Introduction to Computer By: Maria Mullen

ObjectivesIdentify and use computer

hardwareIdentify the pieces that make up

the desktopOpen and close desired programsSwitch back and forth between

open windowsCreate and save a documentPrint a document

What is a computer and what are it’s benefits?A computer is an electronic

device that receives, processes and stores data to produce a result.

Benefits include◦Error-free calculations◦Speed◦Flexibility◦Storage◦Consistency and Repetition

Personal Computers/PCDesktop Computer: designed

to be used at a deskNotebook/ Tablet computer:

designed to be used on a desk but it is small enough to be portable

Laptop Computer: designed to be small enough and light enough to be used on your lap

HardwareHardware is the name used to

describe the parts that make up the computer that you can touch and see.◦Central Processing Unit or CPU

(“The Brain”)◦Monitor or Screen◦Keyboard◦Mouse- Wireless/Wired/Touchpad◦Speakers-Internal/External◦Printer/Scanner

Portable Storage DevicesCompact Discs/

CD◦ CD Rom Read

Only Use Once 650-700MB of data Approx. 485 floppy

discs

◦ CD writable Can be re-written More expensive Use multiple times

USB Flash Drives◦ Are portable,

removable, and rewritable

◦ Smaller than a floppy disk, CD, or external hard drive

◦ Most weigh less than 1oz.

◦ Storage can be up to 256GB

◦ Also Know as a thumb drive, flash drive, or travel drive

Software Software is the part of the

computer that you cannot touch.Software consists of computer

programs and procedures that perform tasks on the computer.

Computer software is divided into three types.

System Software, Application Software, and Programming Software

MouseLeft ButtonRight ButtonScrollSingle Click vs.

Double ClickClick & DragMoves the cursorPick up and move

the mouse back onto table surface if the cursor is no longer visible

KEYBOARD•QWERTY•10-Key pad•CAPS LOCK•Shift •Backspace (deletes to the left)•Deletes (deletes to the right)•Forward slash /

•Enter•Num lock•Arrows•“Windows” button•Ctrl + alt + del (To Restart computer when it freezes Up)•Esc key•Function Keys “F” Keys (e.g. F1 Help)

How to start? Power Up

◦ Turning on your Computer Universal Power Symbol –

most electronic devices such as computers, printers and scanners will have a button that displays this symbol. Simply, press the corresponding button to power up your computer.

◦ Turning off your Computer When powering down your

computer, check to make sure all programs are closed and files are saved. Properly remove any connected devices, such as Mp3 players and USB Flash Drives.

Click “Start” then “Shutdown” to power off your computer

“Desktop”

• On the Desktop Screen you will see several small pictures. These are called Icons.

• Double clicking the left mouse button on an Icon will start the programs that they represent.

• Another way to start a program is using the “Start” button.

“Start”

“Taskbar”

Start ButtonThe "Start" button is probably the

most used part of the Windows Desktop. 

The start button is where you access all the programs on the computer. 

When you click on the "Start" button you will be shown a menu of the major computer headings. These headings provide access to the major programs on your computer.

• When you click on the "Start" button a menu with options will appear. 

• Moving the mouse over the items in the menu causes them to highlight. 

• Clicking on a highlighted item will open that program.

• To close the "Start" menu click on the screen anywhere other then the menu.

Selecting a programFirst click the start

buttonThen move mouse

to Programs( make sure it is highlighted or turns blue.

A new list to the left should appear

You must slide the mouse to the right to make another selection.

Then click the program you want.

“Programs” List

Parts of the Window Close -- Click on the button marked with an “x.” 

Clicking on this button stops the program you are using.

Restore -- This button will restore a program's window to its original size.  The original size of a window is a little bit smaller then full screen.

Maximize -- This button opens a program's window so that it fills the screen as much as it can.

Minimize -- This button puts a program on hold and places it on the taskbar at the bottom of your screen.  To re-open a program that is on the taskbar click on the box which represents the program you want to open. 

Click and DragClick and hold down the mouse button

on the colored bar at the top of any program window. 

While holding down the mouse button drag the window to where you would like it on the screen. 

This cannot be done when a window is open to full screen.

“Minimize”

“Maximize”

“Close”

Practice SavingType the following in Notepad/Wordpad:

My favorite color is _________________My first name is _________________

Save File◦ Click ‘File’

Click ‘Save As’ Choose drive from dropdown file Name file (type name before the file extension e.g. .txt) Click Save

Finding Files from My Computer

1. Click on the Start button 2. Click My Computer3. Choose desired drive4. Chose file from list and double click

If all else fails…find files from Search

1. Click Start button (check if you have a search box if not move to step 2 if you do have a search box in the start menu move to step 5.)

2. Click All Programs3. Click Search4. Select All Files and Folders5. In the box labeled “All or part of the file name,” type in a word or two

from the name of the file6. Click the Search button7. Wait for results & double click a file from list presented to open it

“Search”

Printing a file

1.Click on File in the menu toolbar

2.Click Print3.Choose the

correct Printer name

4.Set page Range5.Set number of

Copies6.Click ok

The main idea to remember:

You can't harm a computer by experimenting or trying something new, so if you think you remember how to do

something, try it. The worst that can happen is that you learn something new.

Helpful ResourcesAbsolute beginner's guide to computer basics

5th ed. Miller, MichaelThe complete idiot's guide to computer basics

Kraynak, JoeBuying a computer for seniors : for the over

50s Holland, Karen Search www.google.com for “computer basics

tutorial” or any other computer related topic. You will be amazed at what you can find online – for free!

http://www.pbclibrary.org/mousing/click1.htm This website is a great tool to help with using the mouse.