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Using Your ComputerBasic Computer Skills
If you are using a desktop computer (it has a “tower” box), there is usually a power switch on the back of the big box
This switch is probably labeled with a “1” and “0”
Turning It On!
The Power Switch
This is the only switch that truly turns your computer off, but you don’t need to use it after the first time you set up your computer
Make sure the “1” side is pressed in
Turning It On!
On the front side of the tower box, or somewhere on a laptop, there is another power switch
Turning It On!
This is usually labeled with a symbol like this
The odd symbol makes sense to engineers, and no one else
Turning It On!
Normally, when you turn your computer on, you will use this switch
Turning It On!
For desktop computers, there is generally another switch for the monitor
This switch can be anywhere (including on the back!)
Turning It On!
To turn on your computer, press the “On” button briefly, and release it
You may hear some faint noises, and see some small lights flickering as the computer gets ready to work, then the screen lights up
Turning It On!
You don’t have to turn off the monitor when you turn off your computer, as it will “go to sleep” when the computer is off
For laptops, there is no separate switch for the screen
Turning It On!
Depending on how the computer was set up, you may see a “login screen”
Windows allows you to make the computer look the way you want it to, and other users to make it look the way they want it to
Logging In
For this to work, you have to tell the computer who you are
You do this by logging inTo log in, you move the mouse
pointer over your name, or the picture above it, and click (press and release the mouse button)
Logging In
The Login Screen
In some settings, to keep information private, logins also have passwords.
If the computer you are using has been set up this way, you will be asked to type your password
As you type, you won’t see the letters you type, just dots
Logging In
Entering a Password
After you’ve entered your password, the computer will wake up, and you’ll see the “desktop”
Turning It On
The Desktop
Mouse PracticeNow that we have turned the computer on, we can
practice using the mouse
The mouse is designed to gently support your hand
Holding the Mouse
Drape your hand over the body of the mouse, with your thumb on one side, and little finger on the other
Your index finger should fall “naturally” onto the left mouse-button
Holding the Mouse
Holding the Mouse
Wired Mice◦If you think of the cord of the mouse as
it’s tail, you’d want to hold it with the cord at your wrist, so the mouse could see◦In fact, you hold the mouse with the
wire at your fingertips
Holding the Mouse
Wireless Mice◦If your mouse is “wireless,” you hold it
with your fingers resting on the buttons, and around the wheel
Holding the Mouse
When you were young, you probably learned not to slide dishes on the table. You pick them up to pass them
Sliding the Mouse
The mouse must be slid across the table to work. You can use a protective pad (called a mouse pad) under the mouse, but it must be touching the table (or pad) to work
Sliding the Mouse
When you hold the mouse correctly, you should find the movement easy and natural
Sliding the mouse to the right or left should move the mouse pointer right or left
Sliding the Mouse
Pushing the mouse away from you moves the pointer up the screen
Pulling the mouse toward you moves the pointer down the screen
Sliding the Mouse
Because of the way the mouse works, you may find that you get to the edge of the mouse pad or table before the pointer gets to the place you are looking for
“Rowing” the mouse
When this happens, you can pick the mouse up a bit off of the table, and place it back onto the table◦When the mouse is in the air, it doesn’t
know it’s moving
“Rowing” the mouse
When you put the mouse down again, you can continue moving the pointer to your target
“Rowing” the mouse
You may have to repeat this several times for long moves.
This is called “rowing” the mouse, because it is like rowing a boat – many small movements equals one large one
“Rowing” the mouse
The only part of the mouse pointer that is active is the very tip
Positioning the Mouse
When you want to point with the mouse, the tip must be over the thing being pointed to
Positioning the Mouse
With the tip of the arrow over the thing you want to point to, you “click” to tell the computer that this is the thing you want to work on
To click the mouse, you press and release the left mouse button, without moving the mouse
Clicking
Many elders find this difficult, as pressing can cause a small movement of the mouse◦If you have difficulty with clicks,
consider adding the “Elder Interface” adaptations to your computer
Clicking
Clicking the right (opposite of left) button is called “right clicking”
Each part of the computer and its software has a set of things that can be done to or with it
Right-Click
To see what can be done with an icon, you right click on it, to open a “contextual menu”
This is a small menu next to the thing clicked on
Right-Click
However, you can do the same thing with a special “menu” key on the keyboard, which is more consistent
It is almost never necessary to do a right-click, so we will always use the left mouse button
Right-Click
When you click on something, you are telling the computer that your next instruction should be done “to” this thing◦The builders like to say “Noun, then
verb”
Double-Click
Sometimes you want a thing (file or program) to do something (start, open in a program, etc.)
Most manuals and instructors tell you to do this with a double-click
A double-click is two clicks, very quickly, in the same spot
Double-Click
Many elders find double-clicking to be more than twice as difficult as a single-click◦Not only is it two clicks, they must be
done very quickly, and without moving the mouse
Double-Click
Fortunately, you don’t need to double-click
You can do the same thing by clicking once, then pressing the Enter key on the keyboard
Double-Click
Just like in the real world, you sometimes want to put things away on your computer, or move them to another spot
This is done by “dragging” on the computer
Dragging
When you move the mouse pointer over something, it is “floating” above that thing
When you click the mouse, the pointer briefly touches the thing, then lifts up again◦Think of this as a tap on the shoulder
Dragging
If you hold the mouse button down, it’s like closing your fingers on the thing, or “holding” it
While you are holding something, if you move the mouse, the thing moves along with the mouse pointer
Dragging
If you release the mouse button, you “drop” the thing you were dragging at the place you let go
Dragging
Dragging takes some practice, so don’t get frustrated if you drop things now and then◦You can just pick them up and start a
new drag
Dragging
Your starting point for most activities will be the “Start” menu
Move the mouse pointer over the start button◦Remember to slide your mouse on the
tabletop◦Remember to put the tip of the arrow on
the button
Let’s get started!
Click the mouse◦Press and release the left mouse button
The Start Menu opens!
Let’s get started!
The Start Menu is a special menu, with a special design
The Start Menu
On the left, you’ll see programs that you have used recently, or often
Above the grey line are programs you always want
The Start Menu
On the right, you’ll see a list of “special places” on your computer
The Start Menu
At the top of this section are links to special folders for your documents, pictures, or games
The Start Menu
The bottom area (Computer, Network, etc.) are areas for control of your computer
You probably won’t need those places right away
The Start Menu
At the bottom of the left side you’ll see a bar called “All Programs”
The Start Menu
Clicking “All Programs” will show you all of the programs on your computer rather than just the ones you’ve used recently
The Start Menu
If you click this (now), you’ll notice a lot of programs that you didn’t put on your computer
The Start Menu
These come with Windows, but we won’t use them in this training
The Start Menu
Your computer uses an “operating system” (the program you’re looking at now) called Windows Vista
The “Windows” part is because all of the work that you do will happen inside a window
The Windows of “Windows”
The first thing we have to do is learn about the “windows” of Windows
The skills we’ll learn apply to almost all windows, regardless of the program you are using
The Windows of “Windows”
The first step of working on a window is to “open” it
In your home, opening a window means moving part of the glass so air can get through
Opening a window
On your computer, opening a window means to make it◦Before a window is open, you can’t see
it at all!Since all of your work on the
computer happens inside a window, there are lots of ways to open them
Opening a window
For now, we are just going to look at one of the special places on your computer, and one way to open a window
Opening a window
Open the Start menu by moving your mouse over the start icon on the lower left corner of the screen and clicking the mouse
Opening a window
When the Start Menu opens, move your mouse toward the upper right corner of the menu, to the word “Documents”
Opening a window
When the mouse pointer is in the right place, a “box” will appear around the word “Documents”
Opening a window
This is your computer’s way of saying “I think this is what you want me to work on.”
Opening a window
Click the mouse (press and release the left button) while the word “Documents” is highlighted.
Opening a window
The start menu will disappear, and a window will appear on the screen!
You’ve just opened a window!
Opening a window
If you look at the top of your new window, you’ll see a lighter area with words in it.
This is the window’s “name tag”The name of this new window is
“Documents”
Your new Window
When we talk about a window, we usually use it’s first and last name:
This is the “Documents Window”
Your new Window
A window on the computer is like a piece of paper on your desk.
You can have more than one at a time, and the one on top can hide what’s underneath it
Moving a Window
Just like shuffling papers on your desk, you can bring a window to the top of the stack by clicking on any part of it
You can see what is under the top window by moving it to a different place
Moving a Window
Windows on your computer can be “full screen” ◦This means that they cover the entire
screen, can not be changed
Windows have Locks
Alternatively, a window can be “resizable”◦This means you can make it bigger or
smaller
Windows have Locks
Look at the top, right corner of the window
You should see a row of three symbols that looks something like this:
How Can I Tell Them Apart?
The middle symbol tells you what kind of window you are looking at.
How Can I Tell Them Apart?
If the button shows a single box, you have a resizable window.
The symbol means “make me full screen”
How Can I Tell Them Apart?
If the button shows two, overlapping squares, you have a full-screen window
The symbol means “make me resizable.”
How Can I Tell Them Apart?
A resizable window might cover the whole screen, but you can change that.
How Can I Tell Them Apart?
Normally, the window we opened starts as a resizable window, but let’s change it.
Changing the window’s type
Move the tip of the mouse pointer over the middle icon in the top, right corner of the window
Now, click the mouse button ◦press and release the left button
without moving the mouse
Changing the window’s type
When you clicked the icon, the window got larger, and covered the entire screen, except for the task bar
The control changed too
What Happened?
The control changed from this:
To this:
What Happened?
Windows remember what they were like before they became full screen
If you click the “make me resizable” icon, the window will go back to the size and place it was before
Change your window back and forth a few times, to get the feel of it
Change Can Be Good!
Like a piece of paper on your table, you can move a window to another spot
You do that by “dragging” the window to a new location, using its handle
A Moving Experience
The top of your window probably looks something like this:◦If you still have a full screen window,
change it back now
A Moving Experience
The area to the left of the window controls is the handle.
A Moving Experience
Move the tip of the mouse pointer over any part of this handle (not over the controls)◦If your mouse pointer changes to a
double-ended arrow, you are not quite on the handle, and you’ll stretch the window instead of moving it
A Moving Experience!
Press and hold the left mouse button down
When you move the mouse, the window will move along
A Moving Experience!
Let’s open another window, so you can see what happens when one window is over another
Move your mouse pointer over the start button and click the left button
More Mouse Tricks
On the Start menu, find “Pictures” on the right side of the Start menu
Click the left mouse button once
More Mouse Tricks
You should now have two windows open on your computer at once!
More Mouse Tricks
More Mouse Tricks
If they are not overlapping like two pieces of paper, drag the “Pictures” window so that it “covers” part of “Documents” window ◦It should look rather like two pieces of
paper, one on top of the other
More Mouse Tricks
What if you wanted to look at the paper on the bottom of the pile?◦You’d move it to the top!
You do the same thing with windows
More Mouse Tricks
Point to any part of the Documents window that you can see, and click the mouse
The Documents window is now on top of the Pictures window!
More Mouse Tricks
More Mouse Tricks
Suppose you want a window to be bigger or smaller than it is, but not full screen…
This is why we call them “resizable” windows
More Mouse Tricks
Move the mouse pointer to the bottom right corner of your “Documents” window
Your mouse pointer will change to a double-ended arrow, something like this:
More Mouse Tricks
If you are a bit above the corner, it might look more like this:◦Just move down a bit, and you’ll see
the diagonal arrowThe double-ended arrow means that
you are over a stretchy handle, and can change the size of your window
More Mouse Tricks
Press the left mouse button, and hold it down
Still holding the button down (just like you did for moving the window), move the mouse
The bottom corner of the window will move with the mouse, but the top left corner stays in the same place!
More Mouse Tricks
Just move the bottom corner until the window is the size you want, and release the mouse button◦You’ve just resized a window!
More Mouse Tricks
Sometimes you want a window completely out of the way, but don’t want to “close” it (we’ll do that in a bit)
There is a control on the window to “Minimize” the window, which makes it as small as it can be
Making a Window REALLY Small
In the upper right corner of the Documents window, the left-most control looks like an “underline”
This is the “Minimize” control
Making a Window REALLY Small
Move your mouse pointer over the Minimize control and click the left button
It looks like the window disappeared!
It’s not gone, just “minimized”
Making a Window REALLY Small
You’ll remember we talked about the “task bar” at the bottom of the screen◦This extends from the Start button
How Do I Know It’s Not Gone?
Look at the Task bar on your computer◦You should see to “buttons” labeled
“Documents” and “Pictures”
How Do I Know It’s Not Gone?
These are the open windows on your computer, even though you can only see “Pictures”
How Do I Know It’s Not Gone?
To make the Documents Window visible again:
Mouse the mouse pointer over the Documents button on the task bar
Click onceThe window is visible again!
Bringing It Back
When you minimize a window, you move it out of sight, but it’s still there
When you are done working on a project, you should put your tools away
Closing a window
You do this with a window by “Closing” it
You close a window using the “Close control” in the upper right corner
Closing a window
You’ll often hear people refer to this control as the “red X”◦The control isn’t always red◦The X isn’t the red part!
Closing a window
To close a window◦move the tip of the mouse pointer over
the X◦click the left mouse button
The window will close, and all of its parts will be put away for future use
Closing a window
By itself, your computer isn’t very interesting.
You can think of it like a desk with a bookshelf built in. ◦It might be a nice piece of furniture,
you wouldn’t spend all day looking at it.
Starting Programs
What makes your desk useful is the things that you do on it.
Similarly, what makes the computer useful is the things you do with it.
You “do things” with your computer by running “programs.”
Starting Programs
You can think of a program as a set of instructions, like a recipe.
If you follow one set of instructions, you get a meatloaf, if another, you get chocolate cake
What is a program?
When your computer follows one set of instructions, it lets you access the World Wide Web
When it follows another set of instruction, it lets you write a letter to your brother
What is a program?
We’ll cover several programs in detail in the next lessons
What is a program?
As you might expect, you use the “Start” menu to start a program
Move the mouse over the Start Menu icon on the lower left corner of the screen
Click the left mouse-button onceThe Start Menu will appear
Starting a Program
Look for the program you want to start
Starting a Program
If you’ve used it recently, or if it is one that you’ve made “permanent,” it will be on the left side of the Start Menu
Starting a Program
If the program isn’t visible, click on the “All Programs” bar at the bottom left of the Start Menu
Starting a Program
This will change the left side of the Start Menu to show new information
Starting a Program
This list shows all of the programs installed on your computer
Starting a Program
The program you want might be inside one of the “file folders”
Starting a Program
If it is, you can click once on the folder to see what is inside
Starting a Program
When you see the program you want to use
Starting a Program
◦Position the tip of the mouse pointer over the name ◦Click the left
button once
Starting a Program
The program will start, opening a new window
Starting a Program
Starting a Program
In general, you can close a program simply by closing its window◦Move the tip of the mouse pointer over the
close control◦Click the left mouse button once
Stopping a Program
If you have work that you haven’t “saved”, you’ll get a message asking if you want to save your work
For now, click “No”The program will close
Stopping a Program
Usually, you will use the Start menu to turn off your computer
There are two “Off” switches on the Start Menu
Turning Off The Computer
Move the mouse pointer over the Start button in the lower left corner of the screen
Click onceThe Start Menu will open
Turning Off The Computer
Off and Off?
Your computer can be “off” in three different ways
Sleep◦Rather like putting your head down on
your desk, all of the work stays in place◦If the power goes away, so does your
work
Three kinds of off
Hibernate◦This is like putting your work away at
the end of the day, but planning to continue from the same place tomorrow.◦The computer stores all of your work,
keeping track of where you were.
Three kinds of off
Shut Down◦This is “I’m done and putting away my
tools.”◦All of your work is put away, and the
computer forgets all about what you did
Three kinds of off
Sleep◦Your computer will wake up fastest
from “sleep,” though some computers don’t wake up reliably◦If your electricity is reliable, use sleep
So, what should I use?
Hibernate◦It takes a bit longer to wake up from
hibernation, but the computer has saved your work in a safe way◦If your electricity sometimes goes out,
or you will be away from your computer for a time, use hibernate
So, what should I use?
Shut Down◦It takes longest to turn your computer
on from Shut Down◦You have to remember where you
were, and what you were doing
So, what should I use?
◦In this state, your computer is most nearly “Off.”◦Use Shut Down when you will be away
from your computer for some days
So, what should I use?
