Introduction to Computers

1
Introduction to Computers

• Know and identify computer components
• Know how to sit properly at a computer
• Start up and shut down a computer
• Use the mouse and keyboard
• Understand operating system environments
• Use the computer to write

• Save a file
• Understand a file and computer file system
• Understand comptuer memory and file storage
• Understand windows
• Manage files
• Use special keys on the keyboard
• Typing skills

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What is a computer?

• A computer is a machine that calculates,
  processes, and stores large amounts of
  information.
• Benefits of Computers
• Computers process information very quickly. They
  handle tasks efficiently. They can automate
  tasks.
• Problems of Computers
• Computers require reliable electricity. They
  require training to use effectively, and they are
  expensive.

3
Computer Components

• A computer consists of hardware and software.
• Hardware consists of the physical parts of a
  computer. If you can touch it, then it is
  hardware.
• Software consists of the instructions, called
  programs, that run the computer.

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Computer Hardware

• There are 4 types of Hardware
• Input components put information into the
  computer. E.g. keyboard, mouse, camera
• Output components send information out of the
  computer. E.g. monitor, printer, speakers,
  projector
• Processing components run the computer. E.g. CPU,
  RAM
• Storage components save information for long
  periods of time. E.g. hard disk drive, CD

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Computer Hardware External
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Computer Hardware External

• Computer Case contains most parts of a computer
  including CD drives, hard disk drives, and the
  CPU.
• Monitor Output is used to show output to the
  user.
• Keyboard Input is used to type letters,
  numbers, symbols and other characters in the
  computer.
• Mouse Input is used to click, drag, scroll, and
  open applications.
• USB Flash Drive Storage is a small portable
  storage device that reads and writes information.

7
Computer Hardware Status Lights

• Status Lights are the two lights on the computer
  case that indicate if the computer is on or busy.
• Power Light Output indicates that the computer
  is on.
• Disk Light Output indicates that the computer
  is busy using the hard disk drive.

8
Computer Hardware Internal
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Computer Hardware Internal

• Power Supply supplies all parts of the computer
  with electricity.
• CD Drive Storage reads information from a CD.
  A CD-RW Drive can write information to a CD.
• 3 ½ Floppy Drive Storage reads and writes
  information stored on a 3 ½ floppy disk.
• Hard Disk Drive Storage reads and writes
  information in the computer.

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Computer Hardware Internal

• CPU Processing or Central Processing Unit is
  the brain of the computer. It processes all
  information.
• Motherboard Processing connects all parts of
  the computer together.
• RAM Processing or Random Access Memory is used
  to temporarily save information in the computer.
  Every time you open an application, it is loaded
  from the hard drive into the RAM.

11
Computer Software

• There are 2 types of Software Programs
• Operating System
• Also known as an OS. This is the software that
  communicates with the computer hardware and
  provides the environment for working in the
  computer. Without an OS no applications can run.
  E.g. Windows XP, Xubuntu Linux
• Applications
• These software programs run on your computer.
  They are called applications because each
  program has a specific application or job. E.g.
  web browsers (Firefox), word processors
  (Microsoft Word), and games (Tetravex).

12
Good Computer Posture

• Using a computer improperly can lead to health
  problems. To avoid health problems follow these
  steps

• Sit with your back straight and feet flat on the
  ground
• Your eyes should be level with the top of the
  monitor
• Tilt the monitor 10- 20 angle
• Your arms should be level with the keyboard and
  make a 90 angle

50cm
Eye level
10- 20
Arm level
Seat level
13
Basic Mouse Skills

• Click Press and release the left button
• Double-Click Click two times fast
• Drag Press and hold the left button and move
  the mouse
• Right-Click Press and release the right button
• Scroll Move the scroll wheel up or down to
  move through documents longer than the screen

Left Button Click, Double-Click and Drag
Right Button Right-Click
Scroll Wheel Scroll
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Start Up Operations

• Turning on the Computer
• Turn on electricity
• Press power button on the monitor
• Press power button on the computer
• Sign in to the computer

• Windows XP
• Click Guest

• Xubuntu Linux
• Under Username type guests and hit Enter
• Under Password type guests and hit Enter

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Xubuntu Linux Environment
Applications button, opens the menu
of applications
Firefox Icon, opens the Internet
Quit button, used to turn off the computer
Help Icon, opens help files
Home Folder, opens your home folder
Mouse pointer, shows location of the mouse
Desktop, used for windows, and icons
File System,opens the file system of the computer
Deleted Items, opens the folder of deleted files
Deleted Items, opens the folder of deleted files
Show Desktop, minimizes all windows to show the
desktop
Workspaces, change between 4 desktops
Taskbar, shows open applications
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Windows XP Environment
My Documents, opens your home folder
Mouse pointer, shows location of the mouse
My Computer, opens the file system of the computer
My Network Places, opens the local
computer network
Desktop, used for windows, and icons
Recycle Bin, opens the folder of deleted files
Start button, opens the menu of applications
Taskbar, shows open applications
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Shut Down Operations

• It is important to shut down a computer before
  removing power. If power is suddenly removed
  without a proper shut down, it can damage the
  computer.
• Turning off the Computer

• Xubuntu Linux
• Click Quit in the upper right corner
• Click Shut Down
• Wait for the status lights to turn off
• Press power button on the monitor
• Turn off electricity if the other computers in
  your row are off

• Windows XP
• Click Start
• Click Turn off Computer
• Click Turn off
• Wait for the status lights to turn off
• Press power button on the monitor
• Turn off electricity if the other computers in
  your row are off

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Word Processors
A word processor is a type of application that
allows you to create documents, such as letters
or reports.

• Windows XP
• Microsoft Word
• Click Start
• Move mouse pointer to Programs
• Move mouse pointer to Microsoft Office
• Click Microsoft Word 2003

• Xubuntu Linux
• Open Office Writer
• Click Applications
• Move mouse pointer to Office
• Click OpenOffice.org Word Processor
• File gtgt New gtgt Text Document

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Save a File

• To Save Your File
• Click File
• Click Save
• Type the name of your document
• Click Save

20
Computer File System

• A File is a collection of information with a name
  and an icon. Computers use files to save
  information. There are many different types of
  files image files, text files, program files,
  directories.
• An Icon is the small picture that represents the
  file type.
• An Extension is the last letters of a filename,
  .xxx which indicates the file type. For
  example, .odt is an Open Document Text file, and
  .mp3 is a sound file
• A Folder or Directory is a type of file that
  holds other files or other folders.

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Computer File System

• The File System is the entire collection of
  folders and files on the computer. The file
  system resembles a tree

Every split in the tree represents a new folder
Folders
Folders
File System / My Computer
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Computer File System
Windows XP
Xubuntu Linux
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Searching for a File
If you forget where you put a file in the
computer. Don't worry. Search for it. To Search
for a File

• Xubuntu Linux
• Click Applications
• Move mouse pointer to Accessories
• Click Search for Files
• Type the name of the file
• Select the folder to look in
• Click Find
• Select your result

• Windows XP
• Click Start
• Click Search
• Click All files and folders
• Type the name of the file
• Click Search
• Select your result in the main area

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Computer Memory

• A computer saves all information in packages
  called bits.
• A bit is the smallest piece of information a
  computer can save, and is either 1 or 0.
• The system of storing information in bits is
  called binary.
• A byte is made of 8 bits.
• For example one byte could look like this
  01011001 or 10100110 or 1001001

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Computer Memory

• A single character, like A, is 1Byte
• The file you created is about 10KB
• A song in MP3 format is about 5MB
• A CD can hold 700MB
• A typical hard disk drive is 80GB

Note that the 1KB is 1024B. However, it is
a good approximation to say 1KB is 1000B.
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File Size

• To Get the Size of a File
• Right-click the file
• Click Properties

Xubuntu
Windows XP
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Understanding Windows
Windows XP
Xubuntu
Close
Maximize/Restore
Maximize/Restore
Minimize
Minimize
Close
Pullup
Titlebar
Menubar
Pathbar
Icons
Shortcuts Pane
Main Area
Main Area
Tasks Pane
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Understanding Windows

• Close Closes the window and the application.
• Minimize Hides the window from the desktop.
• Maximize / Restore Expands the window to the
  entire desktop. Click it again and the window
  restores to normal.
• Pullup Pulls the window up so that only the
  titlebar is showing. Click it again and the
  window returns.
• Pathbar Shows your current location in the
  computer.

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Understanding Windows

• Main Area Shows the files in the current
  folder.
• Tasks Pane Lists common tasks.
• Shortcuts Pane Provides shortcuts to different
  folders.
• Move a Window Drag the mouse pointer within the
  titlebar window.
• Resize a Window Drag the mouse pointer from the
  corner of the window.

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Managing Files

• Windows XP
• Create a Folder
• Right-click in empty space
• Move the mouse pointer to New
• Click Folder
• Type name of the folder
• Hit Enter key

• Xubuntu Linux
• Create a Folder
• Right-click in empty space
• Click Create Folder
• Type the new name
• Hit the Enter key

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Managing Files

• Select a file
• Click the file

• Unselect a file
• Click empty space

• Open a file
• Double-click the file

• Select multiple files
• Drag a box around the files
• or
• CtrlClick the files

• Close a file
• Click X in the upper right corner of the window

• Move a file
• Drag the icon of the file

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Managing Files

• Copy and Paste a file
• Right-click the file
• Click Copy
• Move the mouse pointer to the location of the new
  file
• Right-click
• Click Paste

• Rename a file
• Right-click the file
• Click Rename
• Type the new name
• Hit the Enter key

33
Delete Xubuntu Linux
When a file is deleted it is moved to the Deleted
Items folder. The Deleted Items folder is a
storage location for files before they are
permanently removed from the computer.

• Delete a file
• Select the file
• Hit the Delete key

• Restore a deleted file
• Open Deleted Items
• Right-click the icon of the file
• Click Restore

• Permanently Delete the Files
• Right-click Deleted Items
• Click Empty Deleted Items

34
Delete Windows XP
When a file is deleted it is moved to the Recycle
Bin. The Recycle Bin is a storage location for
files before they are permanently removed from
the computer.

• Delete a file
• Select the file
• Hit the Delete key

• Restore a deleted file
• Open the Recycle Bin
• Right-click the icon of the file
• Click Restore

• Permanently Delete the Files
• Right-click Recycle Bin
• Click Empty Recycle Bin

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The Keyboard
36
Keyboard Skills

• The keyboard has many different keys. The
  standard keys, A-Z and 0-9 are easy to use.
• For example, pressing A will enter 'a' into the
  computer.
• Pressing 7 will enter '7' into the computer.
• However, some keys have special functions.

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Keyboard Skills Special Keys

• Enter Starts a new line or starts an operation
• Shift Hold down to type capital letters or
  other top characters
• Spacebar Adds a space between words
• Tab Indents the text. Used to start a new
  paragraph
• Arrows Moves through
  the text
• Backspace Deletes the preceding character
• Delete Deletes the following character

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Keyboard Skills Special Keys

• Page Up Moves up an entire page
• Page Down Moves down an entire page
• Home Moves to the beginning of the line
• End Moves to the end of the line
• Caps Lock Capitalizes letters when you type
• Num Lock Switches keypad on right to numbers
• Ctrl Performs special jobs if pressed with
  other keys
• Alt Performs special jobs if pressed with other
  keys

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Learning to Type

• Learning to Type
• Applications gtgt Education gtgt KTouch

Set your level and begin typing
Shows the letters you copy when typing
The number of words you type per minute.
Shows the letters you type
Dark blue indicates the current character to type
Status information
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Learning to Type
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Introduction to Computers

• Influenced by
• International Computer Driving License
• http//www.icdlus.com
• Created By
• J. Michael Tritchler
• jmtritch_at_gmail.com