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Basic Computer Basics. Computer Training for Elders. Who is this training for?. We make some assumptions about who you are: You are interested in using a computer for a few basic tasks (to begin with) You have not used computers extensively or recently (or at all) - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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Basic Computer BasicsComputer Training for Elders
We make some assumptions about who you are:◦You are interested in using a computer for a
few basic tasks (to begin with)◦You have not used computers extensively or
recently (or at all)◦You may have some changes in vision, hearing,
and movement that are common with aging
Who is this training for?
Computers are designed with many ways of doing almost anything.
Some “shortcuts” work in some places, but not in others.
For many, this can be confusing.
How Basic is Basic?
There is usually one way of doing things that will always work, no matter where you are.
That way is often not the shortest, fastest method, but it is consistent
This training will focus on that one way
How Basic is Basic?
If you already know a faster, shorter way, feel free to use it!
When you start thinking that there must be a shorter way to do something, that is when to ask◦Shortcuts often work in some places,
and not in others, so we will avoid them
How Basic is Basic?
Can you point to the one in the room?
Beginning at the beginning
Even if you are using an “all in one” or laptop computer, it has distinct parts
Let’s look at the parts of your computer one at a time, and see what they do.
Computers have Parts
“Input”◦Getting information into your computer
“Output”◦Getting information out of your computer
“Processor”◦What happens between input and output
Computer Parts
The Keyboard◦The keyboard is used to send language
to your computer. ◦The language can be as short as your
name when accessing your email◦It can be as long as your life story.
Input
The Computer Keyboard
The Keyboard is designed to look and act like a typewriter keyboard◦The pattern of letters and numbers is
very close to that of a typewriter
Input
◦If you learned to type on a typewriter, you should be right at home◦If you’ve never typed (and “not for
years” is the same as never), don’t worry about it. Your computer is patient.
Input
There are a few differences between a typewriter and a computer that you should know about.
A Computer Isn’t Quite a Typewriter
How they are different:
Typewriter Computer
When you press the spacebar, the paper moves over a bit, which separates words
If you want to type lots of numbers, you have to use the numbers above the letters
When you press the space bar, an invisible letter (called a space) is typed. Spaces can be of different sizes.
On some (but not all) computer keyboards, there is a numeric keypad on the right end
The Number pad
Typewriter keyboards include letters, numbers, and punctuation
How they are different
Computer keyboards include a set of extra keys that do special “computer” things
How they are different
On modern computers, you don’t have to remember obscure commands to make things happen.
Instead, your choices are presented as pictures (icons) or lists (menus), and you point to what you want.
Input – The Mouse
Of course, the computer doesn’t know where your finger is, so you have to use a device called a mouse to point.
When the mouse moves across your desk, a pointer called the mouse pointer moves on the screen of your computer.
Input – The Mouse
The Mouse
To move the mouse pointer, you slide the mouse across the desk.
The mouse has to be touching the desktop, or it can’t tell that it is moving. ◦Mice are very near sighted.
Input – The Mouse
The main part of the mouse is the “body.” Usually, the body is about the size of a bar of bath soap, and curved on the top.
Input – The Mouse
Your mouse may have buttons down the left side, which are intended to be pressed with your thumb.
Input – The Mouse
We won’t explore those buttons in this course, because what they do depends on the program you are using.
Input – The Mouse
If your computer does unexpected things when you are moving the mouse, you may be accidentally pressing one of these “side” buttons
Input – The Mouse
If that is happening, you can ask your computer service person to “turn off” the buttons
Input – The Mouse
When you use the mouse, you will rest your hand over the body, with your thumb along one side, and your little finger along the other.
If your mouse has a cord, you hold it with the cord end at your fingertips.
Input – The Mouse
On top of the mouse, you’ll see two buttons, and a “wheel”
Input – Mouse Buttons
When you hold the mouse, your index finger should lie on the “primary” button, which is usually the one on the left.
This is the mouse button you’ll use for most actions.
Input – Mouse Buttons
The right mouse button is sometimes used for special operations like changing the name of a file or getting details about a program.
Input – Mouse Buttons
Most of the time, there are other, more consistent ways of doing these functions.
Some people find, because of the changes of aging, that their index finger falls on the right button instead of the left
Input – Mouse Buttons
This can make using the computer confusing, because the behavior is inconsistent
If this happens to you, consider changing your mouse for a one-button type.
Input – Mouse Buttons
Between the mouse buttons, you will find a “wheel”
The wheel helps control what is shown on the screen
Input – The Scroll Wheel
When your computer is on, the background is an area called the “desktop.”◦Because early computers were
intended for office workers, the names are often similar to office equipment
Output – The Computer Screen
The Desktop
The desktop is the “work surface” of your computer◦A real desk wouldn’t work well if it were
stood on edge, so you should think of the top of the monitor as farther away from you. This will help when using the mouse to point to things
Output – The Computer Screen
Your computer’s desktop has, or will have, different “things” on it.
Icons – The “things” on the desktop
Some of these “things” are programs that help you get work done.
Icons – The “things” on the desktop
Some of the things are work you have done, or are working on
Some are controls.
Icons – The “things” on the desktop
Each thing is represented by a picture intended to remind you of what that thing is
These pictures are called “icons”
Icons – The “things” on the desktop
Some icons look like real objects. The “Recycle Bin” looks, and acts, like a waste basket
Icons – The “things” on the desktop
Other icons are like logos. Most program icons are logos
Icons – The “things” on the desktop
The “documents” you create using your computer often look like a piece of paper with a smaller version of the program icon that made it
Icons – The “things” on the desktop
In the bottom left corner of the screen, you should see a special icon called the “Start Button”
Icons – The Start Button
You use the “Start Button” to start many computer tasks
This includes starting to stop the computer!
Icons – The Start Button
Along the bottom edge of the screen, you should see a dark bar with some small icons on it.
This is the “Task Bar.” The Task Bar shows what your computer is working on.
The Task Bar
There are two special areas of the Task Bar
The Task Bar
On the left, you may see some small icons for various programs.
This is the “Quick Launch” area, where programs can be started by clicking on the mini-icons
The Task Bar
On the right, you may see a row of small, obscure icons
The Task Bar
This is the “System Tray,” which shows things that the computer is doing in the background
Some of these “things” are useful, but most can be ignored.
The Task Bar
When a program is running, it will place a “button” on the taskbar
Taskbar Icons
You can have more than one program running on your computer at a time, just as you can have your checkbook and the letter you are writing to your sister on your real desk
Taskbar Icons
You can jump between running programs by clicking on their buttons
Taskbar Icons
Somewhere on your screen, you should see an arrow
This is the mouse “pointer”
The Mouse Pointer
When you “point” to something on the screen, you do it with the mouse pointer
The Mouse Pointer
When you move the mouse on the desktop, you will see the mouse pointer move on the screen
The Mouse Pointer
When you move the pointer away from you onto the desk, the pointer moves up on the computer screen.
The Mouse Pointer
Pulling the mouse toward you moves the pointer down.
Moving the mouse right or left moves the pointer to the right or left.
The Mouse Pointer
The only part of the mouse pointer that matters (the “hot spot”) is the very tip of the arrow
The Mouse Pointer
If you are using a desktop computer, there will be a box that the keyboard and monitor connect to
The Processor
If you are using a laptop, this box is under the keyboard!
This box contains the parts of the computer that do the actual work
The Processor
Now, Let’s get started!Now that you know about the parts of the computer,
we can start to actually use it!