fn - ditto (sometimes coloured to be used in combination with similar coloured keys)Alt ditto

Space Bar

Direction Keys (Page Up, Page Down etc) - useful to avoid scrolling on long or wide pages

The Mouse (or Trackpad if youre using a notebook/laptop)

This refers to the pointing device that seemingly bears some resemblance to a rodent. You move the mouseover a flat surface to move the pointer on the screen. On a laptop (notebook) computer, a trackpad orpointer nipple can provide mouse functionality. There are usually2 buttons on the mouse forselecting things as you point over them. Using a mouse is tricky it is all electronic, so accuracy ismore important than brute force. (Why do people press the keys on a remote control harder when the

batteries are flat?) Pressing harder on a mouse will make no difference at all. If you have troubleusing a mouse, try relaxing your grip (guide the mouse between your thumb and ring finger) andensuring yourindex fingerclicks cleanly on the left button. If you run out of room for the mouse, youcan lift it up and place it down in another place to give yourself some room (a bit like the action youuse when beating an egg soufle but just once!). Practice makes perfect!

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The Monitor

This is the telly thing in front of you the screen that shows you what the computer has on it. No-one hasgotten square eyes from using one, but obviously long durations of intense concentration can causetiredness. However, monitors are specially designed to be less luminescent than TVs. They also areclearer and designed to be viewed close-up, usually by one person sat directly in front.

A popular type of monitor these days is the flat screen (sometimes called TFT or LCD) monitor. These takeup less depth than a traditional (CRT) monitor and are available in widescreen permitting morewidth to watch DVD movies and even for work!

The monitor uses 99% of the power, by the way, and can usually be turned off when not needed, even if thecomputer stays on.

Some flatscreen TVs now have the capability of acting as computer monitors!

The Printer

Doesnt really need explaining what this does. Suffice to say it uses a supply of ink or toner that can cost a lotof money. Manufacturers make em cheap so they can flog you the consumables!

2 main types: inkjet and laser the latter still available in the cheaper to run black and white option.

The Wires (aka spaghetti)

Joining all the things together traditionally are cables and wires. These are safe to touch, but, as withanything close to electricity, liquids (including wet hands) should be kept well away. As a rule, plugcables in and out whilst the computer is off (although there are some special devices that aredesigned to be used whilst the computer is on, such as memory sticks and cards).

Other bits and pieces

Of course, there are numerous add-ons you can purchase to keep you computer company. Computers aremodular in other words, they are the sum of many parts. All these parts can be changed, renewed,

upgraded independently, so you can buy yourself a flat screen monitor or a wireless mouse/ keyboardwith flashing lights if you must. Other useful add-ons these days are USB memory sticks and flashcard readers (enabling transfer of information from computers and cameras etc.

Bells and Whistles

You dont need an all-singing, all-dancing set-up to do what we are covering on this course. Even new, abasic suitable set-up could cost you as little as 300 and will have a one-year warranty. Usedcomputers might be fine, as long as they have been properly fettled. Dont assume that the moresophisticated something appears, the better it is. Take proper advice before purchasing with anindependent mind and dont be seduced by pushy salespeople kidding you into something you arenot sure you need. You can always buy extras later on (usually cheaper as prices drop all the time!)

Useless info: The colours and design of casings and useless plastic embellishments are usually intended toappeal to specific people. Men, women, parents, managers, teenagers, children and even differentages of adults are targeted.

Should go without saying but...

You can use a computer without an internet connection. Obviously, email and web browsing require one!

There are many choices these days for such connection and its best to get advice to avoid wasting money.

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b What you see on the screen (when you've turned it on!) - The new 'Desktop' you have to get used toworking on

Youve turned it on! What youve got, in technical terms, is an Interface something you interact with to

control the computer. You can move your mouse around the screen over a coloured background that has aspecial name

The Desktop is the main bit of the screen, a background with pictures on it called 'Icons'. Each iconrepresents either a shortcut to a program or an area of yourcomputer disk which when double clickedwill open its respective function orfolder.

Common Icons already on the desktop are:

(My) Computer- Opens the top level folder showing all drives and folders present on your machine

(My) Documents - opens a older where you may keep your work

Internet Explorer- for browsing the Web

Recycle Bin - deleted items get stored here and can be finally deleted or restored to their original place

You may find other Icons present, depending on what software/ shortcuts you have installed.

Start Button is normally bottom left of the screen and when clicked on presents most of the various menuoptions below (going upwards):

Shutdown - the way to tuck up your computer properly

Help - opens a searchable database of files to help you with using Windows

Find - opens a dialogue where you can look for files

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Documents - displays a list of the most recently used files

Favourites - displays the list of favourites established by your Web Browser

Programs - leads to your installed software

Other items depend upon your setup.

The Taskbaris the bar at the bottom of your desktop (although it is drag-able to any edge of the screen)contains buttons of any open windows or programs on your PC. Clicking on any of these will toggle betweenopening and minimising the folder or program window.

Useless info: The metaphor of the 'desktop' is rather poor for most people. Most desks get cluttered anddisorganise, and it is only filing systems, storage pots and drawers that make a difference. Like real lifethough, there are many third-party solutions you can buy to enhance your 'desktop experience' - but considerhow much use they will really be.

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c How to use a mouse: Selecting, activating and clicking - Learning how to tell the computer what todo

On a Windows PC the mouse has 2 basic buttons, left and right.

Left-Clicking selects (one click to highlight a file or item or to execute a hyperlink) double-click to open afolder or to run an application.

Right-Clicking gives you access to other options for whatever you are clicking over. Don't worry about this atthis stage.

The mouse is your control tool, along with the keyboard. It is tricky to master, but ever so useful, as it enablesyou to select things you want.

The best way of practising the use of the mouse is to use the Internet, since it is a Point and Clickenvironment.

Useless info: A 'mouse' is called that because traditionally they have a wire connecting them to the computer,which look like a tail. The use of animal-related monikers in computers is common. Apple's latest OperatingSystem is called 'Snow Leopard', its previous three having been Tiger and Panther & Leopard. Microsoft,the makers of what we term Windows doesnt go for the animal monikers, preferring something altogether

less colourful: its new Operating System is called Windows 7, preceded by 'Vista' , XP. Oh, and the Interneis sometimes called 'the Web'.

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d How to control windows on the screen - Making things suit the way you want to work

Windows are holders for specific information, running programmes or open documents on your computer.They enable you to do more than one thing, but can confuse. Once you get used to them, you can begin to

see similarities between them and things that are common to them all.Windows open when a respective file orfolderis double-clicked. They can be resized by selecting anddragging the edges and can be maximised by double-clicking on the titlebaralong the top.

Each window should also contain a menu (labels from left to right such as 'File', 'Edit', 'View'. These lead tomenus specific to the folder or program open.

My Computer

This folder shows you what is on your machine. It usually contains the following top-level folders:

3Floppy (A:) - the floppy disk drive (takes standard 1.44 MB disks) (now very ancient)

(C:) - the second disk drive (usually your hard disk) on your system

(D:) - the third disk drive (Usually a CDROM/ DVD)

Extra disk drives are labelled with other letters.

For historical reasons, there is usually no (B:) Drive.

On an older Windows 95/98/ME machine, the My Computer folder might also have these elements inside it:

Printers - a folder containing information about any printers your machine prints to (Moved to the Start Menuin Windows XP)

Control Panel - a folder containing configurable options to adjust and modify (Moved to the Start Menu in

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Note theWindowcontrolbuttons top

right ofeveryWindow

Note also thebuttons foreach openWindow onthe Taskbar


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Windows XP)

Dial-Up Networking - a folder containing setup details of every dial-up connection (e.g. Internet ISPaccount) you have setup. (Moved to the Start Menu/ Control Panel and called Network Connections inWindows XP)

Toolbar Buttons

View=>Toolbar=>Standard Buttons. When this is selected, your buttons should appear at the top of yourwindow. Holding the mouse above a button should display its function if pressed.

Back - moves back to the last 'window' opened

Forward - the opposite

Up - takes you up a level in the file hierarchy

Cut - 'cuts' whatever is selected ready for moving

Copy - whatever is selected will stay where it is but will be copied wherever you paste it

Paste - inserts whatever is cut or copied wherever it is told to by the mouse

Undo - undoes the last action

Delete - if used whilst a file or folder is clicked on (selected), sends it to the Recycle Bin.

Properties - displays information about the selected file

Views a variety of settings to set how you view items in a window.

Other Window Controls

The Address Bar

If you turn on your'Address Bar' (View-Toolbars-Address Bar) the Address you type simply directs it to lookfor a particular document or place. You can type in an Internet address (e.g. www.bbc.co.uk). Note thetraditional use of forward slashes (/) in Internet Addresses buried deeper within sites.

Wherever you see a button with an 'X' on it, you will either delete something or close it. The top right of most

windows has one of these buttons, together with one to dock the window to the Taskbar(minimize) and oneto make it full screen (maximise).

It is possible to resize most windows by moving the pointer over the edge, left-clicking and holding anddragging. The bottom right corner allows both horizontal and vertical adjustments simultaneously.

Windows Key appears on PC keyboards (usually has a 'Window' logo on it). It is useful for certainShortcuts and on its own also brings up the Start Menu.

Useless info: Yes, that is why Microsoft called their Operating System "Windows" - ironically, the windowsidea was invented by their arch rival Apple.

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e Opening and closing a file - Telling a computer what you want to do

You 'double-click' (left-click twice) a mouse on a file you want to open. The file will open in the programme itwas created in. Usually a file icon will reflect the programme it will open in.

To close a file, you can just click the X at the top right of its window. If you have not saved any changes youhave made, the computer will ask you if you want to save the changes.

Notice that files you open are represented at the bottom of your screen asbuttons on yourTaskbar. Youcan click on them to tuck the windows away or make them appear.

You can have several windows (files or folders) open at once. You can tell which you are looking at bylooking at the Title Bar.

Useless info: When you close a file, if you haven't saved it in its current form, the computer will pop up awindow asking you if you want to save the changes. Many people think the computer is telling them off andget worried by this. All you need to do is click OK.

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f Creating your own file in a word processor: Saving a document - Creating something new for thecomputer to store

Lets keep it simple Sunshine. (KISS!)

Open the (Word-processing) programme you want to use.

e.g.

Start=>Programmes=>Microsoft Word

or

Start=>Programmes=>Accessories=>WordPad

Use File=>New to create a new document

Save the document when you want by using the File=>Save menu.

Make changes to the document (aka editing!) and use File=>Save to save any changes.

Close the document.

You should be able to find the document again in your'My Documents' folder.

Useless info: Modern computers have plenty of space to store your files. Most people only ever use amaximum 62% of their full storage capacity. Even then, some people just run out of space because they don'delete stuff they no longer need.

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You can openany

programmeusing theStart=>Programmes Menu.Hint: Use yourkeyboardarrows to goup, down &across.


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g Finding your document - Where to look and how to find it

It all comes down to your own self-organisation. Computers automatically direct you to a folder called 'MyDocuments' which is where you would expect to find...yep, you've guessed it, your documents. Complicatedisn't it?

When you save a file, saving it inside your My Documents folder means that you can find it again easily -

either opening it from within a programme such as your word processor, orsearching through the computergenerally using the File (Windows) Explorer.

You can usually always get to yourMy Documents folder via the Start Menu (Bottom left of your screen).

Useless info: Whatever you name your files, you can use up to 255 characters in a file name. That meansyou could have a file called:thisisaletteriamwritingtoallmyfamilyandiamgoingtoprintitout20timesandjustwriteintheirnamesatthetop.rtf

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h Writing a letter, formatting, saving and printing it - Basic word-processing skills and plenty ofpractice

Open WordPad and create a new file as before and save it with the name letter1.rtf.

You should have a blank page on your screen - like a piece of paper.

Type your (or a fictional) address, pressing ENTER after each line.

Press ENTER again after this.

Type a (fictional) address of a recipient, pressing ENTER after each line.


Type the date.


Type Dear ****,

Press ENTER

Type a few lines of a letter.

HOW TO MAKE CAPTIAL LETTERS: To make a capital letter, press one of the SHIFT keys as you type theletter.

CAPSLOCK actually 'locks' the keys to create capitals without needing to press SHIFT. You can cancelCAPSLOCK by pressing it again.

Now you should have the text of a letter. But we have not yet aligned it correctly. To do this, we select a lineand use the appropriate toolbarbutton to align it as we wish. For instance, your address should really

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Note thedifferentFONT sizesand positionon the page


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appear at the top right of the letter. So we click each line of it and right-align it with the toolbar button.

Notice how we got our text written first, before we worried about how it looks on the page. this is a usefultechnique to keep you concentrating on the job in hand.

Formatting is the art of making things look different. it is all a matter of taste and personal preference. Yourtutor will show you how to highlight text and then change its FONTstyle and size. This is tricky at first as it

involves doing 2 things with the mouse (clicking and dragging at the same time). AN alternative to selectingand dragging is using the double-click on a word or a triple-click on a whole paragraph. Persevere - it iswell worth it - Have patience!

If all this makes sense to you, then you might like to spread your wings a little and play with the Insert Menuin a more advanced word-processing packages such as Microsoft Word. This allows you to select a pictureof some type for insertion into a document.

All the time, consider exactly what you are asking the computer to do, use theUndo feature (Edit=>Undo...)if you want to go back a step and try again just for practice. If you fancy being really snazzy, you can undoactions using the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Z (That means hold down the Ctrl key bottom left of yourkeyboard and, whilst still holding it down, press the Z letter key). Dont be scared of keyboard shortcuts

the drop down menus at the top of you window tell you what ones you can use.

Useless info: Think about it. Word-processing is such an odd phrase, but it does describe the actions of thehuman brain when communicating. Philosophers would argue that the reverse is just as important: Can yourprocessed words be de-processed and understood?

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i A basic guide to getting started on the Internet - Finding out some news and weather

To get started, Open Internet Explorer(think about it how can you Open a programme?) and simply clickONCE in the Address barand type your selected web address.

Every single page has an address and you can POINT & CLICK on links on each page top get to otherareas of the website. (Look for the Pointy Hand!)

What Can I Do on tInternet?

Apply, browse, bank, book, communicate, control, deal, download, entertain, find, gather, incite, meet,purchase, request, research, update

www.bbc.co.uk

www.burtonmanor.com

www.easyjet.com

www.ebay.co.uk

www.guardian.co.uk

www.icchester.co.uk

www.johnlewis.com

www.transportdirect.info

www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk

www.imdb.com

www.theaa.com

www.upmystreet.co.uk

www.wikipedia.org

www.howstuffworks.com

www.multimap.comSearching if you dont know where to look

www.google.co.uk www.yahoo.co.uk

Sites like these have a box where you type specific words you want to search for. Try to be specific andthink through what to use. Words like dogs and hats are too general, but dog grooming service leedsuk and hat shops in Monaco will yield better, more narrowed-down results.

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When youmove yourmouse over alink, the arrowturns to apointy hand.Left-Click, andyou willdownload the

page youclicked the linkof.


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j Turning your computer off safely and treating it properly - After a review of the whole courseand questions and answers

Modern computers allow you to turn your computer off by using themain button on the case. This willusually turn it on or off.

YourStart button on your screen (usually bottom left) also has a Shutdown orTurn off computer

menu option if you want to use your mouse.

Computers are usually happy to be left on and will go to sleep happily after a while. Nudging yourmouse or clicking a key wakes them up.

Indeed, test show that a computer left on all the time (but being able to go to sleep/ standby) will tend tohave a longer lifespan than one that has been started up and shutdown regularly. Cars are like this aswell, a 80,000 mile motorway-driven saloon can be in better engine-condition than a 10,000 mile toddleto the shops down the road car. However, environmental concerns might have a bearing on yourbehaviour in this respect. Simply shutting off the monitor can save up to 99% of your power.

Having a computer set up properly for your use is an advantage well worth pursuing. This includeshaving the right software and making sure it is properly set up to work with the things you want andneed. Also important are anti-virus software and intruder protection software (firewall) that workproperly and do their job properly.

To use tInternet, you will need a connection to the net. This usually costs money and can be done via anetwork, phoneline (called dial-up), broadband, satellite ormobile phone. Find out about theoptions before you dive in whats right for one isnt right for another. Bear in mind you can usetInternet at your local library, college, even in a special public callbox or over a posh caf latte. Today,people are being attracted by deals to combine internet broadband use with telephone, satellite TV andseven shopping store cards. There is no easy answer as to which is the best deal it depends uponyour individual circumstances.

Useless info: Computers are everywhere: cashpoints, ticket machines, checkouts, video & DVDplayers, cars, telephones. Home computers tend to be designed as 'hybrids', offering all things to allpeople. Jacks of all trades? Possibly.

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Fare Thee WellFare Thee Well

My friend, thou hast nowMy friend, thou hast now

transgressed the threshold oftransgressed the threshold ofdigital technology awareness.digital technology awareness.

Keep thy head and take thingsKeep thy head and take thingsgently.gently.

View a computer as a tool that canView a computer as a tool that canserve thee well, as long as thouserve thee well, as long as thou

givest time and patience enough togivest time and patience enough toget used to it.get used to it.

Tryest not to do everything at once,Tryest not to do everything at once,but plan the task in hand and thoubut plan the task in hand and thou

willst have time to do what thouwillst have time to do what thouwantest to do.wantest to do.

Rememberest though also thatRememberest though also thatother such technological advancesother such technological advancessuch as pencil and phone can alsosuch as pencil and phone can also

be useful alternatives - andbe useful alternatives - andsometimes better.sometimes better.

Tread thee carefully the path of on-Tread thee carefully the path of on-line holidays, shopping and tradingline holidays, shopping and trading- remember the advice - (paddlest- remember the advice - (paddlestthee not without thy wellies!) andthee not without thy wellies!) and

thou shouldst end up reapingthou shouldst end up reapingrewards for any investment thourewards for any investment thoumakest - both in money and time.makest - both in money and time.

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