AN INTRODUCTION TO
COMPUTERS
THIS CLASS IS DESIGNED AS A
BEGINNERS CLASS IN
OBJECTIVES
• Learn Basic Computer Terminology
• Difference Between Hardware and
Software
• Understanding Computer Components
• Basic Keyboard and Mouse Usage
PREREQUISITES
DEFINITION
• What is a Computer?
• com·put·er Pronunciation key (km-pytr)
n.
• A device that computes, especially a
programmable electronic machine that performs high-speed mathematical or logical operations or that assembles, stores, correlates, or otherwise processes information.
• One who computes.
• (American Heritage Dictionary, 4th ed. Pub.
THE LANGUAGE OF
COMPUTERS
Binary Numbers 1 of 3
Computers speak binary. Binary language consists of combinations of 1's and 0's that represent characters of other languages (in our case the
Binary Numbers 2 of 3
• Kilobytes, Megabytes, and Gigabytes
• If you understand that a byte is one character in our language, you’ve got it made because:
• 1000 bytes = 1 kilobyte
• (1,000 characters = 1 kilobyte) • 1,000,000 bytes = 1 megabyte
• (1,000,000 characters = 1 megabyte) • 1,000,000,000 bytes = 1 gigabyte
Binary Numbers 3 of 3
• Disk Capacity
• It’s important to know how large your files are because eventually you won’t have enough space on your disk to hold more files. Knowing the total
capacity of your disk, how much space is left on your disk, and how large the file is, you can make accurate decisions as to whether to save the file to the current disk, or save the file to a different diskette with more disk capacity. • Keep in mind that a low density floppy diskette holds 720 kilobytes of data,
and a high density floppy diskette holds 1.44 megabytes of data. Put in easier to understand terms, a low density disk can hold approximately 300 typed pages and a high density can hold approximately 600 typed pages. Zip disks have 100 megabytes of disk capacity (about $10.00 each) or 250
megabytes of disk capacity (about $15.00 each). CD-ROMS have 650 megabytes of capacity (about $1.00 each) or 700 megabytes of capacity (about $1.50 each). Super Disks have 120 megabytes of disk capacity
THIS IS A FEW OF THE
DIFFERENT TYPES of
COMPUTERS
• Desk top
DEFINITION
• Hardware Vs. Software
The Programs that are on the disks
Uses for a PC
• Word Processing • Desktop Publishing
• Database Management • Spreadsheets
• Communication • Finance
• Education
• Entertainment
Tips for Beginners
• Explore Your Computer
• Mistakes won’t Kill You
• EDIT/ UNDO is your Friend
• Be persistent
• Apply what you Learn
• Don’t try to learn too fast
Why Learn This Stuff?
• Buying a PC
• Having Your PC Serviced
• Calling For Support
Hardware Overview
SYSTEM COMPONENTS
CPU/PROCESSOR
• The CPU refers to the microprocessor
chip. Sometimes the “Tower” is called the
CPU.
• It’s speed is measured in Megahertz
(MHZ) (Millions of cycles per second) or
Gigahertz (GHZ) Billions of cycles per
second.
SYSTEM COMPONENTS
Ram – Random Access Memory
• Ram is the memory used by the computer
to run programs.
• The amount of Ram available will
determine how fast a program will run and
how many windows can be open at one
time.
• Ram memory is considered Volatile
SYSTEM COMPONENTS
Hard Drive
• The Hard Drive is the computers main,
long term storage.
• It is referred to as non-volatile storage,
because it does not disappear when the
power is turned off.
RAM VERSUS HARD DRIVE
• If we use the analogy of a desk: Then the work we are doing on the desk top would be using the RAM and
the work we store in the file drawers would be on the HARD
SYSTEM COMPONENTS
• Mother Board
SYSTEM COMPONENTS
• Case
SYSTEM COMPONENTS
• Modem (Modulator Demodulator).
SYSTEM COMPONENTS
• Power Supply • 250 – 500 Watts
• DO NOT OPEN
SYSTEM COMPONENTS
• Audio Card
SYSTEM COMPONENTS
• Floppy Drive – • 1.44 MB
SYSTEM COMPONENTS
• Network Card
SYSTEM COMPONENTS
SYSTEM COMPONENTS
• Video Card
PERIPHERALS
• Monitors
PERIPHERALS
• Printers
• (Might be Ink Jet, Bubble Jet, Laser or whatever the manufacturers invent
PERIPHERALS
• Video Cameras • (Also called
POWER PROTECTION
• Uninterruptible Power Supply
• (UPS) 280 VA – 400 VA
KEYBOARD
• The Keyboard
KEYBOARD
KEYBOARD
KEYBOARD
KEYBOARD
KEYBOARD
KEYBOARD
KEYBOARD
MOUSE
• Holding the mouse • Grip between thumb
and ring finger
MOUSE
MOUSE
MOUSE
MOUSE
MOUSE
MOUSE
SOFTWARE
• Operating systems
• Applications
OPERATING SYSTEMS
• MS-DOS
• Windows 95,98,Me • Windows NT,
2000,XP
APPLICATIONS
• MS Word
APPLICATIONS
• MS Excel
APPLICATIONS
• MS Power Point • (For sales
APPLICATIONS
• MS Outlook
APPLICATIONS
• MS Internet Explorer
APPLICATIONS
• Windows Calculator • (Your basic
calculator, also available is a
APPLICATIONS
• WordPerfect Adobe Acrobat
• Lotus 1-2-3 Photoshop
• QuickBooks Notepad
• CorelDraw WinZip
• HyperCam Media Player
• Photo Paint StarCraft
DATA
• Letters written using a word processor like
MS WORD.
• Spread sheets designed in EXCEL.
• Presentations created in Power Point
• Music on a CD.
COMPUTER CAVEATS
COMPUTER CAVEATS
• Magnets
COMPUTER CAVEATS
• Laser Printers and Power.
• Keep PC off the floor.
COMPUTER CAVEATS
COMPUTER CAVEATS
• Power Strips • Use the Power
COMPUTER CAVEATS
COMPUTER CAVEATS
COMPUTER CAVEATS
• Proper handling of CDs
COMPUTER CAVEATS
COMPUTER CAVEATS
• Dust Kills
• It’s a good idea to blow the dust out of your computer
COMPUTER CAVEATS
• STATIC KILLS!
TIME FOR A STRETCH BREAK
• TIME TO GET UP AND STRETCH
• CLEAN YOUR GLASSES
• GO POTTY IF YOU HAVE THE URGE
AN INTRODUCTION to
WINDOWS XP
Keyboard
command Word Access Excel PowerPoint
Ctrl-A Select entire
document Select all Select all Select all
Ctrl-B Bold Bold Bold Bold
Ctrl-C or F3 Copy Copy Copy Copy
Ctrl-F n/a Find Find n/a
Ctrl-G Go to n/a n/a n/a
Ctrl-H n/a Replace text n/a n/a
Ctrl-I Italics n/a n/a Italics Ctrl-M n/a n/a Format a
number
Add (create) slide
Ctrl-N New
document New document New document New presentation
Alt-N n/a Create a new
object n/a n/a
Ctrl-O Open Open Open Open
Ctrl-P Print Print Print Print Ctrl-Q Quit Quit Quit Quit
Ctrl-R n/a New record Fill Right n/a
Ctrl-TAB Save as Display Page Save as n/a Ctrl-S Save Save Query Save Save
Ctrl-U Underline n/a Underline Underline Text
Ctrl-V Paste Paste Paste Paste text
Ctrl-X Cut Cut Cut Cut
Ctrl-Z Undo Undo Undo Undo
Keyboard
command Word Access Excel PowerPoint
F1 Help Help Help Help
F7 Spell/grammar
check Spell check Spell check Spell check
Ctrl-[ n/a n/a n/a Decrease font size
THE WIMP INTERFACE
•
W
INDOWS
•
I
CONS
•
M
ENUS
POINTERS
(CURSORS)• I-beam cursor
(which follows the roll of the mouse)
Insertion point cursor
F letcher (Which flashes on and off, and is positioned
BREAK POINT
• Let’s get some hands on experience
• Find the
Windows
key.
– Bottom row second key from the left side. – Press once, (this is the same as left
clicking on the start button).
– Bring the cursor arrow over the All Programs Arrow head.
FIND MICROSOFT WORD
(LEFT CLICK)
FIND EXCEL
LEFT CLICK
FIND POWERPOINT
THE END
THE END
