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INFORMATION PROCESSING

PARTS OF A PERSONAL COMPUTER

KEYBOARDING AND MOUSE SKILLS

LEARNING ICT WITH TOOLS

THE INTERNET AND WORLD WIDE WEB

LAUNCHING AN APPLICATION

WINDOWS MANAGEMENT

COPYRIGHT ETHICS

WORD PROCESSING

USING THE DRAWING TOOLBAR

INTRODUCTION TO SPREAD SHEET

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INFORMATION PROCESSING

Information has become a very integral part of everyday living. This is largely due to the fact that we live in the information age. Today, one cannot exist without giving any consideration to information. Everyone interacts with information based devices either on a professional or personal level daily.

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INFORMATION PROCESSING

The information processing cycle (IPC) involves a series of stages undertaken to transform data into information.

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INFORMATION PROCESSING

Data can be defined as “raw material” or unorganized facts. Data can be categorized under various types, including numbers, words or symbols. Data can be obtained in a number of ways, from either primary (internal) sources or secondary (external) sources.

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INFORMATION PROCESSING

Primary sources of data are facts obtained first hand usually through interviews, questionnaires and surveys.

Secondary data are facts collected or created by someone other than the one who needs the data. (Acquisition stage)

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INFORMATION PROCESSING

Information can be defined as processed data that has passed through the information processing cycle.

This information is known to be a collection of data organized in such a way that it has additional value.

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INFORMATION PROCESSING

The information processing cycle (IPC) is defined as the steps that data must follow to become useful or meaningful. The three primary stages of the information processing cycle. These are the input of data, processing of data into information and output of information. Others may include ; distribution and archiving.

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INFORMATION PROCESSING

At this stage of the cycle, data is required through various methods as discussed earlier. After acquiring the data at this stage, it is then put into a recognizable format that can be processed by the computer. The common devices used to enter the data into the computer include the computer mouse, keyboard and scanner.

INPUT OF DATA

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INFORMATION PROCESSING

This is the stage where the data is manipulated into information. By processing data into information, the data is edited, added to or removed from or transform the unorganized facts into something meaningful and useful to the user. The device used to change data into information the central processing unit of the computer.

PROCESSING DATA

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INFORMATION PROCESSING

There are numerous central processing unit chips on the market. These include AMD processor, Intel’s Pentium I-V series, Celeron series and Pentium M and D processors.

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INFORMATION PROCESSING

This is the last major part of the information processing cycle. At this stage, the processed data is displayed as information. At this stage, the organized data, known as information is produced in a form that can be used by the computer user. Just as data comes in many different forms, so does the way information can be displayed. It can be displayed as either printed text on a sheet of paper or displayed on a computer monitor.

OUTPUT OF INFORMATION

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INFORMATION PROCESSING

The devices that aid in the output of information include the computer monitor, printer and speakers.

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INFORMATION PROCESSING

The computer is capable of transforming data into information using the information processing cycle. For the computer to complete the information processing cycle, the various devices that make up the computer system must be brought together to work effectively. The computer system refers to a complete computer setup that includes the keyboard, mouse, system unit and monitor.

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INFORMATION PROCESSING

The computer transforms data into information by receiving input from the keyboard or mouse. The keyboard or mouse converts data from human language to machine language which the computer will understand and then sends it to the system unit for processing.

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INFORMATION PROCESSING

Depending on the speed of the processor, the data is worked on in several ways to make it useful and relevant to the one in need of the information. The computer processor inside of the system unit works very fast in converting the data into information within a matter of milliseconds to display the information on the monitor.

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PARTS OF A PERSONAL COMPUTER

The personal computer is a system consisting of many components. These components come together to make the personal computer function efficiently. In this session, we shall examine in great depth, the major components of the personal computer and identify how each component influences the operation of the personal computer.

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PARTS OF A PERSONAL COMPUTER

The main components of a personal computer can be grouped in two. These are:

• Hardware • Software

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PARTS OF A PERSONAL COMPUTER

Hardware can be defined as the physical components of a personal computer. This refers to the parts of the computer that you can actually see and touch (tangible parts).

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PARTS OF A PERSONAL COMPUTER

The common computer hardware that most people encounter includes the monitor, mouse, keyboard and system unit.

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PARTS OF A PERSONAL COMPUTER

Software is also known as programs. Software or programs can be defined as the instructions that tell the computer how to perform a task in order to process data into information. In most cases, the terms software and programs are used interchangeably.

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PARTS OF A PERSONAL COMPUTER

The main hardware components of the personal computer can be identified as :

• System unit• Monitor• Keyboard• Mouse

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PARTS OF A PERSONAL COMPUTER

The system unit is one of the most important components of the personal computer. It is normally a rectangular box that sits flat on the computer table (desktop system unit) or stands either on or under the table (tower system unit).

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PARTS OF A PERSONAL COMPUTER

The system unit contains the central processing unit (CPU), a small device that carries out all the operations that go on within the computer setup. In fact, it is normally considered as the “brain” of the computer.

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PARTS OF A PERSONAL COMPUTER

In addition to the CPU, the system unit also houses the computer’s main storage device, the hard disk, which stores all the information that is created by the computer. It also contains other storage devices like the read-only-memory (ROM) and random access memory (RAM). The system unit also contains the power supply, motherboard, expansion slots, ports, floppy disk drive and compact disk drive.

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PARTS OF A PERSONAL COMPUTER

The monitor or visual display unit (VDU) is the screen that displays what is happening inside the computer to the user. There are two types of

monitors• Cathode ray tube (CRT)• Flat panel/LCD

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PARTS OF A PERSONAL COMPUTER

The cathode ray tube monitor is bulky and occupies a lot of space.

Due to this, it is usually heavy and consumes a lot of electricity.

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PARTS OF A PERSONAL COMPUTER

The flat panel monitor is slim and flat in nature. It therefore takes up little space and consumes less electricity. It is also believed that the flat panel monitor emits less radiation than the cathode ray tube. Due to the advantages offered by the flat panel, the cathode ray tube is rapidly being replaced by the flat panel monitor.

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PARTS OF A PERSONAL COMPUTER

The keyboard is used to send information to the computer. It resembles the typewriter but has more keys that instruct the computer to perform certain operations. The common computer keyboard is known as the QWERTY keyboard due to the arrangement of the first six alphabetic keys on the first row of the keyboard.

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PARTS OF A PERSONAL COMPUTER

Computer keyboards have different kinds of keys. These keys can be grouped into four.

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PARTS OF A PERSONAL COMPUTER

Typewriter keys: These are keys that resemble the regular letters, numbers and punctuation marks on a traditional typewriter.

Function keys: There are keys on the keyboard labeled F1, F2 up to F12. These are known as function keys. They are usually found at the top of the keyboard. These keys are special keys that are programmed for tasks that occur repeatedly.

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PARTS OF A PERSONAL COMPUTER

Numeric keys: The numeric keys are marked from 0-9. Numeric keys are used for tasks that involve numbers. These keys are very useful when you are performing calculations.

Special purpose and cursor control keys: When you take a look at the computer keyboard, you will notice that certain keys have inscriptions such as Esc(which stands for Escape), Ctrl (which stands for Control), Del (which stands for Delete) and Ins (which stands for Insert).

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PARTS OF A PERSONAL COMPUTER

The mouse is another component of the personal computer system. It is aptly referred to as a mouse because it resembles the animal, mouse. The computer mouse is used as a pointing device that is used to select and point to objects and commands on the computer screen.

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PARTS OF A PERSONAL COMPUTER

When the computer user moves the computer mouse on the desktop, the arrow, also known as the mouse pointer, moves in the corresponding direction.

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PARTS OF A PERSONAL COMPUTER

It has a minimum of two buttons which are used to execute operations on the computer screen. The buttons are named according to their positions on the mouse. There is the left mouse button and the right mouse button. Each has a particular function.

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PARTS OF A PERSONAL COMPUTER

At the bottom of the mouse is the mouse ball. This ball moves every time you move the mouse.

The ball works along with a number of wheels found inside the mouse to send signals to the mouse pointer on how to respond to the mouse movement.

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PARTS OF A PERSONAL COMPUTER

Computer software or programs can be grouped in two categories based on their function. These are:

• Application software

• System software

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PARTS OF A PERSONAL COMPUTER

Application software or end user software can be defined as the set of instructions that are designed to solve a particular problem, perform useful work or provide entertainment. Application software can be thought of as the things people use on their computers to get work done, learn or get entertained.

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PARTS OF A PERSONAL COMPUTER

Application software can be grouped in two. These are:

• Custom-made software

• Packaged software

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PARTS OF A PERSONAL COMPUTER

Custom-made software is application software that is designed for a particular customer to satisfy a specific need. This type of software cannot be bought from any shop like any other type of software.

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PARTS OF A PERSONAL COMPUTER

Unlike custom-made software, packaged software is application software is software that is designed to be sold to the general public. Packaged software is produced in large quantities, with a general purpose function in mind. It is not specific in nature and can be adapted by end users to satisfy certain needs.

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PARTS OF A PERSONAL COMPUTER

System software can be defined as the set of instructions that control the allocation and usage of the personal computer’s hardware resources as well as enabling the installation and running of application software on the computer. System software instructs the computer hardware on how to perform.

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PARTS OF A PERSONAL COMPUTER

The Operating System is a large software made up of smaller ones that control how the central processing unit communicates with other hardware components of the personal computer. The Operating System is responsible for all the basic operations of the personal computer. The personal computer will not function without an Operating System.

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PARTS OF A PERSONAL COMPUTER

The primary function of the Operating System is to conduct the operation of the basic input and output devices. The Operating System keeps track of all the input and output devices attached to the computer system. It also co-ordinates all the activities of the personal computer hardware components.

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PARTS OF A PERSONAL COMPUTER

The Operating System makes the personal computer easier to use by providing a platform where the computer user can interact with the various hardware components of the computer. This platform is known as the user interface. The common user interface is the graphical user interface which allows you to interact with the computer through the use of images and menus.

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PARTS OF A PERSONAL COMPUTER

Generally, application software is used for:

• Word processing: This involves producing neatly typed and well formatted documents. Common application software that can be used for word processing including Microsoft Word, Word Pad and Word Perfect.

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PARTS OF A PERSONAL COMPUTER

Software can be used for analysing and summarizing numerical data: Software that performs this function is usually known as spreadsheet programs. These programs are used to gather numerical data which can then be processed into useful information of any kind. These programs can present numerical data in tables as well as charts. They can be used for record keeping or making future financial decisions. Examples of spreadsheets programs are Microsoft Excel, Lotus 1-2-3 and Quattro Pro.

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PARTS OF A PERSONAL COMPUTER

Software can be used for database management: There are computer software that are used to organize and manage data. They are often called database software. This type of software is useful for recording huge amounts of data and organizing them properly for the convenience of the computer user. An example of database software is Microsoft Access.

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PARTS OF A PERSONAL COMPUTER

Software can be used for communication: Certain computer software provide the platform for transmitting and receiving information. This can either be in the form of sending and receiving electronic mail, popularly known as e-mail, making phone calls, sending text messages or having a video conversation. The software used for these purposes include, Yahoo messenger and Hotmail MSN messenger.

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PARTS OF A PERSONAL COMPUTER

Software can be used for graphic presentation of data: This usually involves software that allows the computer user to manipulate both text and images to produce designs that can be used for books, posters, clothes and many other things. Graphic software includes Corel Draw, Paint Shop Pro Photo, Freehand and In Design.

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PARTS OF A PERSONAL COMPUTER

Software can be used for educational development: Certain software are created to assist people to acquire knowledge and excel in their chosen field of endeavour. There are a host of educational software that can either serve as reference material in the form of encyclopedias, dictionaries and atlases to training manuals that teach English, Mathematics, Physics etc. A good example of educational software is Microsoft Encarta or Encyclopedia Britannica.

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PARTS OF A PERSONAL COMPUTER

Software can be used for entertainment: This is another key function of software on most computer systems. The entertainment provided can be either in the form of playing music, movies or computer games. The software market is usually saturated with entertainment software. For listening to music, the common software include, Microsoft Media player, WinAmp or Jet Audio. For viewing movies, the common examples of software are Cyberlink Power DVD, VLC or BS player. In the field of games, the examples are limitless. They include EA sports FIFA football, Need for Speed, Age of Empires, Solitaire and so on.

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LEARNING WITH ICT TOOLS

The ICT revolution has come a long way in empowering humans. The help and support of ICT tools has made this revolution possible and this accounts for why each home around the globe posses at least one ICT tool. ICT tools tend to have multiple uses, depending on the needs and requirements of the user, and as students, it is only logical to investigate how ICT tools can facilitate education and learning.

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HEALTH AND SAFETY IN USING ICT TOOLS

The field of learning is large and complex, yet ICT tools have proved very helpful when it comes to the following:

• Accessing information• Sharing ideas• Computing

calculations• Processing and

displaying images• Storing information

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HEALTH AND SAFETY IN USING ICT TOOLS

The computer, television and the radio take the lead in making information easily accessible to people of all walks of life. For students, it is particularly useful since this sometimes comes at little or no cost. Radio and television programs provide important educational information to students who tune in at the right time to either listen or watch. The programs are designed either as documentaries, reports or even quiz shows to provide information.

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HEALTH AND SAFETY IN USING ICT TOOLS

With the help of the telephone or mobile phone, students can communicate more easily and share ideas. Teachers can also use ICT tool like the computers email or internet service to discuss new approaches to teaching certain subjects or discuss new developments in certain topics. In addition to this people with certain disabilities can take the opportunity provided by ICT tools to learn.

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HEALTH AND SAFETY IN USING ICT TOOLS

It is easy to ignore the calculator as an ICT tool, but it plays an integral role in processing data to information. The calculator and computer can make computing calculations very easy for students.

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HEALTH AND SAFETY IN USING ICT TOOLS

Today, students and teachers alike can make use of illustrations, images and videos due to the availability of the digital camera, projector and computer storage media.

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HEALTH AND SAFETY IN USING ICT TOOLS

Storing information on storage devices has eliminated the age old practice of passing information by word of mouth. ICT has equipped students with the technology to collect and store large amounts of data and information.

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COPYRIGHT ETHICS

Copyright is a term generally used by people in every part of the world to describe the rights that can be exercised by the author of a book. Usually, when people think of copyright, they think of the laws that protect a book from being published.

Copyright though is much bigger than books and very widespread. The history of copyright goes as far back as the 17th Century and the law has been revised over the years to meet the changes that have occurred in human history.

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COPYRIGHT ETHICS

Copyright is a legal concept adopted by many countries to give the creator of an original work exclusive rights to the work, usually for a limited time. Generally, it is "the right to copy", but it also gives the copyright holder the right to be credited for the work, to determine who may adapt the work to other forms, who may perform the work, who may financially benefit from it, and other, related rights. It is a form of intellectual property applicable to any form of an idea that can be expressed in a substantive way.

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COPYRIGHT ETHICS

The Statute of Anne was the first real copyright act, and gave book publishers rights for a fixed period, after which the copyright expired. Copyright has grown from a legal concept regulating copying rights in the publishing of books and maps to one with a significant effect on nearly every modern technology, covering such items as sound recordings, films, photographs, software, and architectural works.

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COPYRIGHT ETHICS

Copyright aims to promote the creation of new works by giving creators, inventors and authors permission to control and profit from their works. Copyright laws have been standardized through international conventions such as the Berne Convention and Universal Copyright Convention and Ghana has signed on to these conventions.

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COPYRIGHT ETHICS

Most computer programs including games, videos and music are covered by copyright and the owner or user of these programs is required to comply with the instructions that come with it. Some copyright licenses allow users to install programs on more than one computer whereas others do not. If you do not comply with such instructions, you would be in infringement of copyright laws.

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COPYRIGHT ETHICS

Copyright infringement is the term used to describe the act of breaking copyright rules and regulations. This may include making illegal copies of software. Many people are in the habit of making duplicate copies of software such as the Windows XP operating system, MS-Word or MS-Excel for their friends instead of encouraging them to buy it from an authorized dealer.

Others actually reproduce the software, music and video, then sell them at a cheaper price without the permission of the creator of the product. This is known as piracy.

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COPYRIGHT ETHICS

Copyright is primarily designed to protect the works of people. The idea behind copyright is to ensure that nobody copies the work of another person to make profit or gain.

Copyright also ensures the following

• Makes sure people are properly rewarded for their

hardwork in creating new products

• Ensures healthy competition, since people areforced

to create new products without having to copy

already existing ones

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COPYRIGHT ETHICS

In Ghana, the copyright law (PNDC Law 110) of March 21, 1985 provides protection to authors for the list of protected works under section 2 of the Law for a period of the life of the author and 50 years after his death.

The Law also provides for the protection of sound recordings and folklore and the establishment of a system of collective administration of authors rights.

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COPYRIGHT ETHICS

The Law also establishes a Copyright Office and provides criminal sanctions for the infringement of copyright. However, technological changes, new international obligations and the need for enhanced enforcement provisions to be added to the law has led to the drafting of a new Copyright Bill.

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COPYRIGHT ETHICS

Other laws similar to copyright laws like the Patent and Trade mark laws prevent people from making duplicates of computer hardware. It can therefore be argued that the country has sufficient laws to ensure that people behave in an ethically acceptable manner when using ICTs.

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COPYRIGHT ETHICS

The copyright laws of Ghana have strict penalties for those who break the law. There are basically two types of penalties or sanctions that can be applied to those who break copyright laws. These are imprisonment and fines.

In addition to the imprisonment and fines, copyright infringement also retards progress, discourages people creating and inventing new things and also denies individuals and organisations funds they need to create new and better products.

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COPYRIGHT ETHICS

Copyright infringement also causes the prices of goods to rise. It cost so much to produce these goods but only few people buy the genuine product due to the counterfeits that are made by copyright offenders. Thus, the company is forced to sell its products at a high price always, in order to make some profit to keep them in business, where as the copyright offenders make all the money and fail to make proper use of it.

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THE INTERNET AND WORLD WIDE WEB

In recent times, the internet and World Wide Web have been used as a major tool in the search for information as well as communicating with others. All over the world, people are working hard to get access to the internet and make use of all the advantage that it offers.

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THE INTERNET AND WORLD WIDE WEB

The internet is a convenient way to get information from all over the world. The internet is not owned by any individual, company, business or government. It is just an interconnection of computers around the world belonging to different people. The internet is a technology which connects millions of computers across the world by means of cables or some wireless technology.

Some of the most popular activities on the internet include sending and receiving emails and browsing through the World Wide Web.

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THE INTERNET AND WORLD WIDE WEB

The World Wide Web is one of the most popular services on the internet. Many people confuse the internet with the World Wide Web, thinking that it refers to the same thing. Unlike the internet, the World Wide Web refers to a collection of millions of files stored on computers connected to the internet all over the world. These files contain information on a wide variety of topics and are called websites.

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THE INTERNET AND WORLD WIDE WEB

A website is a collection of web pages giving information about an organisation or person. Different people, companies or organisations store information about themselves on pages known as web pages which are organised together to form a website. A webpage is a document created by using a particular program then stored in an electronic form on a computer connected to the internet. Web pages and web sites are stored on powerful computers called web servers which can be accessed by various Internet users across the world using a web browser.

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THE INTERNET AND WORLD WIDE WEB

A web browser is a software that allows you to browse the World Wide Web and access the sites or pages found on the internet. Some of the common web browsers include

• Microsoft Internet Explorer

• Netscape navigator• Mozilla FireFox• Opera

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THE INTERNET AND WORLD WIDE WEB

A web browser is a software that allows you to browse the World Wide Web. The common web browser installed on most computers is Internet Explorer. The features in most web browsers are identical. These are the parts of the web browser.

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THE INTERNET AND WORLD WIDE WEB

To get connected to the internet, you need the following things.

• A computer• A telephone connection• A modem• An Internet browser• An Internet Service

Provider connection

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THE INTERNET AND WORLD WIDE WEB

A modem is a device which connects a personal computer to the Internet using a telephone line. It converts digital signals to analog signals. This process of converting digital signals is known as modulation. The modem also changes analog signals to digital signals, also known as demodulation.

The modem works as a link between the computer and the telephone line that sends the internet signals from the internet service provider to the computer.

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THE INTERNET AND WORLD WIDE WEB

The Internet Service Provider, popularly known as ISP provide Internet connections to computer users. The ISP’s give you an account number called the username and a password which is only known to you. This account has a specific address that allows you to connect to the very powerful computers called servers which connect Internet networks through satellite or other high speed communication channels.

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THE INTERNET AND WORLD WIDE WEB

The Internet helps teachers and students to access information. It helps teachers and students to communicate easily, get the latest news and gain access to photographs, audio and videos that can help in learning.

The Internet helps individuals to communicate through the use of emails and internet chat. In some cases, the internet has been used by certain people to make phone calls over the internet connection. Additionally, people can make friends in internet chat rooms to make new friends.

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THE INTERNET AND WORLD WIDE WEB

The Internet helps the community in several ways. People can shop for things over the Internet or advertise the services in the community for people to patronize. Many communities use the Internet to acquire knowledge on how to develop the community and make money to develop the community.

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THE INTERNET AND WORLD WIDE WEB

As a country, it is important to maintain international relations at all times with other countries. The internet helps countries to gather information and respond to important issues relating to the country. The Internet can also help people to respond instantly to issues all over the world. People can learn more about a country on the internet and begin to make investments in the country.

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THE INTERNET AND WORLD WIDE WEB

DISADVANTAGES OF THE INTERNET

The Internet has some serious disadvantages that have forces some people to think of it as a bad technology.

Computer fraud also known as 419 is the practice employed by some people to steal and defraud people and organisations from their money. Bad people hide behind the internet to deceive people to send money to them for fictitious schemes. Many people fall victim to these scams, because they seem very real and convincing and this is the reason why people think of the Internet as a bad form of technology.

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THE INTERNET AND WORLD WIDE WEB

The internet can also be used to send viruses to other computer systems.

In addition to this, the internet is also expensive and promotes the spread of social vices around the globe.

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THE INTERNET AND WORLD WIDE WEB

There are many other technologies used to access the internet.The computer is the major technological tool used to access the internet. Most computers are equipped with a modem, which can be used to convert digital signals to analog and vice versa. Most computers also have an internet browser which helps computer users to read and view internet web pages and websites.

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THE INTERNET AND WORLD WIDE WEB

Computers are not the only devices used to access the Internet. Mobile devices such as laptops and mobile phones can also be used to access the Internet using wireless technology other than the traditional phone line. With this technology you can access the internet whilst on the move without staying in one place provided there is internet connectivity.

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THE INTERNET AND WORLD WIDE WEB

Satellites are used to send data and information around the world. Satellites refer to man made equipment that orbits around the earth or moon. Satellites are capable of receiving and transmitting data and information from one point to another point on the earth. ISP’s have huge telecommunication antennas that send or receive information from these satellites. The information is then transmitted to the server of the ISP which is then sent to the computer of the internet user.

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THE INTERNET AND WORLD WIDE WEB

The telephone line is one of the major technologies used to send internet information from the ISP to the internet user. Since the telephone works only on an analog system and computers work on a digital system, a modem is used to make the necessary conversion so that people can access the information they want from the Internet.

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THE INTERNET AND WORLD WIDE WEB

GPRS stands for General Packet Radio Services. It is a service which can be used for internet communication services such as email and the World Wide Web. GPRS is wireless and works by using signals sent from satellites and telecommunication antennas. Many of the mobile devices discussed use GPRS to access the internet.

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THE INTERNET AND WORLD WIDE WEB

EDGE stands for Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution. EDGE is a digital mobile phone technology that allows increased data transmission rates and improved data transmission reliability. GSM stands for Global System for Mobile Communications. This technology is gradually taking over GPRS technology in mobile devices because of the speed and reliability it offers.

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LAUNCHING AN APPLICATION

You can either launch an application using the start menu or a desktop shortcut icon.

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LAUNCHING AN APPLICATION

To launch an application using the start menu, you must do the following:

• Click on the START button• Move the mouse pointer to ALL PROGRAMS• Move the mouse pointer to the name of the program you want to launch on the programs list.• Click on the name of the program to launch the application.

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LAUNCHING AN APPLICATION

Desktop icons are shortcuts for opening or launching an application. An application program at the time of installation usually informs the user that a desktop shortcut will be installed on the computer desktop.

A desktop shortcut can be identified by the small arrow at the bottom right corner of the icon. To launch a program using a desktop icon, simply double click on the icon of the program and it will be launched.

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LAUNCHING AN APPLICATION

Click on the box below to see how to launch a program using a desktop shortcut

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LAUNCHING AN APPLICATION

Not all programs have their desktop icons. To create a desktop icon for a program that you use frequently, you use the following steps:

•Click on the START button•Move the mouse pointer to ALL PROGRAMS•Move the mouse pointer to the icon of the program you want•Right-click on the icon and select copy•Move the mouse pointer to any part of the desktop and click on it•Right-click on any blank portion of the desktop and select Paste Shortcut

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LAUNCHING AN APPLICATION

Click on the box below to see how to create a desktop shortcut

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MOUSE SKILLS

The computer mouse is designed to help the computer user to point to objects on the computer screen, select them and move them about.

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MOUSE SKILLS

The mouse can be used to perform five different operations, these include: pointing, single clicking, double clicking, right clicking and drag and drop

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MOUSE SKILLS

Pointing is usually not considered as a mouse skill because it is regarded as an easy thing to do, yet for many new computer users, this can be a very skill to master. Pointing simply refers to the movement of the mouse pointer to a location on the computer screen.

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MOUSE SKILLS

Effective pointing requires two things. First you must hold the computer mouse properly as shown in the picture below. Make sure that the mouse fits inside the curve of your palm.

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MOUSE SKILLS

The second thing associated with pointing is to make sure you do not run out of mouse space. Skilled mouse users can move the mouse pointer without having to move the mouse across a large area on the desk.

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MOUSE SKILLS

Single clicking is also known as clicking. Clicking or single clicking refers to the process of pressing and releasing the mouse button. Clicking is usually associated with the left mouse button. This is known as left clicking.

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MOUSE SKILLS

Double clicking refers to the process where you click the left mouse button twice in quick succession in a particular spot.

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MOUSE SKILLS

Drag and drop refers to the process of pointing to an object, pressing the left mouse button and holding it down whilst moving the mouse and the selected object to a new location, then releasing the button. Drag and drop is used to move files and folders as well as icons from one location to another.

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MOUSE SKILLS

Another importance for dragging and dropping in document creation is when you want to select text in a document. Dragging and dropping gives you the opportunity to select portions of text in a document for editing. Click on the box below to see a video of how drag and drop is used to select text in a document.

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WINDOWS MANAGEMENT

A window can be defined as an area within a frame on a computer screen in which a particular program is operating or in which information is displayed.

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WINDOWS MANAGEMENT

The parts of a program window are shown in the image below.

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WINDOWS MANAGEMENT

The title bar can be divided into two areas. These are:

• Control box• Window title

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WINDOWS MANAGEMENT

The control box also known as the resizing buttons has three buttons that regulate the size and location of the window. These buttons are

• Minimize button• Maximise button or restore

button• Close button

TOPICS

WINDOWS MANAGEMENT

The minimize button drops an open window onto the taskbar with a tab that indicates that the window has been open. To view the window again, simply click on the tab on the taskbar to restore the window.

The maximise button expands an open window to fill the computer screen. When you click on the miximise button, it automatically changes to the restore button.

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WINDOWS MANAGEMENT

The restore button is used to return as window to its original size instead of filling the entire computer screen. When you click on the restore button, it immediately changes to the maximise button.

The close button is used for ending and application. The close button terminates every operation in the program and removes the program window from the computer screen and taskbar.

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WINDOWS MANAGEMENT

Click on the box below to see how to use the buttons in the control box.

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WINDOWS MANAGEMENT

Window title shows the name of an open application and the file name.

The title bar is also used when switching between two windows. If you have more than one window opened on the desktop, click on the title bar and the window will come on top of the other open window.

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WINDOWS MANAGEMENT

The title bar also has a control menu. It appears when you right click on the bar. The control menu gives you options to Restore, Move, Size, Minimise, Maximise and Close the window. The move command allows you to reposition the window on the computer desktop. The size command is used to change the size of the window.

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TOPICS

CREATING WORD PROCESSING DOCUMENT

A word processing program makes it easy to create a variety of professional looking documents. These include simple letters, newsletters, business cards and financial reports. A word processing program is a software program that includes tools for entering, editing and formatting text and graphics. Microsoft Word is a powerful word processing program that allows you to create and enhance a wide range of documents quickly and easily.

TOPICS

CREATING WORD PROCESSING DOCUMENT

Click on the box below to see how to launch MS-Word using the start menu.

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CREATING WORD PROCESSING DOCUMENT

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CREATING WORD PROCESSING DOCUMENT

To begin a new document, simply start typing the text in the blank document in the document window. MS-Word has a feature known as word wrap that automatically moves the insertion point to the next line of the document when you reach the right margin. You only press the enter key on the keyboard when you want to start a new paragraph or insert a blank line.

TOPICS

CREATING WORD PROCESSING DOCUMENT

A file is a document, permanently stored on the computer that can be opened and edited in the future. To save a document, you must provide a file name and indicate the location where you want to store the file. Click on the box below to see a demonstration of how to save a file as explained on page 98 of the textbook.

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EDITING WORD PROCESSING DOCUMENT

When you are preparing a document, there are many things you need to take into consideration. To start with, you need to edit your manuscript. To edit a manuscript, you need to check the spelling, grammar and punctuation of the document.

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EDITING WORD PROCESSING DOCUMENT

A document that has been saved can be opened to be examined and modified by the computer user. Word offers several methods for opening documents. Click on the box below to see how to open an existing document using the open command on the standard toolbar.

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EDITING WORD PROCESSING DOCUMENT

MS-Word remembers the changes you make to a document so that you can easily reverse or repeat them. The undo command is used to reverse actions that have already been taken. You can keep the changes you just reversed by using the redo button on the standard toolbar. The redo button is activated when you undo an action. Click on the box below to watch a demonstration.

TOPICS

EDITING WORD PROCESSING DOCUMENT

When you have completed typing and editing a document, you can make sure your spelling and grammar are correct by using the spelling and grammar checker. Click on the box below to watch a demonstration.

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FORMATTING TEXT IN WORD PROCESSING DOCUMENT

With the formatting feature in MS-Word, you can change the font type, the font style and the font size.

Fonts refer to the complete set of characters with the same typeface or design. Each font has a unique design that distinguishes it from other fonts. Some common fonts include Arial, Times New Roman and Tahoma.

The default font size in MS-Word is twelve points. Font sizes are measured in points. A point is 1/72 of an inch.

TOPICS

FORMATTING TEXT IN WORD PROCESSING DOCUMENT

Click on the box below to watch a video of how to change the font type and font size in MS-Word as described on page 113-114 of the textbook.

TOPICS

FORMATTING TEXT IN WORD PROCESSING DOCUMENT

Click on the box below to watch a video of how to change the font style in MS-Word as described on page 115 of the textbook. The video shows how to change the different font styles starting from bold, underline and italics.

TOPICS

FORMATTING TEXT IN WORD PROCESSING DOCUMENT

Click on the box below to watch a video of how to rename an already existing document.

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USING THE DRAWING TOOLBAR

Microsoft Word has a drawing toolbar that allows you to draw squares, rectangles, circles and ovals. You can also create arrows and lines with the drawing toolbar.

The drawing toolbar can be found at the bottom of the MS-Word window.

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USING THE DRAWING TOOLBAR

Click on the box below to watch a video of what to do if the drawing toolbar is not active in the window area of the MS-Word application.

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USING THE DRAWING TOOLBAR

You can choose to draw a line or shape anywhere you want in a document. You can also create a graphic by using the drawing canvas. A drawing canvas refers to the special area that is created when you select a drawing tool to receive your drawings or graphics. You can draw multiple shapes and insert pictures into a drawing canvas. Click on the box below to see a video of how to draw a rectangle using the MS-Word drawing toolbar as described on page 81 of the textbook.

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USING THE DRAWING TOOLBAR

Click on the box below to see a video of how to draw a square using the MS-Word drawing toolbar as described on page 82 of the textbook.

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USING THE DRAWING TOOLBAR

Click on the box below to see a video of how to draw a oval using the MS-Word drawing toolbar as described on page 82 of the textbook.

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USING THE DRAWING TOOLBAR

Click on the box below to see a video of how to draw a circle using the MS-Word drawing toolbar as described on page 83 of the textbook.

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USING THE DRAWING TOOLBAR

Click on the box below to see a video of how to fill an object with colour as described on page 83 of the textbook.

TOPICS

USING THE DRAWING TOOLBAR

Click on the box below to see a video of how to change the thickness of the edge of an object or a line as described on page 84 of the textbook.

TOPICS

USING THE DRAWING TOOLBAR

Click on the box below to see a video of how to draw a line using the drawing toolbar as described on page 85 of the textbook.

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USING THE DRAWING TOOLBAR

Click on the box below to see a video of how to draw an arrow using the drawing toolbar as described on page 85 of the textbook.

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ICT FOR SHS

THE SPREADSHEET

In a spreadsheet, a column is defined as the vertical space that is going up and down a window. Letters are used to designate each column. There are 256 columns.

A row is defined as the horizontal space that is going across the window. Numbers are used to designate each rows location. There are 65,536 rows.

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ICT FOR SHS

THE SPREADSHEET

Click on the box below to watch a video of how to create and save a workbook.

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ICT FOR SHS

THE SPREADSHEET

Click on the box below to watch a video of how to use the sum formula in Excel as described on page 356.

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ICT FOR SHS

THE SPREADSHEET

Click on the box below to watch a video of how to use the averages formula in Excel as described on page 357.

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ICT FOR SHS

THE SPREADSHEET

Click on the box below to watch a video of how to create a chart in Excel as described on page 361.

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ICT FOR SHS

THE SPREADSHEET

Click on the box below to watch a video of how to adjust column and row sizes.

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ICT FOR SHS

THE SPREADSHEET

Click on the box below to watch how to merge and centre cells in Excel.

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REFERENCE

Courtesy of Aki-Ola Publication

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